Chicago is widely regarded as the world capital of blues harmonica, producing and attracting some of the greatest players in the instrument’s history. As African American musicians migrated from the South during the Great Migration,…
Chicago has long been one of America’s most important music cities, producing legendary singers whose influence spans blues, jazz, gospel, soul, R&B, rock, hip-hop, and pop. Among the city’s most celebrated vocalists is Nat King…
Chicago has long been one of America’s greatest cities for pianists, producing influential performers across jazz, blues, boogie-woogie, gospel, rock, soul, and classical music. The city’s rich musical heritage, shaped by African American migration and…
Chicago has played a major role in the history of the bass guitar, producing and attracting some of the most influential bassists in rock, blues, jazz, soul, and funk. One of the city’s best-known bass…
Chicago and the surrounding region have produced and attracted some of the most influential guitar players in American music, particularly in blues, rock, jazz, and soul. Perhaps the best-known is Buddy Guy, who moved to…
Drummers have played a central role in shaping Chicago’s musical identity, making the city one of the world’s most influential centers for rhythm and percussion. Chicago’s unique musical history, which spans jazz, blues, gospel, rock,…
The Drums in Chicago Tour explores the sites related to two of the largest drum manufacturers, Ludwig Drums and the now defunct Slingerland Drums. Ludwig was the manufacturer of the first practical bass drum pedal…