Blues harpist Forest City Joe might be a legend today if he’d recorded more—or lived long enough to enjoy the 1960s blues revival.
Tag: Muddy Waters
Posted inMusic
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.
Posted inCity Life
The best made-in-Chicago gift ideas for the holidays
Shop hyperlocal this season for everything from unorthodox games and Chicago-centric books to craft booze and high-design home goods.
Posted inMusic
John Primer sustains the living heritage of the blues
Chicago guitarist John Primer honors his mentors—including Muddy Waters and Magic Slim—by serving as a role model for young musicians.
Posted inMusic
Blues saxophonist Eddie Shaw still leads the band he assembled for Howlin’ Wolf
Horn players don’t tend to be front men in the blues, but Eddie Shaw has led his own groups for 50 years.
Posted inMusic
Luther Allison was the Jimi Hendrix of blues guitar
Guitarist Luther Allison learned his craft in Chicago, but he spent much of his career in Europe when American interest in the blues waned.
Posted inMusic
Muddy Waters sideman Luther ‘Snake Boy’ Johnson had his career cut short by brain cancer
Blues guitarist Luther Johnson made his solo debut on Checker in 1964 but died at 41 in 1976.
Posted inMusic
The Reader’s guide to the 32nd annual Chicago Blues Festival
More people turn out for Blues Fest than for Pitchfork and Lollapalooza combined—and here are a couple dozen reasons why, including Syl Johnson, Shemekia Copeland, Clarence Carter, Chick Rodgers, and Buddy Guy.
Posted inArts & Culture
The Goodman’s Two Trains Running perfectly re-creates a world where everyone’s stuck
August Wilson’s flawed masterpiece gets a fascinating if bleak revival.
Posted inBlogs
Foo Fighters take a trek through Chicago’s musical history on HBO’s Sonic Highways, with mixed results
The alternative-rock titans come to Chicago in the first episode of their HBO series, named after their forthcoming record.
Posted inNews & Politics
Decorative board-ups: A tool in the battle against the vacancy epidemic
The Neighborhood Foundation has been installing painted panels on abandoned buildings for nearly two decades.
Posted inMusic
How do record stores get such great used vinyl?
When record stores aren’t buying used vinyl directly from the public, they might find a carload of goodies at the Chicagoland Record Collectors Show.
Posted inMusic
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.
Posted inBlogs
The Third Coast—turning a bunch of stuff that happened into drama
Thomas Dyja’s history of Chicago finds the story line in 30 years of city life.
Posted inArts & Culture
The house Theaster Gates built
Theaster Gates’s 12 Ballads for Huguenot House goes on display at the Museum of Contemporary Art.