Well, here’s the thing. The Mother Road from east to west has long been a melting pot of people, places, and, of course, music. As long as there have been radios in cars, venues along the route, and musicians determined to play, travelers have listened to sounds of different genres from Chicago to Santa Monica, whether they stop for the night or pass on by.

This series has encapsulated the essentials of the diverse musical history over the 2,500-mile adventure. Seven cities provided unexpected nuggets. Some were complete surprises to the author – Amarillo and Albuquerque. Some were not – Chicago, St. Louis, Tulsa, and Santa Monica. And then there is Winslow, a city that capitalized on the Eagles’ hit “Standing on a Corner” in 1972.

The early cities along Route 66 showed the influence of Black emigration from the South and of legendary Black artists such as Louis Armstrong and Bessie Smith in Chicago, Chuck Berry and Tina Turner, Albert King and Miles Davis, all from St. Louis. They entertained in ballrooms, roadhouses, and clubs. Chicago grew the “Chicago-School” of jazz and blues in the Southside’s speakeasies and clubs.

Find all eight articles about Chicago, St. Louis, Tulsa, Amarillo, Albuquerque, Winslow, Santa Monica, and a wrap-up in the Route 66 Sentinel issues April – October of 2026.

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