CBGB - cradle of punk and new wave

CBGB, founded by Hilly Kristal in 1973 at 315 Bowery, became the focal club for New York punk and new-wave bands in the 1970s and early 1980s. Acts that launched or developed their careers there include the Ramones, Patti Smith Group, Television, Talking Heads, and Blondie, and the club's name (Country, BlueGrass and Blues) contrasted with the music it came to be known for. Though CBGB closed as a music venue in 2006, its legacy is a major chapter in New York City's contemporary-music history.