

When music teacher Jose Lomeli was in graduate school studying classical guitar performance, he took a class in music curriculum development. It got him wondering about what he’d learned as a student in Chicago Public Schools. As a kid, he loved listening to music, especially artists like Muddy Waters and Smashing Pumpkins. He says he was surprised when he later found out that both artists hailed from his hometown.
“I’m a first generation Mexican-American growing up in Chicago,” he says. “Once I learned that some of the artists that I was interested in were from Chicago, it was a way for me to connect with the city.”
But he never learned about those musicians in school. So he wrote in to Curious City asking:
Why doesn’t Chicago Public Schools have a citywide music curriculum to teach and celebrate the city’s rich musical heritage?
Well, about a decade ago, CPS’ office of arts education actually did put together an arts instruction guide that includes sample lesson plans and sections on Chicago music history. But teaching about local Chicago musicians is not required, and CPS officials say they don’t know when or if the arts teaching guide has ever been used.
So Jose, we’ve put together a little do-it-yourself guide to learning about Chicago music history. We broke it down into nine genres and asked music journalists, historians, writers and artists to give us 10 essential songs to guide you through the genre. Think of it as a CliffsNotes, if you will, to help you through your Chicago cultural cred class. Happy studies!
“Chicago blues was one of the byproducts of the Great Migration. African-American migrants brought acoustic musical traditions from the rural South and blended them with the sounds and instruments of the urban North to create a more electrified sound featuring electric guitar and harmonica, a sound better suited to be heard in loud, raucous clubs. The scene was both nurtured and bolstered by a host of important local record labels including Chess, Delmark, Alligator, Cobra and Bluebird Records.”
— Ayana Contreras, author and host of WBEZ’s Reclaimed Soul
Top Ten Chicago Blues Tracks
(According to Ayana Contreras, author and host of WBEZ’s Reclaimed Soul)
“Five Long Years” by Eddie Boyd (1952)
“Mannish Boy” by Muddy Waters (1955)
“Smokestack Lightning” by Howlin Wolf (1956)
“Cry For Me Baby” by Elmore James (1957)
“My Love Will Never Die” by Otis Rush (1957)
“First Time I Met The Blues” by Buddy Guy (1960)
“Wang Dang Doodle” by Koko Taylor (1966)
“You’re Tuff Enough” by Junior Wells (1968)
“I’ll Pay You Back” by Magic Sam (1969)
“Help Me” by Luther Allison and the Blue Nebulae (1969)
— David Roche, nonprofit arts & culture consultant
Top Ten Chicago Country/Folk Tracks
(According to David Roche, nonprofit arts & culture consultant)
“Black, Brown, and White” by Big Bill Broonzy (1956)
“Wade in the Water” by Ella Jenkins feat. Goodwill Spiritual Choir (1960)
“Mr. Tambourine Man” by Roger McGuinn (1965)
“Hello in There” by John Prine (1971)
“Souvenirs” by John Prine and Steve Goodman (1972)
“City of New Orleans” by Steve Goodman (1972)
“The Dutchman” by Mike Smith (1986)
“Did You Feed My Cow?” By Ella Jenkins (1992)
“Barreling On Down The Highway” by Ella Jenkins (1996)
“Summer’s End” by John Prine (2018)
— Robert Marovich, editor of the Journal of Gospel Music
Top Ten Chicago Gospel Tracks
(According to Journal of Gospel Music editor Robert Marovich)
“If You See My Savior” by Thomas A. Dorsey (1932)
“Move On Up A Little Higher” by Mahalia Jackson (1947)
“I’m So Glad Jesus Lifted Me” by First Church of Deliverance Radio Choir (1950)
“There Will Be Peace In The Valley” by Soul Stirrers feat. Sam Cooke (1951)
“Amazing Grace” by Rev. Maceo Woods (1954)
“Mary Don’t You Weep” by Caravans feat. Inez Andrews (1958)
“I’ll Trade A Lifetime” by Thompson Community Singers (1969)
“Jesus Can Work It Out” by Cosmopolitan Church of Prayer Choir (1980)
“More Abundantly” by Ricky Dillard & New Generation Chorale (1990)
“House music is the Chicago beat, known for unifying people of all diversities on dance floors worldwide. What started in the 80’s as a youth explosion in the Bridgeport vinyl pressing plant where Trax Records was born changed the sound of pop music forever. With little in the way of resources, no blueprint for the sound, or marketing, the House sound of Chicago is now the global sensation which launched DJ culture as it is known today!”
