
Beyond Memphis and Motown: Chicago Soul
During the first half of the twentieth century, in what has become known as "The Great Migration," Chicago was one of the primary destination of thousands of Black Americans from Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas, Missouri, and western Tennessee. With a constant flow of migrants going north and family members routinely visiting in both directions, well into the 1970s, most Black citizens of the Windy City maintained strong relationships with Southern Black relatives and culture, and that was apparent in early Chicago soul music.
Pre-World War II, Chicago developed into the most significant urban center for boogie-woogie piano music and all gospel forms. In the post-war era, as the home to Southern migrants such as Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, and Little Walter, Chicago became the focal point for the most influential electric blues tradition. The city could also boast of a healthy vocal group scene. Given all this musical activity, it is not surprising that the city was home to two of the most important post-war record labels specializing in Black music, Chess and Vee-Jay Records.
Chess Records started as Aristocrat in 1947 and, although primarily specializing in blues, also recorded gospel, jazz, rock and roll, and soul artists. Among the latter were Etta James, Fontella Bass, Billy Stewart, Irma Thomas, and the Dells. Vee-Jay, founded in 1953 by African Americans Vivian Carter and James Bracken, was one of only a handful of Black-owned record labels. In the 1950s, the company specialized in blues, gospel, and doo-wop. Before going bankrupt in 1965, Vee-Jay entered the soul market, issuing seminal recordings by Jerry Butler, Dee Clark, Gene Chandler, and Betty Everett and serving as the distributor of the Memphis soul label, Goldwax Records.
A Change is Gonna Come
I was born by the river
In a little tent
Oh, and just like the river, I've been runnin'
Ever since
It's been a long
A long time comin', but I know
A change gon' come
Oh, yes it will
Long Walk to D.C.
It's a long walk to DC but I've got my walking shoes on
I can't take a plane, passer train, because my money ain't that long
America we believe, oh that you love us still
So people I'm gonna be under to wipe away my tears