The Cellar Door

The Cellar Door was a music club at 34th and M Street in Washington, D.C. from 1965 through 1978.

It emerged from The Shadows, Georgetown, Washington, D.C. It was one of the premier music spots in Washington and was the genesis as well as a tryout for larger markets. Many great names in 1960s and 1970s music played there. It also was a venue for new talent.

Some of the names that played there live early in their careers are:
*Linda Ronstadt (her band was made up of later members of The Eagles)
*Neil Young
*John Denver (He wrote and sang his "Leaving on a Jet Plane" there prior to being released by Peter, Paul and Mary.)
*Miles Davis.
*Modern Jazz Quartet
*Muddy WatersMany other famous artists performed there such as B.B. King, Buddy Rich, John Sebastian, Steve Goodman, Richard Pryor and Jimmy Buffett.

The club was the venue for "The Cellar Door Sessions", a live album with Miles Davis. Many artists cut their professional teeth performing at the Cellar Door, while audiences delighted in being within a few feet of the stage at the tiny venue. Also recorded at The Cellar Door is Danny Gattons famous "The Redneck Jazz Explosion" album.

Warm-up acts included performers such as Donal Leace, Fat City (later to become the Starland Vocal Band), Harry Chapin, Jim Croce and many others. Early 1970s audiences saw Tommy Smothers, Great Speckled Bird (Ian and Sylvia), Glenn Yarbrough, Roger McGuinn and many other singles from past groups.

Directly opposite on M street was another music club, originally The Apple Pie, later called Desperado's.