Delmark Records presents Red Hot & Blues Women in Chicago for one night only as a pre-event to the Chicago Blues Festival. This special evening at the Harris – just as one at the legendary Blue Chicago venue would - showcases modern blues vocalists and instrumentalists Sheryl Youngblood, Melody Angel, Demetria Taylor, Carlise Guy, Sharon Lewis and Joanna Connor, performing the songs they’ve shared with the world, right back home in Chicago.
VIP tickets are also available and include a premium seat for the performance, as well as a pre-show reception with the artists, hosted by The Recording Academy. This pre-show event will include photo opportunities and a celebratory toast starting at 6 PM. Limited availability!
Women in Blues is made possible through the Harris Theater Creative Future Fund.
In May 2018 Delmark Records LLC purchased the 65 year old record label, Delmark. Julia A. Miller became the CEO & President of the label and Elbio Barilari its Artistic Director.
Delmark Records is the oldest continuously operating jazz and blues independent record label in the United States. It was founded by Robert G. Koester in St. Louis, Missouri in 1953, originally under the name “Delmar.” In 1958, Koester and the label relocated to Chicago with the label’s current name: Delmark.
The Delmark Gallery has been host to many exhibits of art & photos related to blues, jazz, and Delmark releases and artists. In 2020, The Gallery hosted a Women In Blues photo exhibit, including dozens of album covers and photos of female Delmark artists. The Delmark studio also hosted rehearsals for two consecutive Women in Blues Tributes on the Chicago Blues Festival, in 2022 and 2023. This program is an outgrowth of those Tributes.
The high-energy performances presented at Blue Chicago by the talented artists that grace that stage are experiences never to be forgotten. This great music is an important part of our history, and to experience it is to celebrate life itself and the musical tradition the artists carry on. Chicago Blues is an electric style of Blues music that was primarily developed from the migration of African Americans from the South to the Midwest. Throughout the years Blue Chicago has showcased such Blues legends as Koko Taylor, Bonnie Lee, Karen Carroll, the late Willie Kent, Johnny B Moore, Magic Slim, Eddie Clearwater, Eddie Shaw, the late Buddy Scott, and the late Eddie Lusk, just to name a few.
Featured Artists:
Melody Angel is the complete package: gifted guitarist and multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, vocalist, arranger, and producer. Along the way Angel found time to launch a successful theater and film acting career and received international acclaim at the Cannes Film Festival in France. The Chicago Reader newspaper called her “The Future of the Blues.” The Southside Chicago artist is indeed navigating a forward-looking musical path while integrating the legacy of classic blues. Her music encompasses many 20th century American genres, including Rhythm & Blues, Rock, Folk, and Funk, all layered on a strong bed of Chicago blues.
Joanna Connor and her band have shared the stage with blues, rock and jazz greats, including Luther Allison, BB King, Screaming Jay Hawkins, Robben Ford, Danny Gatton, Robert Cray, Jimmy Page, ZZ Top, Joe Cocker, Etta James, and others. Joanna signed endorsement deals with Gibson Guitars, Victoria Amps, LaBella Strings, Mesa Boogie Amps, and Orange Amps. The national and international acclaim she received in press and radio media resulted in a decade of world tours, a dozen recordings on Ruf Records, MC Records and others, a documentary on Germany’s WDR Television, and a multitude of TV appearances and radio features. In 2005, she took a hiatus from touring to spend time at home raising her young daughter. Two 15 plus year residencies at the House of Blues and The Kingston Mines honed Joanna’s considerable guitar and vocal chops even further. Her latest album is titled “Best of Me”.
Carlise Guy is a daughter of legendary blues musician, Buddy Guy. A new Delmark Artist, Carlise will release a digital single titled “A New Day” with her band NuBlu this spring.
Sharon Lewis is one of the finest vocalists on Chicago's scene, today. Her songs are dealing with the basics of everyday life. Sharon has two albums on Delmark, and will perform the song “Chicago Woman” which she also wrote. She says, “Basically, I want the message to be about dealing with life - coping, surviving.” The blend of soul, blues, and R&B delivers the perfect soundtrack for her lyrics.
Demetria Taylor was born to sing the blues. The songs on her newest album are a balance of traditional blues and modern R & B, with some written by her family, some by fellow musicians Mike Wheeler and Larry Williams, one by the venerable Magic Sam, and two by Demetria herself. This second Delmark record, “Doin What I’m Supposed To Do” is a strong follow up to her Delmark debut, “Bad Girl”. Demetria is proud to be the recipient of the KoKo Taylor “Queen of the Blues” Award (2022) given by the Jus’ Blues Foundation.
Sheryl Youngblood is a new Delmark Artist. Her first single, “Every Day of Your Life”, was written by Jimmy Johnson. The tune was recorded live by Sheryl and the Delmark All-Star Band during the label’s 70th anniversary celebration at Space, Evanston, IL on September 20, 2023. Recorded as a Tribute to the late Jimmy Johnson. Sheryl is proud to be the next recipient of the Denise LaSalle “Lifetime Achievement” Award (2024) given by the Jus’ Blues Foundation.
