THEY LIVED AT 555

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Five-fifty-five Edgecombe Avenue, 409’s sister building, sits five blocks to the north, on the corner of 160th Street and Edgecombe, which was recently co-named Paul Robeson Boulevard/Count Basie Place to honor just two of the building’s many famous residents: If one wanted to add the names of other notable denizens to this signpost, one would very quickly run out of space, because many African-American achievers in sociology, psychology, medicine, music, sports, and theater lived here. Just as one would run out of space down 

at 409.

The building is listed on the National Historic Register as Paul Robeson’s residence and is a national landmark.

Alexa Birdsong, co-founder, Jazz at Lincoln Center; concert producer
Bessie Buchannan, first African-American woman member of the New York State Assembly
Coleman Hawkins, Musician
Sandy Summers Head, first African-American editor at Harper's Bazaar
Johnnie Hodges, Musician
Jack Geiger, MD, founder, Physicians for Social Responsibility
Tulani Kinard, Vocalist with Sweet Honey in the Rock
Andy Kirk, Musician
Canada Lee, actor; activist
Joe Louis, world heavyweight champion
Alphonso Mizell and Larry Mizell, music producers
Rose Morgan, beauty culture entrepreneur
Snub Mosley, musician
Eslanda Goode Robeson, scientist; anthropologist; activist