by Steve Balkin<mar@interaccess.com>, Secretary, Maxwell Street Historic Preservation Coalition. 8/23/98
This Blues protest was held to raise awareness about the issues surrounding Maxwell Street and to let people know of related events this month and next month.
The Blues Jam started late due to logististical problems of the site being unexpectedly moved twice and the generator not working; so another one had to be found. We finally ended up in the old Earl Sheib parking lot at the NW corner of Roosevelt and Canal, where Piano C. Red used to play. Things got rolling at 11:30AM, only an hour and half late, but it was a hot jam.
Several protest posters were on display. Lots of people came by and took flyers and asked what a TIF is. Our simplified explanation was "it is a financial tool used by the City and real-estate developers to kick poor people out of their neighborhoods" Many in the crowd wondered why UIC could not incorporate some old buildings into their South Campus Plan to honor the history and culture of that neighborhood. They thought UIC was being insensitive, imperial, and disrespectful, and we agreed with them.
The main musicians included the Joe B Super Star Blues Band, Al Harris and his 6 Pack Band, and Jimmie Lee Robinson, (the Lonely Traveler). Guest musicians, sitting in from time to time, included Blues harpist Robert Osborn from New Orleans, Bobby Too Tough from the late 1940s and early 1950s at old market (he used to sing with Muddy, Elmore James, and Howlin Wolf there), and singer and harpist Jody Noa (his band was the first paid band to play at the Checkerboard Lounge).
A Parisian journalist from Soulrag Magazine talked to people and took pictures, and Blues photographer James Fraher was shooting for his video project, Last Days of Maxwell Street (hoping the title will not be accurate). Lots of photographers came by to take pictures. We expect a good crowd for Saturday's Protest Blues Jam at the old market, at the corner of South Halsted and Maxwell Street (8/29/98 at noon).
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