Chicago Tonight: DJ Booth at 95th Red Line Station Offers More Than Free Music

On Monday, Chicago Tonight did a story about that DJ booth located within the massive newly reconstructed 95th street red line terminal. I've seen it in action and heard the music with a DJ performing their craft. What do you all think of the booth? Do you stop near the booth and dance before continuing your journeys to and from the terminal.

VIDEO: Jahmal X "Chatham State of Mind"

[VIDEO] If this isn't something of a call to arms I don't know what is. Local author and activist Jahmal Cole entered this song into the 2013 John Lennon Songwriting Competition. He won the 2013 Grand Prize in the hip-hop category mentioning a number of local items that many who read this blog are familiar with.

Cole raps about the history of activism in this community. Also the crimes that occur in this community such as for example that young lady who was shot and killed leaving a bakery near 87th & King Drive. Also ensures to note that Chatham is a community that has the ability to make something happen.

Anyway here's some more info posted with the vid above and congrats to Mr. Cole:

"Chatham State of Mind" is the 2013 John Lennon Songwriting Competition Grand Prize Award Winning song by South Side Chicago Community Activist Jahmal Cole. The song was produced by Billa Camp.

Christmas Caroling in Chatham-why not join?

 Just sent out in an e-mail blast this evening from the Greater Chatham Alliance with the flyer below:

Love to sing? Join Christmas carolers from the Goshen Seventh-Day Adventist Church this Sunday to sing throughout Chatham!

On Sunday, December 18th from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., the Goshen Seventh-Day Adventist Church at 82nd and State Street (in the old Galaxy Building) will sponsor Christmas carolers who will be singing and walking throughout the Chatham community.

Anyone plan to spread any Christmas joy in the neighborhood?

Time Out Chicago feature: "Ald. Roderick T. Sawyer, funk DJ | Secret passions"

Alderman Sawyer has been featured a lot in the media lately. Yesterday, we talked about the NBC 5 Chicago profile of him. Now the magazine "Time Out Chicago" has featured our alderman, choosing to focus on the more personal side of him: his life as a DJ / Nightclub owner (pre-attorney days).

In ’86, Sawyer and a friend opened a nightclub called S’s on 71st Street just east of King Drive, where the pair hosted a popular party called Funk Fest.

but that

After he graduated from Chicago-Kent College of Law in 1990 and passed the bar exam, deejaying took a backseat to his legal practice. Sawyer and his business partner shuttered S’s in ’93. But the rookie alderman still blows off the dust from his Technics SL-1200 turntables to spin parties he hosts with his wife, Cheryll.

A couple of questions:

• Is the building that housed "S's" still operational (and if so, with what)?
• And we will see Ald. Sawyer guest DJ and some of next summer's neighborhood festivals?

And one "concern": wouldn't it have been better for our neighborhood if Ald. Sawyer was featured at Fletcher Records, here in our neighborhood (on 75th street)?

Chicago State Jazz on the Grazz- Roxanne Stevenson & CSU Jazz Band

Gospel museum luncheon to be held at Capt. Hard Time

Well this gospel museum will actually be located in a former church parsonage in the Bronzeville neighborhood. You can read this Sun-Times article for more details, but I'll exceprt a little about this luncheon:

Andrews, singer Albertina Walker, the Rev. Clay Evans and others will attend an informational luncheon about the museum Thursday at the Captain's Hard Time restaurant, 436 E. 79th St.

Keeble, 72, said he hopes to have between 500 and 600 items of memorabilia to open the museum. He already has the tuxedo worn by the late James Cleveland when he received the first of his five Grammy Awards, plus uniforms from Chicago's legendary Thompson Community Singers. Keeble hopes the gospel community will bring historical items to the luncheon.

Does anyone here have any items of interest to this museum?

Jeremih to encourage CPS kids to go back to school via Twitter

Ald. Lyle was also quoted in this article. She stood up for him based upon the lyrics in a song that made him famous. Twitter is becoming the new tool of choice these days isn't it? He's going to use Twitter to encourage his young school aged fans to return to school on Sept. 8th. Well here's more on this young and coming rap star:

Jeremih Felton — the home-grown rapper who struck gold with the racy song, “Birthday Sex”— has agreed to use “Twitter” to encourage his 70,000 followers to get back to Chicago Public Schools on Sept. 8.

In some ways, Jeremih is a natural star for this year’s back-to-school campaign.

He’s the local kid who made good — a Morgan Park High School alum who graduated at 16 and studied engineering at the University of Illinois before transferring to Columbia College to pursue music.

But the raunchy lyrics of “Birthday Sex” also make Jeremih a somewhat controversial choice.

The song includes lines such as, “Don’t need candles and cake/Just need your body to make good/Birthday sex’’ and “We grindin’ with passion ‘cause it’s your birthday/Been at it for hours, I know you thirsty.”

Ald. Lyle made her comments at a press conference at a local school, Robeson High School located at 6835 S. Normal. The good thing about Jeremih at least is that he's using his fame to encourage young people to go back to school next month. Even better using a "social media" to deliver that message!