— Rachael Cain, president of Trax Records and house artist known as Screamin’ Rachael
Top Ten Chicago House Tracks
(According to Rachael Cain, president of Trax Records and house artist known as Screamin’ Rachael)
“Your Love” by Frankie Knuckles (1984)
“Sensation” by Ron Hardy (1985)
“Can You Feel It” by Mr. Fingers, also known as Larry Heard (1986)
“Move Your Body” by Marshall Jefferson (1986)
“Love Can’t Turn Around” by Farley Jackmaster Funk and Jesse Saunders feat. Darryl Pandy (1986)
“House Nation” by House Master Boyz (1986)
“Bring Down the Walls” by Robert Owens (1986)
“Promised Land” by Joe Smooth (1987)
“Acid Trax” by Phuture (1987)
“Fun With Bad Boys” by Screamin’ Rachael (1987)
— Greg Kot, Chicago Tribune music critic and co-host of WBEZ’s Sound Opinions
Top Ten Chicago Hip-Hop Tracks
(According to Chicago Tribune music critic and Sound Opinions co-host Greg Kot)
“I Used to Love H.E.R.” by Common (1994)
“Funkdafied” by Da Brat (1994)
“Po Pimp” by Do or Die (1996)
“Hay” by Crucial Conflict (1996)
“Jesus Walks” by Kanye West (2004)
“Kick Push” by Lupe Fiasco (2006)
“Sunday Candy” by Donnie Trumpet & The Social Experiment feat. Chance the Rapper and Jamila Woods (2015)
“16 Shots” by Vic Mensa (2016)
“Blk Girl Soldier” by Jamila Woods (2016)
“Self” by Noname (2018)
— Lauren Deutsch, former executive director of the Jazz Institute of Chicago
Top Ten Chicago Jazz Tracks
(According to Lauren Deutsch, former executive director of the Jazz Institute of Chicago)
I’ll See You In My Dreams” by Fletcher Henderson (1925)
“West End Blues” by Louis Armstrong (1928)
“Ancient Aethiopia” by Sun Ra (1959)
“Odwalla” by Art Ensemble of Chicago (1973)
“Lost in a Fog” by Von Freeman (2006)
“Black Woman” by Fred Anderson (recorded 1980, released 2000)
“Wild Is The Wind” by Dee Alexander (2009)
“Light on the Path” by Nicole Mitchell, Tomeka Reid, and Mike Reed (2015)
“The Strawberry” by Myra Melford with Lincoln Center Orchestra (2015)
“Intro - Twin Flame” by Marquis Hill Blacktet (2018)
— Juan Dies, ethnomusicologist, co-founder of Sones de Mexico Ensemble
Top Ten Chicago Latin Tracks
(According to Juan Dies, music teacher and co-founder of Sones de Mexico)
“No Estoy Conforme” by Silvano R. Ramos (1927)
“Arroyito” by Los Bribones feat. Antonio Perrusquia (1953)
“El Ruletero” by Los Aristocratas De Chicago (1970)
“Culpable” by Everardo y su Flota Musical (1980s)
“Balada Para Grace” by Cuerdas Clásicas feat. Rodolfo Hernandez (1982)
“Live Performance” by Los Crudos (1993)
“El Butaquito” by Sones de Mexico Ensemble (2002)
“El Árbol” by Trio Los Primos de Chicago (2015)
“Phantom Weight” by Dos Santos (2016)
“Herencia de la Tierra Mía” by Mariachi Herencia de México (2018)
— Patrick Henry, veteran polka promoter and DJ
Top Ten Chicago Polka Tracks
(According to veteran polka promoter and DJ Patrick Henry)
- “Circus Polka” by Eddie Zima and His Orchestra (1946)
- “Baby Doll Polka” by Eddie Korosa (1951)
- “Seven Days and Seven Nights Without You” by Lil Wally Jagiello (1959)
- “Hey Cavalier” by Marion Lush (1960s)
- “Tuba Polka” by The Ampol-Aires (1960s)
- “Puka Jasiu (Johnny’s Knocking)” by Lil Wally Jagiello (1963)
