(CHICAGO, IL) — The first annual BluesToday, Chicago Summit 2014 will be taking place at Buddy Guy’s Legends on Thursday, June 12, 2014. The event will give music fans and visitors an interesting and exciting insight into the Blues preceding the 31st Annual Chicago Blues Festival.
Unique and insightful blends of TED Talk-style discussion on the blues and some of the best music in the windy city make the BluesToday, Chicago Summit 2014 a do-not-miss engagement.
Speaking on several blues topics will be American Blues Scene Magazine publisher Matt Marshall, Alligator Records boss Bruce Iglauer, and Chicago Blues Allstar’s Dr. Dan Ivankovich.
Matt Marshall is the Publisher of the American Blues Scene Magazine and website, which has gained prominence as the most popular blues music network in the world. Marshall has lead the magazine and website for four years, traveling thousands of miles per year as he’s personally been a witness to the power of the blues, past and present. Matt will be speaking on the state of the blues, it’s lore, and it’s economic impact.
Back in 1971, 23-year-old blues fanatic Bruce Iglauer was frustrated and motivated. As a shipping clerk for Bob Koester’s Chicago-based Delmark Records, Iglauer wanted the label to release an album by his favorite band, Hound Dog Taylor & The HouseRockers. Koester just wasn’t interested, so Iglauer gathered up what little money he had and decided to do it himself. And with that, Alligator Records was born. 43 years later, proudly independent Alligator Records is home to some of the world’s foremost blues and roots rock talent and is regarded by fans and the media alike as the top contemporary blues record label in the world.
In addition to his day gig as one of Chicago’s leading orthopedic surgeons, Dr. Dan “Chicago Slim” Ivankovich is the towering co-leader of the Chicago Blues All-Stars, a high-energy band where he shares lead vocals and lead guitar duties with “Killer” Ray Allison, once the thundering drummer for Muddy Waters, James Cotton, and Buddy Guy. As essential as it is to keep the blues alive, Dr. Dan Ivankovich tirelessly works at what he strongly believes is an even more important mission: keeping Chicago blues musicians themselves alive. To that noble end, he and his partner Karla Carwile will host a discussion addressing health needs of Chicago’s Blues community, as well as offering health screenings and assistance in enrolling musicians for health insurance via the Affordable Care Act (better known as Obamacare).
“The whole point is, we’re not interested in honoring these musicians after they’re dead and gone,” says Dr. Dan. “Blues musicians are the lifeblood of the genre. Without musicians, there’s no blues.”
BluesToday from 2-5 p.m. on June 12 at Buddy Guy’s Legends, 700 S. Wabash Avenue, the event coinciding with the 31st Annual Chicago Blues Festival.
