Col. Benjamin Birdsall

Historical marker location:

Massapequa, New York

( Memorial is at the intersection of Merrick Road and Massapequa Avenue on Merrick Road.)

The first recorded jazz concert took place in New York City in 1917, featuring a band led by the pianist James Reese Europe. Jazz music would go on to become a defining feature of New York's cultural scene, with legendary clubs like the Cotton Club and the Village Vanguard.