Russ Gifford
Connecting Regional History with National History... by Telling the Stories of Individuals


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I am always looking for new places to present my talks.



 

 


Upcoming Talks


The Last Sunday in January -

Sunday - January 26th, At Lewis & Clark / Betty Strong Encounter Center, 2 PM

Sioux City on the Music Circuit: 50 Years of Big Names, Great Music, and Memorable Venues – 1920-1969

It was no accident that Sioux City was a key stop for some of Music’s biggest names. The town boasted venues with great stages and big, beautiful dance floors that everyone loved. Sioux City's businesses created key train and travel connections to the world, and music rode therails! Add to that the early radio powerhouses in Siouxland boomed the message across the midwest, and called the crowds to the dancefloors. As one of the major cities in the Plains, second largest city in Iowa, Sioux City had it all. Siouxlanders were moved by big bands, country crooners, smooth jazz singers and hot new stars.

Moved was a key point: Dancing was the draw of music, and Sioux City’s DANCE venues were second to none in the Midwest. Sioux City drew big names – and rave reviews – as they toured the country.


From the Skylon to Shore Acres, the Rigadon to the Paddock, the Tomba and the Turin Inn – we will see the places and hear the stories of the names that m
ade Sioux City a popular part of the music scene! We will also see how Sioux City made history in each era, including Jazz, Swing, and the groundswell that became Rock n Roll!

None of this was by accident. Sioux City was not a side bar but a key location for great performances, thanks to great locations, great promotions, and great audiences!

We will meet names from yesterday that made memories for millions - from Louie Armstrong to Elvis, big bands to the Beach Boys, we will see how Sioux City enticed, entertained, and elated the stars of the stage! We will also meet the man that became a vital link in creating this circuit, and enshrined Sioux City’s place in it.

 

Join Russ Gifford and see these great locations that have been forgotten – and hear the stories of the artists that left a mark on music and the business!  

About the presenter:

Russ Gifford, Senior Lecturer with Western Iowa Tech’s Institute for Lifelong Learning, delivers tales of American history to audiences in the tri-state region. His two decades of programs include over 350 unique talks, plus numerous articles, and historical papers. Gifford’s work garnered two teaching awards and his lectures have been supported by grants from Humanities Iowa, the Kind World Foundation, and others.


       “His ratings were the highest for our entire season of 12 workshops, and far eclipsed those for the previous season. He created a fantastic class, and people left feeling empowered.”

-- Dr. Lynn Barteck, Tri State Graduate Center

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