Juneteenth on the Avenue

June 17, 2021

Until the late 20th Century, Juneteenth was primarily a regional holiday. But on June 19, 1953, an all-star Juneteenth concert was staged at Indiana Avenue’s legendary Sunset Terrace nightclub. The event was sponsored by the Black firemen and policemen of Indianapolis and featured a line-up of notable 1950s R&B stars, including Johnny Otis, Marie Adams, Mel Walker, and Redd Lyte.