1957: The Troubadour Opens
A “troubadour” is a poet and musician who sings tales of romance, at least that’s what it meant in the 11th through 13th century France. In the 20th century, a man named Doug Weston decided to open up a venue for folk artists and singer-songwriters. He called it the Troubadour and referred to the club’s roster as “modern-day troubadours.”
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He once told The Los Angeles Times: “The people who play our club are sensitive artists who have something to say about our times.” Before its location on Santa Monica Boulevard, it was a coffee shop on La Cienega. But once it established itself in its new (and current) location, there was no turning back. The acts that were to come were written into the music world’s history books forever.