In the 1920s, Robert Hugman, a visionary architect who had grown up fishing from the San Antonio River, put forth a magnificent plan to create walkways along the water's edge. Eventually his dreams were realized, and by the early 1940's the Riverwalk, with its fine masonry stairways, foot bridges, and beautiful foliage was a reality. Built by the W.P.A., the city of San Antonio now maintains it as a city park.

And the jazz?...Jim Cullum Sr., a clarinetist who had spent his time in the trenches playing with Jack Teagarden, Jimmy Dorsey, and many, many other groups, began coaching a group of aspiring High School jazz musicians. The group included his son, Jim Cullum, Jr., who played the cornet. In 1962, father and son founded a partnership and organized the Happy Jazz Band. The next year, a dynamic young San Antonio businessman, Jim Hayne (who also played great jazz trombone), met the Cullums.

Jim Cullum Sr., Jim Hayne, and 20 other prominent San Antonians invested in and launched The Landing in April, 1963. It was an instant success. The Landing, along with restaurant Casa Rio, were the River's only businesses, but gradually throughout the 60's, the Landing was joined by a variety of other places and the modern Riverwalk was born.

The original Landing location was about 150 yards north, around the bend (where Joe's Crab Shack is now located). The jazz poured forth and great, outrageous good times abounded. What a thrill to see it all come to life! Customers stood in line on weekends. The Landing became a stopping-off place for jazz musicians on the road. Doc Severinsen, Yank Lawson, Benny Goodman, Bobby Hackett, Joe Venuti, and Earl Hines all came to play with us.

The band changed its name to The Jim Cullum Jazz Band and began its rise to fame among traditional jazz lovers. Along the way, the band played a great variety of interesting venues, from Carnegie Hall and Kennedy Center to small country taverns, but home base was always the beloved Landing stage.

Today The Landing is one of the nation's oldest jazz clubs. Only Pete Fountain's and Preservation Hall in New Orleans have been around longer.

Now in its 35th year, the band continues its own traditions with some 45 recordings to its credit. Always a 7-piece group, it is composed of full-time professional players. The band boasts a repertoire of over 1,000 arrangements and another 1,000 "jam tunes." It stands alone in the world of traditional jazz.

The Landing's main product has always been jazz performance. Patrons have always been seated at tables (no dancing), and the club has always operated a bar and now serves food (see our new menu).

In 1988, The Jim Cullum Jazz Band began a jazz radio program, Riverwalk, Live from The Landing presented by Public Radio International. Airing nationwide on over 200 Public Radio stations, the show has become a vital link for devoted jazz connoisseurs from coast to coast.