Chicago Blues: Portraits and Stories

by David G. Whiteis

Through revealing portraits of selected local artists and slice-of-life vignettes drawn from the city’s pubs and lounges,  Chicago Blues  encapsulates the sound and spirit of the blues as it is lived today. As a committed participant in the Chicago blues scene for more than a quarter century, David Whiteis draws on years of his observations and extensive interviews to paint a full picture of the Chicago blues world, both on and off the stage.  In addition to portraits of blues artists he has personally known and worked with, Whiteis takes readers on a tour of venues like East of Ryan and the Starlight Lounge, home to artists such as Jumpin’ Willie Cobbs, Willie D., and Harmonica Khan. He tells the stories behind the lives of past pioneers, including Junior Wells, pianist Sunnyland Slim, and harpist Big Walter Horton, whose music reflects the universal concerns with love, loss, and yearning that continue to keep the blues so vital for so many.

Genres: Music

344 pages, Paperback

First published May 11, 2006

About the author

David Whiteis is an author, freelance writer, and educator living in Chicago. He is the author of Chicago Blues: Portraits and Stories, and his articles and reviews have appeared in Living Blues, The Chicago Reader, Down Beat, Juke Blues, Jazz Times, and elsewhere. Southern Soul Blues won the Best Blues Book of 2013 in Living Blues magazine's critics poll.

Reviews

[Stephen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not a current picture of the state of the blues but, especially for a Chicago fan, a wonderful trip down memory lane!

[Jerry]

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[janicec100]

I went on a Chicago Blues Tour in January and met the author of this book at Rosa's Lounge. Looking forward to skimming the portraits of the blues artists.