Opened with great fanfare in April 1942,[3] the Rhumboogie was owned by Charlie Glenn and boxing champion Joe Louis.

The opening night's performance was the first of Tiny Bradshaw and His Orchestra's eight-week residency.

[4] Other acts over the years included: In October 1944, the Rhumboogie Recording Company, coinciding with T-Bone Walker's third stint at the venue, recorded him accompanied by pianist Marl Young leading the Rhumboogie house band, which included Red Saunders.

The only other artist to get a release on Rhumboogie was Buster Bennett, recording under the name of his trumpet player, Charles Gray.

Mercury later re-issued the material from the December 1945 T-Bone session.