Blues Heaven Foundation 2120 S Michigan Avenue Tour

Willie Dixon Blues Garden

Blues Heaven Foundation former home of Chess Records

Muddy Water Memorabilia

Willie Dixon Memorabilia

Keith Dixon Grandson of Willie Dixon

Muddy Waters center, Junior Wells left, Willie Dixon standing

Autographed Rolling Stones Guitar

Willie Dixon, the Father of the Blues, wrote the songs for Muddy Waters such as "Hoochie Coochie Man", "I Ready", and "I Just Want To Make Love To You". Dixon wrote "Back Door Man ", "Spoonful", and "I Ain't Superstitious"for Howlin' Wolf. These are just two of the Blues musicians that Dixon wrote music for at Chess Records over 20 years.

The tour of Blues Heaven Foundation begins with an hour long documentary featuring the Rolling Stones, Muddy Waters, Willie Dixon and Junior Wells. This documentary gives more factual background on the movie Cadillac Records which detailed Phil Chess of Chess Records giving Cadillacs to the recording artists instead of royalties. I recommend watching the movie Cadillac Records before visiting the museum to have a better understanding of the documentary.

The Rolling Stones still visit the recording studio whenever they come to Chicago. This is place where they met and recorded with their idol Muddy Waters during the 1960's. The Rolling Stones donated the autographed guitar in the photo above to the museum.

Blues Heaven Foundation and Willie Dixon's family celebrate the anniversary of his birthday on July 1st in the Willie Dixon Blues Garden which is next door to the museum. Many celebrities attend this annual celebration to honor Willie Dixon's contribution to the Blues. Willie Dixon wrote and produced about 500 songs for Chess Records.

Willie Dixon's grandson Keith gives tours six days a week at Blues Heaven Foundation. During the summer during the foundation's busy season there is a staff of 10 tour guides to assist Keith Dixon. Keith has wonderful stories about meeting Etta James, The Rolling Stones and other stars.

Blues Heaven Foundation Tours

2120 South Michigan Avenue (Ring The Bell)

Chicago, IL 60616

312-808-1286 (Call Ahead)

Monday - Friday 11 am - 4 pm

Saturday 12 pm - 2 pm




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Exploring Chicago Blues by Rosalind Cummings-Yeates Book Signing Event

Rosalind Cummings Yeates Autographing her book Exploring Chicago Blues

 Exploring Chicago Blues

Inside The Scene, Past and Present

 Author Rosalind Cummings-Yeates

Foreword by Billy Branch

An Exploration of the Chicago Blues Scene For Novices and Aficionados Alike

"Blues history is steeped in Chicago's sidewalks, it floats out of its restaurants, airport lounges and 

department stores. It is a fundamental part of the city's heritage that every resident should know and 

every visitor should be afraid to miss. Allow Rosalind Cummings-Yeates to take you inside the 

Checkerboard and Gerri's Palm Tavern, where folks like Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Willie 

Dixon and Ma Rainey transformed Chicago into the blues mecca. Continue on to explore the

contemporary blues scene and discover the best spots to hear the purest sounds of Sweet Home

Chicago."

Rosalind Cummings Yeates and Janice Temple

"Rosalind Cummings-Yeates is a journalist and arts critic with the same Chicago and Mississippi roots

that helped create the Chicago blues. She holds a BS in mass communications from Illinois State 

University and an MS in journalism from Roosevelt University. She writes a monthly blues column,

"Sweet Home," for the Illinois Entertainer. Her other publication credits include Hemispheres, MSN, 

Salon, Woman's Day, Brides, Go Magazine, Yoga Journal, Relish, Home & Away, Chicago Reader, 

Allmusic.com, Chicago Sun-Times and Mojo (where she interviewed Buddy Guy about his influence

on Jimi Hendrix). She has also been an adjunct professor at Columbia College-Chicago for over ten 

years. Rosalind is a member of the American Society of Journalist and Authors and the Society of 

American Travel Writers."

