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.
Tag: WVON
Summoning the ghosts of Record Row
For two decades, a short stretch of Michigan Avenue hosted a concentration of creative entrepreneurship whose influence on Black popular music is still felt today.
David Dann on his new biography of blues-rock guitarist Michael Bloomfield
From Glencoe to Monterey Pop to oblivion: Michael Bloomfield’s huge talent and unique style changed rock guitar forever, but while Clapton and Hendrix entered the canon, he faded away.
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.
Latimore proves himself a smooth soul-blues survivor
Florida soul-blues veteran Latimore outlasted disco decades ago, and on his most recent album he applies his inimitable voice to the Great American Songbook.
If Rauner loves African-Americans, he’s got a funny way of showing it
Evaluating the governor’s claim to have done “historic things for the black community. I would argue more than any other governor.”
Willie Clayton still has his sterling voice as his career nears its golden anniversary
For Willie Clayton’s fourth appearance on the Blues Festival’s main stage, the southern soul king will be cooking with a full band—backup singers, horn players, and all.
How Art Sims became the radio entertainer known as Chat Daddy
Meet the man behind the microphone of the WVON entertainment talk show Real Talk, Real People.
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.
Mayor Rahm sends me a kinder, gentler version of a dead fish
Some of the greatest journalistic minds in Chicago will come to the Hideout on February 3 to discuss, among other things, whether there’s any truth whatsoever to Rahm’s campaign propaganda.
The Jackson Find
This was supposed to be the story of the Jackson Five’s first single, cut in Chicago in 1967. But while he was writing it, Jake Austen picked up a trail leading to a tape nobody knew existed: the earliest known studio recording of Michael Jackson and his brothers.
Legendary DJ Richard Pegue Died Tuesday
Radio legend Richard Pegue passes away at 64.
More on Obama, Wright, and the Gospel
Jeremiah Wright’s jeremiad and the Social Gospel vs. the Prosperity Gospel.