You have a good and precise memory of the 101 itself. Thanks for those details. My memories are more of the happenings. Kris Lynn, stage name, Florence Dinwiddie, real name, was a teacher at Renaissance HS during the week and a jazz pianist extraordinaire at the 101 on the weekends. She ran the music like a conductor. I saw her at Bakers a few years ago for a SEMJA event. Al was the bartender. A short, stocky, muscular, bald, black guy who had the look of a pugilist. Nicer guy you'd never meet. Last time I saw him, maybe a dozen or more years ago, he was waiting on a bus downtown. I gave him a ride home to the east side. The club was smokey and very musty, mostly due to the fact that there were only two businesses in the entire, almost vacant building. People would walk in the door with horns in hand, just waiting for Kris to acknowledge them and they'd play as they approached the stage. On one side you'd have a party from Birmingham and the other would be a queen in full regalia. It was my getaway with a couple of the old-timers from downtown. I've often called it one of the coolest bars I've ever been to - it was so raw. Kris Lynn later played at Bert's 'All That Jazz' in the Cadillac Tower where Gracie's Bon Ton used to be, and at the Bricktown Grill, behind the Millender Center, which burned during the 80's.
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