BUFFALO, N.Y. — Music plays an important role in African American history.

One local historic building tells stories from the 1900s, a time in American history when African American musicians were not allowed to play in Buffalo's all-white musicians union.

Music has always been in George Scott’s blood. It was his saxophone teachers who introduced him to the Colored Musicians Club in Buffalo. 

“I mean I sat in between these guys and they were so helpful," said Scott, the club's co-curator. "I mean I learned so much, so I wanted to kind of give back for what they did for me.”

Those musicians helped Scott become the jazz musician he is. The Colored Musicians Club goes back to the time of segregation in the United States. 

“A lot of these famous black musicians, they could play some of the top clubs here in Buffalo, but they got done, they weren’t allowed to stay there afterward so they had no place to go,” Scott said.

There was only one union for musicians in Buffalo, and African American musicians were not allowed to join it. So in 1917, a Buffalo Local 533 was created for African American musicians, and George says they made sure there was a place for the African American musicians to go after they played — the Colored Musicians Club. He says the club tells the story about the local jazz scene and how it impacted the national scene. 

“Many of these artists from Buffalo got to tour on the national stage, even over in Europe," Scott said. We had the likes of Dodo Green who, in her final years, used to sing every Friday at the Anchor Bar, but she used to sing over in Europe. We had guys like Frankie Dunlop, who was considered one of the jazz’s top drummer back in the day.” 

The musicians would play upstairs. Now, on the ground floor, is a museum dedicated to their lives. Scott says music plays an important role in African American history. Gospel songs were important as they helped slaves communicate. 

“Then later on, again, music would be a central part of communicating the problems and struggle and strife of people living in America, as far as the injustice," said Scott. "So people would sing these songs and people would rally about it.”

George has been the co-curator of the Colored Musicians Club for more than 15 years. His goal is to share the story of the old-timers and people that formed the club so they will be remembered. It’s also to share the magic of jazz.

“Jazz is our music, African American music, and you know, it’s something we share with the world," Scott said. "We just wanted to expose this style of music. We could have a future Miles Davis, we could have a future John Coltrane here in Buffalo that, you know, if he gets exposed to this and really gets excited about it, you know, he could be something that’s special.”

For more information on the Colored Musicians Club, click here.