So little in the world seems to be going right that I hardly feel the need to explain why the Secret History of Chicago Music is extending its annual Winter Blues series into April. Sticking to the calendar is less important to me than eulogizing an important bluesman who recently passed away. I hope this […]
Tag: Hubert Sumlin
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Blues bassist Bob Stroger drops a new album 70 years into his career
In the more than 15 years I’ve been writing the Secret History of Chicago Music, I’ve often tried to give props to the past and present venues and labels that support the underappreciated musicians I cover. Local label Delmark Records is the epitome of such an institution. The infamous Bob Koester ran the label from […]
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Add blues pianist Barrelhouse Chuck to the list of greats lost in 2016
Barrelhouse Chuck built upon piano traditions established by the likes of Sunnyland Slim, Pinetop Perkins, and Little Brother Montgomery.
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The Secret History of Chicago Music: Tail Dragger
The Secret History of Chicago: a Howlin’ Wolf imitator who did time for shooting a fellow bluesman dead.
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The Secret History of Chicago Music: Jody Williams
Lead guitar on Bo Diddley’s “Who Do You Love?”, Jody Williams is gigging again after 35 years.
Posted inBlogs
RIP Howard Tate and Hubert Sumlin
Over the weekend soul singer Howard Tate and blues guitarist Hubert Sumlin passed away, at 72 and 80, respectively.
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The Reader’s Guide to the Chicago Blues Festival
Early this year, citing financial crisis, the city of Chicago threatened to consolidate or eliminate most of its free lakefront music festivals, or at least to start charging admission to some of them. The cover-charge idea died on the vine, but four events—Viva! Chicago, the Country Music Festival, Celtic Fest, and the Gospel Music Festival—have […]
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The Robert Johnson Variations
Three generations of musicians play the songs and ponder the legend of the archetypal Delta bluesman.
Posted inBlogs
Music Without Borders Lineup Announced
The 2010 schedule for the Music Without Borders series in Millennium Park includes Tinariwen, Balkan Beat Box, and Orchestre Poly-Rythmo de Cotonou.