For nearly 70 years, Bob Koester owned the Jazz Record Mart and Delmark Records—and though his businesses could be “crazy town,” they helped nurture thriving communities.
Tag: Hound Dog Taylor
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Slide guitarist John Littlejohn brought Mississippi country blues to Chicago
John Littlejohn’s raw slide-guitar style grew from the same soil that produced Elmore James, but he never became a star outside the Windy City.
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Lefty Dizz was one of the greatest showmen in the blues
Guitarist Lefty Dizz toured abroad for decades, but even in his home base of Chicago he was never the star he played like.
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Fiery slide guitarist Lil’ Ed Williams has been rocking the house for more than 40 years
Lil’ Ed & the Blues Imperials have made nine albums for Alligator Records—eight of them with the same lineup they’ve had since 1988.
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The Secret History of Chicago Music: Emmett “Maestro” Sanders
Emmett “Maestro” Sanders was a huge figure in Peoria blues, but died unheralded this spring—in part because he only ever released one single.
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At 40 years old, Alligator Records continues to evolve
Founder Bruce Iglauer on the Chicago blues label’s bumpy road from Hound Dog Taylor to JJ Grey & Mofro