Corky Siegel often mentions he had three LP records as a kid that changed his life. The three Blues artists were Howlin’ Wolf, Muddy Waters, and Jimmy Reed. Growing up in the southside of...

Steve Propes has been a longtime supporter of the NAMM Oral History program and sat down with us to discuss his views on the development of R&B, doo wop and rock and roll. As a long t...

Bobby Rush won his first GRAMMY at the age of 83 in 2017, some sixty years after his first professional gig as a bluesman. Beginning in the 1950s, Bobby performed live and recorded in Chi...

Ramsey Lewis had a monster hit record with his jazz version of "The In Crowd." The song, which is considered to be the quintessential instrumental jazz hit of the 60s, led to a series of ...

Phil Upchurch was a teenager when he joined the solid studio musicians for Chess Records in Chicago.  The old veterans took Phil under their wings and showed him the ropes and welcomed hi...

Casey Jones began his musical career as a Chicago-area blues drummer in the mid 1950s.  He had only been playing a few years when he was encouraged to sing at a gig.  He imitated Little R...