Exploring Chicago Blues Inside The Scene, Past and Present

Rosalind and I met in person at the African Festival of Arts in Chicago's Washington Park. I had been 

following her blog the Farsighted Fly Girl so I was excited to meet Roz in person.  Roz and I are also 

members of the BTB Black Travel Bloggers. As a matter of fact at our last meetup, Roz and I got into 

a debate about Chicago being a Blues City or a Jazz City. We are both right Chicago is a city rich in

Blues, Jazz and Gospel history and culture. Roz is Blues Aficionado and I am a Jazz Lover, despite

our differences in music genres we are good friends. I am in the process of reading 

Exploring Chicago Blues so I can't give a book review yet. As I mentioned that I am a jazz lover 

so I am just beginning to learn about Chicago's Rich Blues History. Rosalind's book Exploring 

Chicago Blues  is a great stepping stone with covers Part 1 Chicago Blues History; From Mississippi

to the Windy City: The Great Migration and the Blues; The Black Belt of Bronzeville; Chicago Blues 

Papas; Chicago Blues Mamas; Chicago Blues Landmarks and Part 2 Chicago Blues Now; We Gonna 

Pitch a Wang Dang Doodle: Blues Clubs for a Real Blues Experience; Got Mojo Workin': Who to See;

A Spoonful: Soul Food Restaurants with a Blues Vibe; Blues with a Feeling: Suggested Listening;

I Am the Blues: A Day in the Life of a Chicago Blues Musician.


Follow Author Rosalind Cumming-Yeates on  Exploring Chicago Blues Facebook Page

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Muddy Waters Chicago Home 4339 South Lake Park Avenue

Muddy Waters Chicago Home 4339 South Lake Park Avenue

Muddy Waters Chicago Home 4339 South Lake Park Avenue Chicago IL

Muddy Waters Chicago Home 4339 South Lake Park Avenue Chicago IL

Muddy Waters Chicago Home 4339 South Lake Park Avenue Chicago IL

Muddy Waters Chicago Home 4339 South Lake Park Avenue Chicago IL

McKinley Morganfield aka Muddy Waters was a Blues Musician who lived from 1915 to 1983. He was nicknamed for the puddles he played in while growing up in Mississippi. Muddy Waters learned to play the harmonica and the guitar while growing up as a sharecropper. He came to Chicago in 1943, shortly after being recorded by Alan Lomax for the Library of Congress. Muddy Waters performed in neighborhood bars on the Southside of Chicago. and soon decided he needed something louder to cut through the noise of the clubs. He bought his first electric guitar in 1944. He gained national success in 1952 with "Rollin Stone" his first release with Chess Records, the rhythm-and-blues label he worked with for the next 25 years. 

With his electric guitar, use of the metal slide and amplified ensemble style, Waters pioneered the Chicago Blues Style. Early hits included, "I Can't Be Satisfied", "I Feel Like Going Home," and "Louisiana Blues". Later Hits "Hoochie Coochie Man", "Got My Mojo Working" --remain blues standards today. 

With the sucess of Muddy Waters' music career, he bought this two-flat at 4339 South Lake Park Avenue in 1954 and adapted the basement as a rehearsal room. For 20 years it was a gathering place for the greatest figures of the Chicago Blues, and on warm summer evenings, they would often play on the front lawn.

Muddy Waters Chicago Home 4339 South Lake Park Avenue Chicago IL

Muddy Waters Chicago Home 4339 South Lake Park Avenue Chicago IL

Muddy Waters Chicago Home 4339 South Lake Park Avenue Chicago IL

This house is located in a neighborhood going through regentrification. Muddy Waters Boulevard is 43rd Street. There are plans to develop Muddy Waters Chicago Home into a museum. The X denotes that this house was a one time going to be torn down by the city. It is currently for sale by the family. Several plans to purchase and create a museum have fallen through for the Muddy Waters home.

Can the Rolling Stones help preserve this Muddy Waters Home?




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The Rolling Stones Muddy Waters at Chess Records 2120 S Michigan Avenue

The Rolling Stones recorded the blues instrumental  "2120 S. Michigan Avenue" in the 1960's at Chess Records. The Rolling Stones made the Chess Records address 2120 S. Michigan Avenue famous. Due to this song hundreds from around the world come to visit the Blues Heaven Foundation which is now housed in this iconic landmark.

During the 1960's The Rolling Stones recorded Blues Artist Muddy Waters songs which were produced by Willie Dixon; such songs as "Mannish Boy", "Please Don't Go", "Champagne & Reefer",
and "Got My Mojo Working".

