Join Bottom Line co-owner Allan Pepper and veteran music journalist Billy Altman as they discuss their new book Positively Fourth and Mercer: The Inside Story of New York’s Iconic Music Club, The Bottom Line, a behind-the-scenes look at the history and legacy of the 400-seat Greenwich Village nightspot that during its 1974-2004 run impacted the careers of Bruce Springsteen, Dolly Parton, Darlene Love, David Johansen, Uncle Floyd, and countless others.
Moderated by local radio personality Jerry Treacy, the event will also feature a gallery of rarely seen photographs by longtime club photographer Peter Cunningham, as well as Q & A’s and book signings by the two authors.
Doors open at 6:30 p.m., and the program begins at 7 p.m. Tickets are $15.
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When Allan Pepper and his childhood friend and partner Stanley Snadowsky opened The Bottom Line in 1974, they created a small club with a big goal: putting the artists and audiences first by building a creative, intimate environment with a focus on what transpired on stage. “The Bottom Line was never just a venue,” says Pepper. “Stanley and I envisioned it as a new concept for presenting live music.”
It turned out to be all that – and more. During its existence, The Bottom Line was host to countless legendary moments, including:
- Bruce Springsteen’s career-making Born to Run stand in 1975
- Dolly Parton’s first solo New York City performances in 1977
- Harry Chapin’s milestone 2,000th concert in 1981
- The long-running 1980s/’90s series “In Their Own Words,” bringing together unique singer-songwriter combinations to perform and discuss their craft
- The late 1990/2000s annual holiday-themed “Downtown Messiah”
“We were always confident we could make our vision a reality,” says Pepper, “But what we had no way of predicting was the lasting impact this little club would have on New York’s music scene or the history of popular music. That’s the story we are telling with this book.”
Those details are as much a part of Positively Fourth and Mercer as the recollections from performers, patrons, and staffers.
“Allan and I wanted to present more than a collection of anecdotes,” says Altman. “Once we started working on this project, it quickly became clear we were outlining a rich narrative of cultural and creative energy. Positively Fourth and Mercer will appeal to readers with a passion for music, and to anyone attracted to a story of friendship, ambition, and the importance of following a dream.”
