HOUSTON — Houston's own Beyoncé is blazing a trail of her own with her newly released album titled "Cowboy Carter and the Rodeo Chitlin Circuit" made up of 27 tracks.
But it's the Chitlin Circuit part of the album title speaking to rooted history right here in Houston's Freedmen's Town neighborhood.
"The Chitlin Circuit provided entertainment for our people, basically a tool for Black entertainers to travel to try and conduct their shows," explained Freedmen's Town native and historian Gladys House El.
It contributed to the success of Black jazz, R&B and rock and roll stars from the 1930s to the 60s.
"Sammy Davis Jr., Louis Armstrong, a whole lot of great entertainers," House El said.
They ended up finding their way to Houston through the Chitlin Circuit with the help of local entertainment promoter and founder of Houston's Peacock Records Don Robey.
"Here is where Robey lived and entertained his guest who would come into town," House El said as she sat on the steps of Robey's former home in Freedmen's Town. "He had a motel where the entertainers would stay because they weren’t allowed to stay at the major hotels downtown where they performed."
The home is guarded by two signature fixtures out front which still sit there today.
"That was his indication to say hey, when you come to Freedmen’s Town look for the two lions you know if you forget the address, I'm on Andrews Street, you’ll see the two lions," House El said.
It's this very history speaking to just how far Black musicians have come tracking back to the early days of being placed in a genre known exclusively as "Race Music."
"Everybody keeps their history alive, we need to keep our heritage going and show respect," House El said.
As Cowboy Carter births a genre of its own.