“Walk around, walk around, walk around, walk around,” the background singers chant, their a cappella harmonies chugging fire like a train bound for glory. Then the clouds open and a high tenor floats out of the sky. “I want,” it says, before swooping up into a falsetto yodel that seems to reach beyond heaven itself: […]
Tag: Sam Cooke
Posted inMusic
Soul singer Jackie Ross is so much more than a one-hit wonder
Jackie Ross had a smash with “Selfish One” in 1964—but that just happens to be the best-selling single from her decades of great songs.
Posted inFilm
Commanding performances carry One Night in Miami
Regina King’s feature directorial debut tackles social and racial justice through the eyes of four icons.
Posted inMusic
‘Do what the good Lord gave you and keep going’
The new compilation No Other Love shines a light on a self-reliant strain of midwest gospel that’s survived outside the mainstream for more than 50 years.
Posted inMusic
The gospel according to Mama Lou
Lou Della Evans-Reid spent nearly 40 years as minister of music for Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church, but even at age 89 this gospel trailblazer isn’t done spreading the good news.
Posted inMusic
DJ and producer Ariel Zetina on a beautifully transgressive Portuguese beat genius
Current musical obsessions of producer and DJ Ariel Zetina, photographer Julia Dratel, and Reader associate editor Jamie Ludwig
Posted inMusic
Sights to see at CIMMfest
The Chicago Movies & Music Festival makes its November debut with feature films about David Bowie, queer punk, New Orleans piano, gospel quartets, Ozzfest, Malian traditional music, and lots more.
Posted inBlogs
CIMMFest opening night: The Smart Studios Story revisits the Madison recording studio that helped birth indie rock
The Smart Studios Story, opening the Chicago International Movies & Music Festival, revisits the Madison recording studio that nurtured the indie rock of the 90s.
Posted inMusic
Buster Benton kept playing blues even after losing parts of both legs to diabetes
Guitarist Buster Benton played for years with Willie Dixon, who wrote his only hit, “Spider in My Stew.”
Posted inMusic
Blues guitarist Lonnie Brooks has had careers under two different names
Lonnie Brooks has worked with Clifton Chenier, Jimmy Reed, and Johnny Winter, and keeps on playing into his 80s.
Posted inArts & Culture
A new Staple Singers biography doesn’t quite take you there
In I’ll Take You There, Tribune critic Greg Kot tracks the Staple Singers’ march toward freedom.
Posted inMusic
Short Takes on New Releases
A Horace Silver treasure unearthed, Shelby Lynne does Dusty, and Matt Bauder’s weird love letter to doo-wop and Brian Wilson.