Gip's Place: Juke joint in Bessemer, Alabama
A look at Henry Gip Gipson's juke joint, Gip's Place, in Bessemer, Alabama. Gipson passed away on Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2019.
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Podcast #066 - The Legendary Gip's Place in Alabama
In this episode, I visit Gip's Place, the legendary Juke Joint in the small sleepy city, Bessemer in Alabama. Here I meet the 97-year-old Henry Gip Gipson.
Gip's Place has been operating since 1952 and many of the big names of rock and blues have played right here in Gip's backyard: James Brown, Elvis Presley, John Lee Hooker, Muddy Waters, Keith Richards, Jimmy Page, Robert Plant and many others.
Hidden History: Gip's Place
CBS 42
State of the Re:Union - Birmingham: Gip's Place
SOTRU visits Gip's Place, an old Alabama juke joint. Run by Henry Gipson, the 90-something year old owner, Gip's Place is legendary in the blues world, slowly healing the racial wounds of the past through music.
The World According to Gip
In this very spot back in 1952, in Bessemer, Alabama, you might have found Henry Gip Gipson on the porch giving an impromptu guitar lesson to little Earl Williams, or anybody else who came and wanted to learn, and there were lots of them. Soon after, a few friends would have stopped by to shoot the breeze, have a beverage, and play. Black, white, young, old, it didn't matter; everyone was welcome at Gip's place. See The Good in Gip's Place here:
Gip's Place, Alabama
Henry Gipson is the the owner and bluesman of a historical juke joint in Bessemer, Alabama.
Gips Bessemer Alabama
Gips plays the blues
Gip- Trailer (BSDFF 2017)
Gip is the story of Henry Gip Gipson, a gravedigger by day and a hard drinking bluesman by night. In 1952 he started Gip's Place - a ramshackle, thrown-together juke joint in his backyard in Bessemer, Alabama. Today, there are only a small handful of the original juke joints left. In fact, some argue that there are only four; and on May 4th, 2013, “Gip’s Place”, the last one in Alabama, was raided and closed.
Learn more at
GIP - Son of the South
Protein TV is proud to announce Gip: Son of the South, a brand new film made in partnership with biannual arts magazine So It Goes. The film is the portrait of Gip, a legend in the American Juke music scene. Somewhere between 90 and 100 years old and the grandson of a freed slave, Gip holds the keys to one of the last original juke-joints of the South: “Gip’s Place” in Bessemer, Alabama. He also runs a graveyard – ironic for a man who could have been put in the ground several times over, and has the bullet holes to prove it.
This is a story of a remarkable son of the South who has seen all kinds of things in his long life and has overcome great odds to give the community around him hope and purpose. Every dog-gone Saturday night.
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Earl Guitar Williams - Hey Mr. Gip at Gip's Place
Earl Guitar Williams plays cigar box guitar with Marcus Lee on drums at Gip's Place, a juke joint in Bessemer, Alabama. For more information:
Sweet Claudette at Gip's Place, Bessemer Alabama 6/19/10
Sweet Claudette Harrell
Trip To Gips Place
June 4th, 2011 - Tom and Deano drive 500 miles to Bessemer, AL to visit legendary bluesman Gip Gipson at his juke joint. Discovered authentic music, first class hospitality, premium BBQ and a visit with an original American icon. Songs in the video are Mr. Gip's Rainin' In My Heart and Little G Weevil's Weird Dancing Woman. Little G Weevil's Southern Experience CD should be in your collection! As for Mr. Gip, you gotta go jukin' at his place...
Gip's Place Shut Down! City Council meeting Tuesday, May 7, 7pm
On May 4th, 2013, Bessemer police raided and closed Gip's Place, the last juke joint left in Alabama and one of only a few left in the country. Please come to the city council meeting at Bessemer City Hall. Gip is asking everyone to arrive at 6pm for a 7pm council meeting. Please come out to support Gip's Place and help preserve this national treasure.
mr henry gipson mr gip the real blues man
live at Mr Gip's Juke Joint
Mr Gip at Old York Blues and BBQ Festival in Oakman Alabama
Alabama Music Office.com goes to Old York Farms to attend a performance by Mr. Gip at Old York 2nd Annual Blues and BBQ Festival in Oakman Alabama. Henry Gip Gipson owns one of the last true juke joints located in Bessemer, Alabama. Mr. Gip's Place is very hard to find for first time visitors. Hopefully the directions below will help.
DIRECTIONS TO GIP'S:
The surest way to get to Gip's Place is to go with somebody who's been there before and knows how to find it. But if you trust your navigational skills, here are directions:
From downtown Birmingham, take I-20/59 toward Tuscaloosa.
Take Exit 112 toward 18th Street. Turn left onto 18th Street.
Go one mile, cross the railroad tracks and turn left onto Carolina Avenue.
Go one block and turn right onto 19th Street. Go four blocks and turn left onto Dartmouth Avenue.
Go 1.2 miles and after you pass the white cinder block building with Used Tires painted on the side, turn right onto 33rd Street.
Go two blocks to a stop sign, turn left and then immediately right to stay on 33rd Street.
Go up the hill and turn right onto Avenue C.
Go about a block and at the big curve in the road, you'll see Henry Gipson's house on the left. Gip's Place is down the driveway in the tin shed in his backyard.
Video by Jerry W. Henry
Todd Simpson at Gip's Place in Bessemer Alabama. 5th Video!????
Todd Simpson at Gip's Place in Bessemer Alabama. 5th Video!????
Gip's Place.
via YouTube Capture
Sweet Claudette at Gip's Place Bessemer Alabama 6/19/10
Sweet Claudette Harrell