- “Polka Celebration” by Eddie Blazonczyk’s Versatones (1986)
- “Where Were You Back Then” by Lenny Gomulka and the Chicago Push (1991)
- “Altenstein’s Monster” by FreezeDried (2003)
- “Far Away from Home” by Eddie Blazonczyk’s Versatones (2001)
“Chicago’s rock scene, in addition to producing a large number of notable artists and bands since the ’60s, has been an incubator of national and international trends over the decades and a cornerstone of genres such as noise rock (Big Black, the Jesus Lizard), industrial (Ministry, Revolting Cocks), alternative/insurgent country (Wilco, Handsome Family) and post-rock (Tortoise, Gastr del Sol, the Sea and Cake).”
— Greg Kot, Chicago Tribune music critic and Sound Opinions co-host
Top Ten Chicago Rock Tracks
(According Chicago Tribune music critic and Sound Opinions co-host Greg Kot)
“Gloria” by Shadows of Knight (1966)
“25 or 6 to 4” by Chicago (1970)
“Elo Kiddies” by Cheap Trick (1977)
“Kerosene” by Big Black (1986)
“Home of the Brave” by Naked Raygun (1985)
“Albert C. Sampson” by Eleventh Dream Day (1988)
“Just One Fix” by Ministry (1992)
“6’1” by Liz Phair (1994)
“A Shot in the Arm” by Wilco (1999)
“Deep Red Bells” by Neko Case (2002)
“Chicago soul emerged out of a Doo Wop sound that took on a layer of elegant horns and strings on songs like “Selfish One” by Jackie Ross. Later, it became characterized by remakes of older tunes like “Oh What A Night” and album-oriented fare like Curtis Mayfield’s “Move On Up.” The scene thrived during the 1960s, but even after the recording scene slowed down, Chicago continued to crank out impressive soul acts as big as Earth Wind & Fire.”
— Ayana Contreras, author and host of WBEZ’s Reclaimed Soul
Top Ten Chicago Soul Tracks
(According to Ayana Contreras, author and host of WBEZ’s Reclaimed Soul)
“Gypsy Woman” by The Impressions (1961)
“Elephant Walk” by Donald Jenkins and the Delighters (1962)
“Selfish One” by Jackie Ross (1964)
“Oh What A Night” by The Dells (1969)
“Turn Back The Hands Of Time” by Tyrone Davis (1970)
“Move On Up” by Curtis Mayfield (1970)
“This Christmas” by Donny Hathaway (1970)
“Have You Seen Her” by Chi-Lites (1971)
“Love Jones” by Brighter Side Of Darkness (1972)
“Boogie Wonderland” by Earth Wind & Fire w/Emotions (1979)
More about our questioner
Jose Lomeli grew up in Chicago’s Little Village neighborhood and says he was so passionate about music as a kid that he made it his career. He received his master’s degree from Northwestern University in classical guitar performance and he teaches and performs around the city.
Jose says he thinks learning about local music history would make a difference for young Chicagoans.
“I hope it can inspire curiosity in the music that took place in the neighborhoods, and uncover the stories and history of people who make music where we live,” he says.
And, his reaction when we told him that Nat King Cole, Sam Cooke and Diana Washington all went to the CPS high school Wendell Phillips Academy?
“Oh, imagine the music program there at the time.”
Monica Eng is a reporter for WBEZ. You can follow her @monicaeng.