Tallahassee's Frenchtown is one of the oldest African American neighborhoods in the state. Located in the heart of Frenchtown, the Red Bird Café on Macomb Street was a thriving hub for music in the early 20th century, especially booming from the 1920s through the 1950s. Major blues musicians such as Ray Charles, Tallahassee Tight, Nat and Cannonball Adderley were known to frequent and perform during the 1940s. Lawyer Smith led a group that performed at the club for approximately 30 years, and he invited many students from the Florida Agricultural and Mechanical College to play with his band. Other musicians that have visited and performed include Louis Armstrong and BB King. In the book Historic Frenchtown: Heart and Heritage in Tallahassee, writer Julianne Hare wrote that “Tallahassee Frenchtown was an ideal hub and rest stop for entertainers on the road between New Orleans and larger Florida cities.”
While the 1960s brought decline to Frenchtown and the Red Bird Café, the area has recently seen new growth and development. Live jazz can be found at B Sharps on Brevard Street, and the area's history and culture is celebrated each fall during the Frenchtown Heritage Fest.