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- Music, The Secret History of Chicago Music Mar 11, 2021
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Pianist Willie Mabon gave Chess Records its first big hit
Despite that 1952 smash, he was soon overshadowed by the likes of Bo Diddley and Muddy Waters.
- Music, The Secret History of Chicago Music Mar 24, 2020
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Blues guitarist Lurrie Bell beat mental illness to build a thriving career
By the early 90s he didn’t even own a guitar anymore, but now he’s got a shelf full of Blues Music Awards.
- Music, The Secret History of Chicago Music Jan 14, 2020
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George ‘Wild Child’ Butler breathed new life into raw, old-fashioned blues
This stubbornly idiosyncratic harmonica player had lousy luck with recordings, but he thrived for four decades onstage.
- Music, Music Feature Oct 23, 2019
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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.
- Music, The Secret History of Chicago Music Sep 24, 2019
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Little-known Chicago blues-rock wizard Zach Prather has found his crowd in Europe
Thanks in part to a long partnership with the late Cash McCall, Prather has played with the likes of Willie Dixon, Screamin' Jay Hawkins, and Etta James.
- Music, The Secret History of Chicago Music Oct 9, 2018
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Otis Rush and his searing guitar immortalized the west-side Chicago blues sound
Rush is hardly obscure, but the Secret History of Chicago Music couldn't let the death of such a powerful and influential artist pass in silence.
- Music, The Secret History of Chicago Music Apr 25, 2018
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Deacon Jones cofounded the legendary Baby Huey & the Babysitters—and that was just for starters
Trumpeter and organist Deacon Jones played for Curtis Mayfield, Freddie King, and Carlos Santana, and spent 18 years with John Lee Hooker.
- Music, Music Feature Apr 19, 2018
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Entertainment lawyer Jay B. Ross fought for the people who made the music he loved
An expert negotiator, he went to bat for stars as big as James Brown and Muddy Waters, but he also clawed back royalties for countless forgotten artists who’d never gotten their due.
- Blogs, Bleader Apr 17, 2018
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Ten great photos taken during the heyday of the blues
Images of Muddy Waters, James Cotton, and Bob Dylan are among 1,000 searchable photos by Raeburn Flerlage that are now online.
- Music, The Secret History of Chicago Music Apr 10, 2018
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Bluesman Cash McCall hasn’t written a hit in more than 50 years, but that isn’t stopping him
Cash McCall has moved from gospel to soul to blues, and his best-known song is still the 1966 single "When You Wake Up."
- Music, The Secret History of Chicago Music Feb 26, 2018
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Blues drummer Sam Lay has made five careers’ worth of music
Sharp-dressed drummer Sam Lay has played with Dylan and Howlin' Wolf, and in 2015 he was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame with the Paul Butterfield Blues Band.
- Music, The Secret History of Chicago Music Jan 2, 2018
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Underappreciated guitarist Johnny B. Moore links Delta blues with the electric postwar Chicago sound
Johnny B. Moore launched his career as a full-time bluesman in 1975 with the great Koko Taylor, and he's still kicking today.
- Music, The Secret History of Chicago Music Jan 31, 2017
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Blues pianist Little Brother Montgomery influenced legends as diverse as Skip James and Johnny Cash
Pianist Little Brother Montgomery straddled blues, boogie-woogie, and jazz—and bridged prewar southern blues and the electric Chicago style.
- Music, The Secret History of Chicago Music Jan 3, 2017
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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.
- Music, Music Feature Jun 8, 2016
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Otis Rush recorded the harrowing blues that established his legacy 50 years ago in Chicago
He’s been sidelined by a stroke, but more than 25 musicians will pay tribute to him at this year’s festival.
- Music, The Secret History of Chicago Music Mar 21, 2016
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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."
- Music, Music Feature Jun 10, 2015
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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.
- Music, The Secret History of Chicago Music Mar 5, 2015
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Bluesman Leonard "Baby Doo" Caston played with the legendary Willie Dixon for years
Leonard Caston helped convince Willie Dixon to pursue the blues instead of boxing, but ended up overshadowed by his friend and fading from public view.
- Music, The Secret History of Chicago Music Mar 6, 2014
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The Secret History of Chicago Music: Lafayette Leake
This brilliant pianist cut countless sides with blues giants as a Chess Records session player, but he released little music of his own.
- Blogs, Bleader Jun 10, 2013
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Jukebox update: Koko Taylor, Vybz Kartel, Mikal Cronin, and more
Our latest round of staff picks for the Reader's Interactive Jukebox (jukebox.chicagoreader.com)
- Music, The Secret History of Chicago Music Mar 7, 2013
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The Secret History of Chicago Music: Eddie C. Campbell
This flamboyant, innovative blues guitarist needs help getting home after a heart attack and stroke on the road in Germany.
- Blogs, Bleader Feb 13, 2011
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Legal Blues
Steven Lattimore explores the musical legacy and business struggles of the bluesman behind "Bright Lights, Big City" and "Big Boss Man" in his documentary "The Jimmy Reed Experience." It screens Tuesday 2/15 at Dominican University, along with a legal panel and jam session.