Today, Art looks back at those who mentored him and those he's mentored over his life. more ›

Our Town lost one of its musical giants over the weekend with the passing of Gospel music great Albertina Walker at the age of 81. Ms. Walker's career started in the early 50's as a backup singer for Mahalia Jackson, who, recognizing Ms. Walker's talent, encouraged her to carve her own path in Gospel music. Ms. Walker formed a group called the Caravans, whose roster over the decades was a veritable all-star lineup of Gospel legends. Shirley Caesar, Dorothy Norwood, Bessie Griffin and the Reverend Dr. James Cleveland (recognized as the architect of the modern Gospel sound) were all members of the Caravans at one point in their careers, earning Ms. Walker the nickname "Star Maker." more ›

Chicagoist is biased about our beloved town and its music scene, but that’s only because we know it’s the best. Starting this weekend, the Chicago History Museum has a new exhibit opening featuring the best of “Sweet Home Chicago”. Jazz, gospel, country, blues, and folk music are all represented in this collection curated by Alison Eisendrath. The exhibit showcases some pieces that never seem to make it into other exhibits, but are really diamonds in... more ›

A group known as Gospel Music Capitol of the World Productions wants the City of Chicago to purchase and restore the Chicago Defender building and use it to house an International Gospel Museum. (We know this might be the pot calling the kettle black, but shouldn’t that be Gospel Music C-A-P-I-T-A-L Of The World Productions?) The release cites a recent Chicago Sun-Times article that quotes David Bahlman, president of the former Landmarks Preservation Council of... more ›

Three recordings by artists with strong Chicago ties were added to the Library of Congress’ National Recording Registry this year: Nat "King" Cole for his recording of "Straighten Up and Fly Right"), Mahalia Jackson’s "Move On Up a Little Higher" and an interview with James Baldwin conducted by Studs Terkel in 1962. Sadly, neither “Veronica Hates Me” or “Cindy’s On Methadone” by Screeching Weasel were included this year. more ›

Biographies adapted for the stage are rarely subject to the same scrutiny as literary bios or memoirs. It’s hard to imagine any playwright getting the James Frey treatment, discredited on national television and the blogosphere for bending the truth. And why should they? We go to the theater to understand the world but also to enjoy ourselves and find some degree of escape. To visit (or revisit) a fascinating life set to song can be a joy, and starting this week three theaters give us this opportunity. more ›

Five months after Hurricane Katrina ravaged the Gulf Coast, the future of New Orleans remains mired in doubt and bureaucracy. When the mainstream media shelves substantive debate over the city’s rebuilding to decipher Mayor Nagin’s “Chocolate City” speech, the art world picks up the slack. Two local exhibits and a new play examine The Big Easy, the city and the idea. more ›

While Lollapalooza is casting a big shadow over the other music events this summer, you don’t need to spend $85 (or $100 or $115) to see live music in the city. Metromix has posted dates for the various fests that celebrate local neighborhoods and musical genres this summer. Lineups for the neighborhood fests have yet to be announced but the schedules for the 21st Annual Chicago Gospel Music Festival and the 22nd Annual Chicago Blues Festival are out. Plus, they’re free. more ›

For anyone who still hadn’t seen it, the line that can be drawn as the shortest distance between the two points of gospel and soul music was sketched quite neatly in a sequence from the film Ray. As Jamie Foxx’s Ray Charles is wooing his soon-to-be wife he steps into a version of “I Got A Woman” that’s even more tinged with the rhythm and movements of gospel than the version eventually laid down on... more ›