Had an itch last night for some Lou Rawls that needed scratching. The question was, however, which part of Rawls's career to dive into? The easy route would be to choose something from the Philadelphia International years and those Gamble and Huff productions like "Lady Love" or "(You'll Never Find) Another Love Like Mine." Or do I go way back to Rawls's Gospel days in Bronzeville, where he had the enviable task of replacing his good friend Sam Cooke in the Highway QC's? more ›

Sure, smoking’s always good for comment bait. But don’t get Chicagoist readers started on the topic of urban renewal! Our post on the plans to knock down the “Artful Dodger building” sent you into paroxysms of preservationist rage. In fact, more of you would rather see condos go up in the Loop than in Chicago neighborhoods (so long as no one complains about the bucket boys, we assume). As far as the proposal to expand... more ›

A hugeass fire ripped through a landmark church on the South Side today and destroyed it. Pilgrim Baptist Church was designed by the famous architectural firm Adler & Sullivan and was about 114 years old. Originally built as a synagogue, the church was a landmarked building that was totalled today when a fire collapsed the church's roof and then gutted its insides. more ›

The voice that breathed velvet soul is now silent. Smooth voiced Grammy-winning singer and Chicago native Lou Rawls passed away this morning after being hospitalized in Los Angeles for treatment of lung and brain cancer. Mr. Rawls was introduced to music by his grandmother and the gospel strains of church. He started singing professionally in the mid-'50's with the L.A.-based gospel group the Pilgrim Travelers, whose contemporaries the Soul Stirrers featured at that time the... more ›

Last week, as the first major snowfall melted just in time for Christmukkah, questions were raised and points were argued on the nature of dibs, what really constitutes journalism, and the evergreen topic of smoking. more ›

Lou Rawls, a South Side native and singer of such soul classics as “You’ll Never Find Another Love Like Mine,” is doing his best to kick cancer’s ass. According to the AP, Rawls has been diagnosed with lung cancer and his estranged wife says he is also struggling with cancer of the brain. Sounding upbeat, Rawls noted that “many people who have been diagnosed with this kind of thing, and they're still jumpin' and pumpin'.''... more ›