In the 1920s, Port Washington, Wisconsin, was the epicenter of blues and jazz recordings. Incredibly, legendary artists like Ma Rainey, Charlie Patton, Alberta Hunter, Son
House, Blind Lemon Jefferson, Jelly Roll Morton, and Louis Armstrong all recorded
for an almost forgotten record label, Paramount. Even more remarkable is that
Paramount was owned and run by a furniture company, which operated a
factory
on what is now a waterfront municipal parking lot. The Wisconsin Chair Company set out to make records in order to sell more phonograph
cabinets, and ended up changing the course of American music in the process. One hundred years later, on the very spot where the legendary Paramount label was
born, The Blues Factory is dedicated to preserving the Paramount story, celebrating
the roots music of America, and promoting an authentic and unique chapter in Port
Washington’s rich history. Our multiplex building including an education and cultural education space, live performance space, event and banquet facility, and theme-based restaurant will open at the former chair company site on the Port Washington waterfront in spring 2017, the 100th anniversary of Paramount's founding. The Blues Factory will debut an annual roots music festival during summer 2017 as part of the Centennial celebration.
