After closure of the clothing business, Father Trevor Huddleston wanted to use the building to support local Black musicians: Through funds raised at a farewell concert held in his honour in 1954 at the Bantu Men's Social Club next door, Union Artists were able to acquire a lease.
It soon became home to the African Music & Drama Association (1957), and the building rocked to Jazz and Soul – students having lessons, aspirant musicians arriving for a jam session as well as the popular performances that made the south end of Eloff Street lively seven days a week.
On any single day it was the place that one could bump into various musicians and artists, such as Dollar Brand, Kippie Moeketsi, Miriam Makeba, Ntemi Piliso, Hugh Masekela, Jonas Gwangwa.
[1] Over the years, Dorkay House has been occupied by various informal business and has been turned into flats for tenants, it is situated in Eloff Street, Johannesburg, on Portion 86 of the Farm Turffontein, which is a taxi rank today.
Musicians and other artists associated with Dorkay House include: Dolly Rathebe, Mara Louw, Thandi Klaasen, Hugh Masekela, Abigail Kubweka, Letta Mbulu, Miriam Makeba, Abdullah Ibrahim, Sophie Mgcina, Jonas Gwangwa, Caiphus Semenya, Queeneth Ndaba, Timothy Ndaba, Patience Gqwabe, Kippie Moeketsi, Ntemi Piliso, Gwigwi Mrwebi, Dudu Pukwana, Pinise Saul, Wilson Sitgee, Zacks Nkosi, Sipho Mabuse, Prince Mfiki, Thabo Motsomai, Dugmore Boetie, Unathi Hans, Ashante Mpobole.