Chicago Blues Music Events: Chicago Blues Festival, Buddy Guy And B.B. King

Chicago may not be the birthplace of the blues, but it certainly has done its part to ensure future generations never forget the brand of music influencing nearly every other genre within Western music. To this day, it remains a city which has always opened its doors and done much to bolster the heritage of blues music.

Making its way north up the Mississippi River as part of the Great Migration during the first half of the 20th century, blues music found a warm new home in Chicago. Chicago blues has since become a staple of the city's international reputation, drawing people from around the globe wanting to take part in its Chicago blues heritage.

George Buddy Guy is one blues legend who first found fame in Chicago. After honing his musical craft in his hometown of Lettsworth, La., Guy and his guitar found a new home in Chicago in 1957. Soon after moving to Chicago at the age of 21, the young man caught the eye of one McKinley Morganfield – a man better known as Muddy Waters, often considered the father of Chicago Blues. Soon after, he received his first record contract and went on to new heights from there, possessing a guitar style credited with influencing guitar legends Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton.

Riley B.B. King is another legendary blues performer with ties to Chicago. King's “Live at the Regal,” an album recorded in 1964 at the now-defunct Regal Theatre in Chicago, is hailed by critics as one of the greatest blues albums ever recorded. On April 5, 2007, King will bring his famous guitar to Chicago once again, scheduled to perform at Chicago's House of Blues music venue.

In a city that loves to hold as many festivals as it can during its precious warm months, the Chicago Blues Festival is one of Chicago's biggest festivals, attracting an estimated 750,000 visitors. The festival is an annual four-day blues event put on by the city of Chicago, featuring performances by both established stars and up-and-coming faces in the world of blues music.

During the day, dozens of blues artists perform on multiple stages throughout the park, and each night features a headlining performance in the park's band shell main stage; in the past, these headlining shows have included such acts as Buddy Guy and B.B. King. As if four straight days of blues music is not enough, the organizers also include panel discussions and workshops to go along with food and drink booths provided by local vendors.

The event – known to be the largest free blues festival in the world – takes place in early June in Grant Park, an urban park spanning 14 city blocks along the shore of Lake Michigan in downtown Chicago.



Sources:
B.B. King. Wikipedia online encyclopedia. 17 November 2006. 18 November 2006. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B.B._King.>
Buddy Guy. Wikipedia online encyclopedia. 06 November 2006. 18 November 2006. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddy_Guy.>
Buddy Guy's Legends. 2006. 18 November 2006. <http://www.buddyguys.com/.>
Chicago Blues Festival. 2006. 18 November 2006. <http://chicagobluesfestival.org/.>
Cowdery, Charles K. Chicago Blues Festival, a Great Time in the Big City. The Cultured Traveler. May 2005. 18 November 2006. <http://www.theculturedtraveler.com/Archives/MA Y2005/Chicago_Blues_Festival.htm>
Muddy Waters. Wikipedia online encyclopedia. 16 November 2006. 18 November 2006. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muddy_Waters.>