This exception to the liquor laws was set up by an agreement between Black Hawk owner Guidio Caccienti and Mayor George Christopher, and made it possible for children to experience jazz.

[2] A number of musicians recorded albums at the club, including Miles Davis, Cal Tjader, Thelonious Monk, Shelly Manne and Mongo Santamaría.

After a young sextet working at the Black Hawk brought Johnny Mathis in for a Sunday afternoon session, Helen Noga, co-owner of the club, decided that she wanted to manage his career.

[10] When Charlie Parker was supposed to be opening across town at Gordon "Dutch" Nieman's[11][12][13][14] Say When Club at 952 Bush Street,[15][16][17] near Powell, he could be found instead jamming at the Black Hawk.

[18] Oakland-based guitarist and guitar builder Nick Esposito, known for his 1940's recordings with Barney Bigard including "Empty Ballroom Blues", "Penny", and "Back Fat Boogie," appeared many times at the Black Hawk during the 1950s.