The Rolling Stones Muddy Waters Poster

The Rolling Stones came to Chicago in 1960's to meet their idol Muddy Waters at Chess Records. Present at the recording session were Willie Dixon, Howlin' Wolf, Muddy Waters and Chuck Berry.
Chuck Berry was homeless at the time. He slept in the basement of Chess Records while writing three hit songs and playing gigs in Chicago.

The Rolling Stones made Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf famous in the United Kingdom and the United States. During the 1960's radio stations refused to songs by Black Artists. The movie Cadillac Records details the history of the music industry at the time.






 Wille Dixon produced and wrote 800 songs at Chess Records for which he was never paid one dime. It was standard industry practice at the time for the record owners to label themselves as the producer to collect the royalty checks from the hit songs. Willie Dixon had an agreement with the Chess Brothers to receive one record with Willie Dixon's name on the label as producer.

Willie Dixon went to court to sue the Chess Brothers as the producer. Chess Brothers denied in court that Willie Dixon was the producer or writer of any music at Chess Records. Willie Dixon brought to court 800 records with his name labeled as producer. The Chess Brothers said we can't pay you for the songs but we will give you the rights to royalties. Willie Dixon and his wife Marie Dixon received 50/50 royalty rights to the music that Willie Dixon produced at Chess Records for decades.

The City of Chicago had intended to tear down the 2120 S. Michigan Avenue Building but Willie's widow Marie bought the former Chess Records Recording Studio in 1993. Today it houses the Willie Dixon Blues Heaven Foundation. Willie Dixon started the foundation in the 1960's to teach the music business to artists.

Blues Heaven Foundation Programs


American Blues Children Program


The Muddy Waters Scholarship

Emergency Assistance

Portraits From Blues Heaven

Royalty Recovery & Legal Assistance Workshop

STEPS - "Supplies, Techniques & Effective Plans for Success Workshops"

Tours of Blues Heaven Foundation

Memorabilia of The Rolling Stones, Muddy Waters, Willie Dixon, Buddy Guy and more

2120 S. Michigan Avenue

Chicago, IL 60616

312-808-1286

www.bluesheaven.com

Cost $10

Tip: Ring the doorbell for entry

July 1st Willie Dixon's Annual Birthday Celebration includes Celebrity Guests


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Norman's Bistro on Chicago's Muddy Waters Drive

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Normans Bistro Interior

Normans Bistro owner Norman Bolden

Norman's Bistro is located on Muddy Waters Drive. Muddy Waters was the most influentinal Blues Singer of all time. Muddy Waters McKinley Morganfield lived in this area during  when he first arrived in Chicago from Mississippi. He lived in Kenwood area of Chicago from 1954 to 1974.
All the musicians and record executives would come to visit him at his home on 4339 South Lake Park Avenue. Muddy Water's home is listed on the Landmark's Illinois 2013 Ten Most Endangered Historical Places. There is a movement to save Muddy Waters Chicago Residence. After dining at Norman's Bistro pass by the Historic Home of Muddy Waters.



Normans Bistro

Delectable American Creole Cuisine with a Brazilian Flair

Live Jazz on Sundays

1001 East 43rd Street 

Chicago, IL 60653

(773) 966-5821

www.normansbistro.com

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Chicago Blues Legend Buddy Guy

Buddy Guy's Legends Chicago Blues Club

Buddy Guy performing on April 30, 2012 at Buddy Guy's Legends in Chicago. There is nothing like hosting family from out of town, it helps you to see your own city from the eyes of a tourist. My cousin is staying at the Marriott Renaissance Blackstone Hotel which is located around the corner from Buddy Guy's Legends. I have passed Buddy Guy's club a million times and never thought about going there. I am not sure why. I have truly been missing out on some great Chicago blues.

The concierge gave my cousin coupons for half price off cover charge to Buddy Guy's Legends, so we went for dinner, drinks and live blues. I was surprised to hear Buddy Guy being announced to perform live. Buddy Guy said that if you go to B.B. King's you won't see him performing, but if you go to Buddy Guy's you will see him performing anytime. Buddy Guy requested that blues lovers call their favorite radio stations and request that they play blues music.

No visit to Chicago is complete with going to see live blues at Buddy Guy's Legends and enjoying great Chicago Soul Food.

Have you been to Buddy Guy's Legends?

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