By David Gedge
Chicago blues legends
Jimmy and Syl Johnson
W
inter has traditionally been a
slow season for music festivals
in Chicagoland while folks
recover from their holiday hangovers.
Other than the TNK Festival in Chicago, a
sturdy and dependable showcase of
emerging talent, there’s not been the
equivalent in the suburbs.
The folks at Hey Nonny and Straight
Arrow Productions are changing the
indoor music festival landscape with the
first annual Winter Blues Summit, which
runs from January 31st through February
2nd on four stages at both Hey Nonny and
Metropolis in Arlington Heights. “Just
about every Chicago blues great will be
appearing at the Winter
Blues Summit,”
Hey
Nonny co-owner Chip
Brooks told IE. Straight
Arrow Productions presi-
dent
Dave
Katzman
added: "Hey Nonny has
become the go-to destina-
tion for true Chicago blues
in the northwest suburbs,
so this seemed like a natu-
ral fit."
Headlining the event
will be the on-stage
reunion of Chicago blues legends Jimmy
and Syl Johnson. The Johnson brothers
were born and grew up in Holly Springs,
Mississippi, but moved to Chicago in the
1950s, where they quickly became part of
the exploding Chicago electric blues scene
with pioneers Muddy Waters, Willie
Dixon, and Little Walter. Through those
early years, Jimmy Johnson played with
Freddy King, Albert King, Magic Sam, Otis
Rush, and Eddy Clearwater. Syl Johnson
also played with Magic Sam (his neigh-
bor), as well as Billy Boy Arnold, Junior
Wells, and Howlin’ Wolf. He went on to
release the hit records Different Strokes and
Is It Because I’m Black on Chicago's
Twinight Record label. He also recorded
“Take Me To The River and “We Did It” for
the Hi Records label.
In the ’90s, Syl Johnson became one of the
most sampled artists in the hip-hop world
by artists like the Wu-Tang Clan, the Geto
Boys, and Public Enemy. Jimmy Johnson is
91, and Syl Johnson is 83, and the two emi-
nent brothers have not appeared together
in years. The Hey Nonny Winter Blues
Summit reunites them, backed by Big Time
Friends, one of the finest collections of
blues players performing in Chicago.
Other featured bands at the Winter
Blues Summit include Donald Kinsey and
the Kinsey Report. Donald’s resume
includes being the guitarist for Albert King
and playing with Bob Marley’s band, The
Wailers. The Blues Imperials have proven
to be one of Chicago’s most talented blues
bands, powered by Li’l Ed Williams. Li’l
Ed and the Blues Imperials have twice
been named the Blues Music Awards Band
of the Year.
Toronzo Cannon was born and bred in
Chicago in the shadow of Blues landmark
Theresa’s Lounge. His 2016 album The
Chicago Way was nominated for a Blues
Music Award as 2017 Album of the Year,
and The Preacher, The Politician Or The Pimp
(Alligator) is one of Illinois Entertainer’s
Albums of the year. Joanna Connor is one
of the world’s leading female blues gui-
continues on page 44
january
2020
illinoisentertainer.com
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