Jimmy Anselmo

James (Jimmy) J. Anselmo, Jr. (born September 19, 1944) in New Orleans, Louisiana, owner of legendary "Jimmy's Music Club" located in uptown New Orleans, Louisiana. Jimmy Jr. was the second and only son of four children born to Jimmy J. Anselmo Sr. and Mary Johnson.

Jimmy King

Jimmy's father was also known as "Jimmy King", a middle weight boxer, a contender between 1922-1930 in New Orleans. After his boxing career, Jimmy (King) Anselmo Sr., owned and operated the Little Blue Room and the Mardi Gras Lounge, local New Orleans establishments on Bourbon Street during the 30's, 40's and 50's. Jimmy King married Mary Johnson raising three daughters and one son. Jimmy King became a local celebrity before passing away in 1974.

Jimmy Anselmo, Jr.

Jimmy grew up in the Treme section of New Orleans attending St. Augustine, McDonough #15 grammar schools, Colton Jr. High School and graduating from Francis T. Nicholls High School in 1963. He enlisted in the US Navy in his senior of high school. He became active in November 1963 and assigned to the USS Saratoga (CVA-60) as a hanger deck aircraft handler. He served for 2 years and toured for 9 months with the 6th Fleet in the Mediterranean Sea and honorably discharged in November of 1965. Jimmy Jr. married Sharon Wilkens in 1966 and in keeping with family tradition, he started his own business buying Co-ed's Tavern, a local college hangout, on Carrollton Avenue in New Orleans in 1966 until 1972. Jimmy owned and operated Quasimodo's, a favorite local college music hangout, between 1972 and 1975. He was divorced from Sharon in 1975.

Jimmy's Music Club

In 1976, Jimmy purchased Al Pelegrini's Pool Hall at rundown business on Willow Street in New Orleans. It took two years to remodel the building and opened Jimmy's Music Club on April 10, 1978. His first opening act was Li'l Queenie & the Percolators. Jimmy booked such live bands as, to name a few, Muddy Waters, Bonnie Raitt, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Kid Rock, The Neville Brothers, Dirty Dozen, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Dr. John, Marcia Ball, George Porter, Jr., The Meters, The Radiators, Professor Longhair, Asleep at the Wheel, Clarence 'Gatemouth' Brown, [The Cold] starring Vance DeGeneres and including local comedian Ellen DeGeneres and many other local, national and international acts. Jimmy's Music Club was voted 'Favorite Music Nightclub' in 1986 by the Gambit for a Big Easy Awards. In November 1997, Jimmy married Dr. Joan Garvey, a local dentist. Jimmy sold his bar in late 1999 and the bar is currently called "Frat House". Jimmy still influences the New Orleans music scene booking concerts for a local music club called "Southport Hall".

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