Local Chicago Music
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Cassius and Sonji Clay: Love and Boxing
Sonji Clay and Muhammad Ali (then Cassius Clay), circa 1965. Awwwwww. Note his puppy dog gaze… Here in Chicago (back in the mid-60s), Cassius was flirting with the Black Muslims, superstardom and love (with a local singer named Sonji)…. According to Ali’s one-time doctor, Ferdie Pacheco, “[Ali’s first Wife,] Sonji was a pert, very pretty…
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Support Your Local Record Store @ Sonotheque (TONITE)
Nuff Said. …..wait, that’s a lie. One more thing to say. Click here for my interview with the folks from Beverly Records (a spot near Mr. Peabody’s shop, on 116th and Western, that’s been around since the 1960s).
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Yaw: 100% Juice, 100% Soul
According to Yaw, he is “100% juice to do what [he does] – no high fructose corn syrup… But really, [he’s] just a b-boy trapped deep inside a soul singer”. And he’s got one of the most masterful voices to ever come out of Chicago. Often found gigging across town, he is just as likely…
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This Day in Chicago Radio History
This week in 1967, at WBEE 1570-AM (out of Harvey), this was the Number One record on their BEE Line-up Chart. It’s the Radiants (on local Chess Records) with “(Don’t it make you) Feel Kind of Bad”. Also on the charts that week: 2. The Whole World is a Stage — Fantastic Four 3. The…
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Love is a Merry-Go-Round: Ginji James and “that thing”
I wanted to share this record with you….because I love it. From the 1971 (Chicago born-and-bred) album, “Love is a Merry-Go-Round”: it’s Ginji James with “Love Had Come to Stay”. It’s sitting-in-the-park music from Brunswick Records (recorded on South Michigan Avenue in Chicago). Sitting-in-the-Park music is that music you hear in your head when you’re…
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Darrow Fletcher: when love calls.
Darrow Fletcher recorded his first record while still a student at Hirsch High School (77th and Ingleside); he later attended South Shore. Blessed with razor-keen phrasing and unique tone, his records stood out from the pack. Darrow toured the Chitlin’ Circuit, and appeared on Soul Train when it was in Chicago. After recording on several…
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The Equalizer is Here…
Chicago-based Shala’s music is afro-punk/hip-hop/electro/freshness (and you can experience it tonight)… For the uninitiated, here’s a link to a sampling: get-yur Shala.-here Equalizer presents Shala. at Darkroom also featuring: Nikki Lynette mathpanda Doc Wattson and resident DJ LA*Jesus Friday, February 27, 2009 at 9:00pm – 2:00am Location: Darkroom Street: 2210 W. Chicago Ave., Chicago, IL…
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Perfect Angel: minnie riperton stayed in love.
Minnie Riperton, native Chicagoan and Hyde Park High School alum, started her singing career as a receptionist for Chess Records (at 2120 South Michigan Avenue). There, Riperton recorded in a girl group called the Gems, and a Rock/Soul outfit called Rotary Connection (for the story of how, while in Rotary Connection, Minnie came to accept…
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Black Merda? Black Rock.
The year is 1969 on the South Side of Chicago (21st & Michigan). Marshall Chess (son of Leonard Chess), has taken the helm at Chess Records (the Seminal Chicago Blues/Jazz/Gospel label). A fairly hip young cat, Marshall realizes that the hottest acts in popular music at the time borrowed (or gangstered) heavily from the roster at…
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