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- Music, Music Feature Nov 12, 2020
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Bless the Mad share their private pantheon of Black Chicago music
The production duo discuss the classic hip-hop, soul, gospel, and jazz records that inspired the reverent sonic collage on their debut album.
- Music, The Secret History of Chicago Music Nov 5, 2020
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Girl group the Lovelites hit big but never became stars outside Chicago
They had their biggest success with “How Can I Tell My Mom and Dad,” which came out when they were so young they could barely tour.
- Music, The Secret History of Chicago Music Oct 23, 2020
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The Artistics belong in the top tier of Chicago soul and R&B
They could match the quality of the Impressions and the Chi-Lites, but not their chart success.
- Music, The Secret History of Chicago Music Aug 26, 2020
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Soul singer Bill Coday had two careers 20 years apart
His early releases, especially on Denise LaSalle’s Crajon label, have been widely reissued—and his later soul-blues recordings are beloved too.
- Music, Music Review May 15, 2020
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Buscabulla’s tropical soul vignettes distill the mixed blessings of returning home
- Music, Music Review May 8, 2020
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Chicago rapper Ric Wilson and Los Angeles producer Terrace Martin invigorate disco, soul, and funk on a new collaborative EP
- Music, Concert Preview Dec 21, 2019
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Chicago soul dynamo Renaldo Domino breaks out his sugary sweet pipes on “Never Thought”
- Music, Concert Preview Dec 21, 2019
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Avery Sunshine brings in the new year with her bright neosoul
- Music, The Secret History of Chicago Music Nov 19, 2019
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Pieces of Peace cut most of their brilliant soul-funk for other people’s records
The only album this Chicago band made at sessions of their own didn’t come out till 35 years after they broke up.
- 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 Jul 30, 2019
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Johnny Pate is one of the great unsung architects of Chicago soul
This 95-year-old living legend has played jazz, written blaxploitation soundtracks, and arranged for Stan Getz, B.B. King, and most famously Curtis Mayfield—but he's probably most widely heard via hip-hop samples.
- Music, Pitchfork Jul 20, 2019
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Mavis Staples sanctified Friday night at Pitchfork
Even when she wasn’t singing gospel, her powerful spiritual voice could bring together generations.
- Music, The Secret History of Chicago Music Jul 16, 2019
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Barbara Acklin missed soul stardom by a hair
She's best known for the 1968 hit "Love Makes a Woman," but she also had a productive songwriting duo with Eugene Record of the Chi-Lites.
- Music, Music Feature Jun 3, 2019
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Karen Wolfe sings tough but supple southern soul-blues
This Memphis vocalist has adopted the persona of a vintage blueswoman—feisty, independent, and ready to call out no-good men.
- Music, Music Feature Jun 3, 2019
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Memphis veteran Don Bryant returns to soul after decades away
He narrowly missed stardom at Hi Records in the 60s, and now he’s taking another swing.
- Music, Music Feature May 29, 2019
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Johari Noelle packs years of soul into her first five songs
The Chicago native’s polished debut EP benefits from years of choir and theater, half a season on reality TV, and nearly 18 months in the studio.
- Blogs, Bleader Nov 8, 2018
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Chicago-based Saint Louis rapper Smino gets ‘a lot more ass shaking’ on the new Noir
On his sophomore album, Noir, Smino highlights his rap skills without abandoning the soulful singing of Blkswn.
- Music, The Secret History of Chicago Music Aug 1, 2018
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Chicago soul man Marvin Smith hit big with the Artistics, but couldn’t break out on his own
Despite his arresting falsetto on "Time Stopped" (and a cosign from Curtis Mayfield), Marvin Smith's solo records never did better than his 1966 Artistics single "I'm Gonna Miss You."
- Blogs, Bleader Jul 19, 2018
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Chicago soul singer Christian JaLon wants you to know what love means to her
Christian JaLon performs Saturday, July 21, at Pilsen gallery Casa Calle 20.
- Music, Music Feature Jun 5, 2018
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Gene Barge blew his sax on some of the wildest R&B hits of the 60s
The Blues Festival pays tribute to the 91-year-old “Daddy G” with a set with by his longest-running band, the Chicago Rhythm & Blues Kings.
- Music, Music Feature Jun 5, 2018
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Willie Clayton still has his sterling voice as his career nears its golden anniversary
For his 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.
- Music, The Secret History of Chicago Music May 22, 2018
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Crate diggers have caught up with the funky soul of Doug Shorts’s Master Plan Inc.
Decades after his greatest group disbanded, Chicago soul singer Doug Shorts is finally being recognized for his brilliance.
- 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."
- Blogs, Bleader Aug 8, 2017
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An overlooked 1972 cut from singular southern soul singer Arthur Alexander
Arthur Alexander's single "Mr. John" didn't go anywhere in 1972, but it still sounds great on a recent reissue.
