Not only is 2020 the Year of Chicago Music, it’s also the 35th year for the nonprofit Arts & Business Council of Chicago (A&BC), which supports creatives and their organizations citywide with business expertise and training. To celebrate, the A&BC has launched the #ChiMusic35 campaign at ChiMusic35.com, which includes a public poll to determine the consensus 35 greatest moments in Chicago music history as well as a raffle to benefit the A&BC’s work supporting creative communities struggling with the impact of COVID-19 in the city’s disinvested neighborhoods.
Lori Branch: Aside from some personal moments, what comes to mind is Chaka Khan‘s performance in 2013 at the annual gala for the Center on Halsted. My favorite performance by one of my favorite artists.
Take Sister Rosetta Tharpe, another Chicago legend. She’s the godmother of creating the sound that so many people emulate. Her sound had some country roots in the south, but it really grew up in Chicago. She brought along some of the greats in rock ‘n’ roll, like Little Richard. I love her story. She came from my family church, the Church of God in Christ on 40th Street on the south side.
