Chicago Music History Part 2 – from Chicago Blues to House Music
with Bernie Verwiel CTG
7:00 p.m. on Monday, May 3, 2021
Back in September 2020, CTPA’s own Bernie Verwiel CTG was one of several members who gave mini history presentations. At that time, he spoke about the Jazz Age in the 1920s and how Chicago influenced the development of Louis Armstrong and helped to catapult him into stardom as the revolutionary of Jazz and one of the creators of Swing Music.
On Monday, May 3, at 7:00 p.m., join Bernie for a follow-up presentation that will demonstrate how Chicago has been at the crossroads of American Music for decades. He’ll begin with an overview of Modern Chicago BLUES, with a special focus on Muddy Waters, and then trace the evolution of American Music into Chicago HOUSE MUSIC, with a focus on Frankie Knuckles and his collaborators.
MORE DETAILS
This evening’s chapter of music history in Chicago picks up in the 1940s with the evolution of acoustic Chicago Blues to electric Chicago Blues featuring Muddy Waters, with mention of other major contributors of this era such as Big Bill Broonzy, Memphis Minnie, Sonny Boy Williamson l, Arthur “Big Boy” Crudup, Leonard & Phil Chess, Willy Dixon, Little Walter, Howlin’ Wolf, Sonny Boy Williamson ll (Aleck Miller).
This new musical style quickly evolved into Rock ‘N Roll with the likes of Ike Turner, Sam Phillips, Chess Records, Bill Haley, Elvis, Bo Diddley, Chuck Berry, Chicago’s West Side Sound, and the British Invasion Bands of the 1960s.
We then have Soul and Funk from such Chicago artists as Sam Cooke, Ramsey Lewis, Etta James, Mavis Staples, Curtis Mayfield and Chaka Khan.
Another former Chess musician, Maurice White, creates Earth, Wind & Fire and contributes to the disco era of the mid-to-late 70s.
From there another musical evolution begins—House Music. This genre becomes one of most consumed music styles of the 1980s, featuring Frankie Knuckles and its early contributors, such as Ron Hardy, Chip E, TRAX Records, and Jamie Principle.
Register today and look forward to images of these legends and listening to samples of their music during this virtual dive into Chicago’s musical history.
LOGISTICS
- Please RSVP at least 24 hours in advance, so there is no delay in receiving the ZOOM log on information.
- An email will be sent to all participants about 24 hours in advance of the program. A second reminder may be sent about one hour prior to the program start.
- The program will be recorded. After the program, a summary and a link to the presentation recording will be sent to all members.
- Arrive on time! The meeting may be "locked" about ten minutes after it starts.
