Once a stage for legends like Ray Charles and Ella Fitzgerald, the historic Houston venue is alive again celebrating community, culture, and connection.
HOUSTON — Just off Elgin and Emancipation Avenue, in the heart of Houston’s Third Ward, sits a cultural gem with a story that spans generations: the El Dorado Ballroom.
Opened in the late 1930s, the El Dorado quickly became a cornerstone of Houston’s Black community — downstairs dedicated to local business, and upstairs, music legends like Ray Charles, James Brown, B.B. King, and Ella Fitzgerald brought the house down.
“This was one of the only places that people of color could join and congregate and, you know, and celebrate,” said artist Phil Wade.
By the 1970s, the ballroom’s doors closed, its music silenced and its future uncertain.
That changed when the building was donated to Project Row Houses. By 2022, a full-scale renovation was underway to restore the ballroom and reintroduce it to the community as a vibrant music venue.
Now, the El Dorado Ballroom is back in business, honoring its rich past while creating space for a new generation of performers.
Among them is Houston native Phil Wade, whose shows combine music and comedy, bringing variety shows back to the El Dorado stage.
What do you hope the audience takes away when they watch your shows?
“I hope they take away a sense of pride and community, that we did something together. It’s always a sense of unity,” said Wade.
Wade even paid tribute to one of the ballroom’s most famous performers, embodying Ray Charles in his show.
What was that like for you getting to portray him when he’s performed here before?
“Well let me tell you what it was like. It was an awesome experience. You know, it was sweet as honey,” said Wade.
While much of the ballroom has been updated, parts of the original space remain, including a preserved section of the original dance floor, a powerful reminder of the footsteps that came before.
“This is a piece of the original dance floor right down in here,” said Wade. “All of history. Come on, put your feet on it.”
By taking the stage in the ballroom, Wade continues the legacy of the El Dorado Ballroom and is sharing it with the community.
“As an artist, we are a reflection at a time, and it’s our responsibility to be a bridge from the young and the old, you know,” said Wade.
Houston native Solange Knowles will bring her creative vision to the venue with a curated performance series, adding a modern layer to its ongoing legacy.
From jazz and soul to storytelling and tribute acts, the El Dorado Ballroom is once again a living, breathing part of the community, honoring the past while creating space for what’s next.