Jill Hopkins is a Chicago broadcaster, DJ, writer, musician, and storyteller. After an eight-year stint at Vocalo Radio, Hopkins kicked off 2022 by joining the Metro family of venues (which also includes Smart Bar and GMan) as their new media and civic events producer. As told to Jamie Ludwig I was always a big radio […]
Tag: Herb Kent
Posted inMusic
Girl group the Lovelites hit big but never became stars outside Chicago
The Lovelites had their biggest success with “How Can I Tell My Mom and Dad,” which came out when they were so young they could barely tour.
Posted inMusic
Chicago soul dynamo Renaldo Domino breaks out his sugary sweet pipes on “Never Thought”
Correction: This item has been updated to include details about Renaldo Domino’s new Colemine Records single “No Laggin’ and Draggin’,” whose upcoming release the show celebrates. In a just and perfect world, Renaldo Domino would be as widely revered as legendary Chicago soul greats Curtis Mayfield, Jerry Butler, and Gene Chandler. In my opinion, the […]
Posted inMusic
Life was just a party: Prince’s 1999 and Chicago house music
Prince could hardly have avoided influencing Chicago house, whose earliest, most ardent fans were queer Black and Brown kids.
Posted inMusic
The B-52s gave Chicago one last gift at Riot Fest
Even if the B-52s really are retiring from the road, they’ve left a permanent mark on the city through their influence on house music.
Posted inBlogs
Saying good-bye to Herb Kent, radio’s greatest of all time
Herb Kent helped shaped Chicago’s musical tastes for more than 70 years, and his on-air persona was history’s purest example of radio magic.
Posted inBest of Chicago
V103 is too good for FM radio
If it didn’t have commercials it would also be better than most satellite stations.
Posted inBlogs
Jackson Five story led to more than one discovery
In the process of shooting photos for the Reader’s Jackson Five cover story, he discovered something else.
Posted inNews & Politics
R. Kelly’s Old Lady
She’s best known as the DJ who ruled black radio in the 70s and 80s, but La Donna Tittle has always thought of herself as an actress. Now thanks to a cameo in R. Kelly’s epic “Trapped in the Closet” video, she’s ready for her close-up.