
Frank Poindexter is the great-grandson of Joseph L. Walcott, who opened Wally’s in 1947.
George Murphy/WXPN
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George Murphy/WXPN
Frank Poindexter is the great-grandson of Joseph L. Walcott, who opened Wally’s in 1947.
George Murphy/WXPN
Working a music venue is tough work. It is also dangerous — many venues do not make it. However for nearly eighty years, Wally’s Cafe Jazz Membership has not solely survived, however thrived in Boston.
Wally’s was opened in 1947 by a Barbadian immigrant named Joseph L. Walcott, and it is nonetheless owned and operated by his household.
For our Sense of Place: Boston collection, Walcott’s great-grandson Frank Poindexter welcomes you into Wally’s and shares the membership’s story. He’ll speak about how Boston, a metropolis filled with proficient music college students, has formed Wally’s. He’ll additionally speak about how Wally’s has formed Boston — and helped begin a wave of integration when it first opened as a spot the place black and white folks may hearken to jazz collectively.

Poindexter with World Cafe host Raina Douris at Wally’s Cafe Jazz Membership.
George Murphy/WXPN
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George Murphy/WXPN
Poindexter with World Cafe host Raina Douris at Wally’s Cafe Jazz Membership.
George Murphy/WXPN
This episode of World Cafe was produced and edited by Kimberly Junod. The net story was created by Miguel Perez. Our engineer is Chris Williams. Our programming and reserving coordinator is Chelsea Johnson and our line producer is Will Loftus.