a beatnik club in St Louis closed too soon

Sixty three years ago, or specifically in December 1959, a police officer entered The Holy Barbarian, a beatnik club. Within a few months, it was shut down. Its closing was tied to the owners allowing all people to enter.

I knew Virgil Matheus, one of the owners, because guitarist Grant Green, my former father in law, had performed there before his heyday with Blue Note, America’s first independent jazz label. For years, Matheus asked me to tell The Holy Barbarian’s story.

Life got in the way. I had the book and film on Grant to release, among other things.

I finally had a chance this month to go through the countless letters and other documents Virgil sent me before his passing in 2013.

Rest in peace, Virgil, your wife Joan (you were both so generous to me over the years) Grant and so many others.

I think I am ready to finally get to work on this.

Still from The Grant Green Story. Virgil Matheus, co-owner of The Holy Barbarian, pictured.

Ollie Matheus, Virgil’s brother, was also for the underdog, in and outside the States.