Rhymefest on GML

These two segments in fact aired last night, but this up & coming Chicago rapper responsible for a protest video that was posted here on Sunday. He talks about his art and his support from bringing Wal-Mart to Chatham on Garrard McClendon Live (GML). Go to this post and you'll also see a video of Ald. Brookins on GML arguing his position!

I tweeted that post as well!

Cole Park/Jazz in the Park

CAPCC blog announces Jazz in the Park scheduled for today from 6:30PM to 8PM. Cole Park is located a block north of 87th on the west side of King Drive.

Soul Children of Chicago

A recent Facebook "status"from Walt Whitman Jr. It especially caught me eye as it is in the 6th ward!

Soul Children are having auditions Saturday, July 11th at Reach Christian Academy, 7400 South Michigan. Registration at 8:30am. must be 7-16 with 2.5 GPA. Call now at 773-881-8120 If you are agressive and desire to experience new friends, get some greta experience and training, get closer to God, your time is now membership is open. Call us at 773-881-8120.

Youtube link on The Soul Children autions

Also...Anyone have any details on Reach Christian Academy? Is it at all connected to the building by Aldi's, on State Street (there's a sign on that building that includes "Christian Academy", but now looks like it's for rent.)

Japanese Choir performs at Crerar Memorial Presbyterian

I was just given a flyer by a neighbor...A Japanese gospel choir (yes, you read it right) is performing at Crerar Memorial Presbyterian Church. Here's the text from the flyer. Sorry there aren't any graphics...the flyer has some photos that definitely makes this an interesting event.:

Crerar Memorial Presbyterian Church

2009 African American Worship Experience

Workshop III

Chicago, IL USA

In Concert

the Amazing

Harlem J P Choir of Osaka, Japan

Coming to Crerar Memorial Presbyterian Church
Sunday, July 19
3:30 PM
Crerar Memorial Presbyterian Church
8100 S. Calumet Avenue
Chicago IL 60619

Join us live for this Historical Event.

Reverend John F. Warner, D.D., Pastor

Lavonzell Paige, Director of Music

Tickets are a $15 donation (each).

For more information, contact Musical Inclinations @ 312-415-0534 or 773-874-2132

RIP Michael Jackson

Well I hate the fact that I can't embed "Billy Jean" from YouTube, but for your musical pleasure here it is! You can subscribe to the Michael Jackson channel here as well.

You can read the story about Michael Jackson's death from CBS2. If you want you can air out your feelings about Jackson here!

BTW, I forgot about his former hometown of nearby Gary, Indiana. Chicago Breaking News (Tribune) has a story about that city mourning the death of their hometown boy!

Videos from CBS2 from Gary, Indiana

• Michael Jackson's 2003 visit to Gary
• Man who gave Jackson key to Gary recalls 2003 visit
• Gary's residents respond to Jackson's death
• Gary Mayor remembers Michael Jackson
• Relative of Jackson family friend reacts to his death
• Chicago DJ (Herb Kent) on Michael Jackson's death

UPDATE 9:03 PM Gateway Pundit on the death of Michael Jackson. Lauding the death of a legend!

UPDATE 10:25 PM Reason Hit & Run: Michael Jackson RIP "On the day of his death, I'll ignore the weirdness and enjoy the music." I heard that!

Jazz jam session puts spotlight on young Englewood musicians

Chi-Town:

On a recent weekday night, nine-year-old Rashad Johnson found himself in some very grown-up company – playing his trumpet in a jazz ensemble at a fine-dining restaurant in Englewood.

“I want to impress people. I want a make name for myself,” says Johnson, who together with friends Joshua Yeo and Thomas Campbell was playing for the first time with the jazz ensemble at Sikia.

The restaurant, specializing in African fare, is staffed by Washburne Culinary Institute students. Once a month, the eatery is home to the Young Natives Student Jam Session, open to all Chicago jazz students from fourth grade up until college.

The students find out what it’s like to play in front of an audience, along with well-known Chicago jazz musicians. During the recent jam session, musician Corey Wilkes guided the young musicians through the session.

“The more you play, the more you experience, the more you will get better,” says Wilkes. “It’s like anything in life. You have to be around people that are better than you that will make you grow.”

A place worth going to over in Englewood.

Today's Chicago Blues

A blog that I discovered today as it was noted as Blogger's Blog of Note!

Spelman College Glee Club in Chatham!

From Wikipedia entry on Spelman College:

Spelman College is a four-year liberal arts woman's college located in Atlanta,
Georgia. The college is part of the Atlanta University Center academic consortium in Atlanta. [1] Spelman holds the distinction as America's oldest historically black college for women.

Spelman's Glee Club will be here in Chatham at St. Mark United Methodist Church on Friday March 14 at 7pm.

You can contact the church for more details:
St. Mark United Methodist Church
8441 S. St. Lawrence Ave
Chicago IL
773-846-2992
stmrkumc@sbcglobal.net

A PDF flyer is here