Pepaa began its journey on St. Louis Avenue with the last bash of 1989 by Home Boy

Productions which consisted of Jerome Williams (Jaydubz), Rasul Siddik, and Rahtu

Johnson for the purpose of getting Rasul back to New York.

We didn’t have internet or cell phones, and with just a few flyers, the word spread like

wildfire, and I believe a bright star was over the house, guiding some of everybody to the

jam session.

 

To name a few of the musicians: Harold Ataberry(Pudgy), Rasul Siddik, Jamal Pitts,

Floyd Leflore and One-Arm Willie on Trumpet. Ahmed Khalid, Aaron Parker (AP), Ariel

Kenyatta and Malik King on Tenor. Jerome Williams (JayDubz), Ashanfi, and Rahtu

Johnson on Alto, Usama Pitts on Drums, Poet Shirley Leflore, and a host of others. After

moving from St Louis Avenue to Theodosia, I had a few jam sessions there as well, but

nothing ever rivaled the last bash of 1989. My next location was 4743 Washington Blvd

in 2002. After settling into married life with a family, I began reoffering the jam sessions

again around 2006. To name a few of the musicians that played at that location, Gary

Sykes, Scrooge, Frank Williams, Papa Wright, and Maurice Carnes on Drums, Daryl

Mixon, and Kim Lacosta on Bass, Rasul Siddik on Trumpet, Kendra Mahr on Guitar,

Tomasenia Clark on Vocals, Kelly Wimbley on Djembe, Jawad Spann, Jerome Williams

(Jaydubz), and Rahtu Johnson on Alto, Aaron Parker (AP) and Ariel Kenyatta on Tenor,

and a host of others.

 

The jam sessions became a consistent event, prompting my wife and me to begin looking

for a permanent place and move it out of our home. We also began thinking of a new

name for a new venue. We were really interested in a little cozy spot on the corner of

Newstead and Delmar were not able to move forward with the purchase. Then one

day in May of 2018, Dubz called me about a property across the street from his home on

Page Blvd that was just listed for sale. I was intrigued about the property for an

investment for one of our children, but upon touring the property, my wife saw the

potential for PEPAA as the layout was the same as the property on Washington,

where we were having the jam sessions, and that’s how we secured a permanent location

for PEPAA. Jaydubz and I were kicking around a name with the concept of the music

being hot, and that’s how the name was created.

 

On May 16, 2025, when the tornado revealed its powerful face through north St. Louis, destroying much property but sparing lots of life our roof was peeled off and landed onto

the lot next to the property, causing flooding into the venue space with only minor

damages to PEPAA on the 1 st floor. There remain ongoing repairs at PEPAA as we are

committed to restoring the venue to its former glory and beyond while continuing to

amplify our weekly offerings as they reach new heights. Beyond restoration, PEPAA

exists to preserve the African American creative expression as a tool for meditation,

balance, and community.

 

If you would like to support our cause and help in the restoration, please consider donating. 

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