Neighborhood News: In the South Loop, Willie Dixon’s Blues Heaven Foundation preserves Chicago’s blues legacy
“All great music of the past century tends to have its roots in the blues.”
Chicago is the home of the blues, and there’s no better place to learn about its rich history than at Willie Dixon’s Blues Heaven Foundation,located in the historic Chess Records Building, 2120 S. Michigan Avenue.
The building houses Chicago ‘s Blues Museum, as well as the Blues Heaven Gallery where many photographers have displayed their work.
History of Chess Records
“Sometimes, music says exactly what we’d like to say. Sometimes, music says exactly what we need to hear.”
Willie Dixon’s Blues Heaven Foundation
According to Wikipedia sources, Chess Records was established in 1950, by Jewish immigrants Leonard Chess and his brother Phil, specializing in blues and rhythm and blues. Later, they expanded into soul music, gospel music, early rock and roll, and jazz and comedy recordings. Among the artists based at Chess Records were Howlin’ Wolf, Rufus Thomas, Bo Diddley, Sonny Boy Williamson, and Willie Dixon. Their success grew with artists such as Little Walter, The Moonglows, The Flamingos, and Chuck Berry, and in the ’60s with Etta James, Fontella Bass, Koko Taylor, Little Milton, Laura Lee, and Tommy Tucker,
Chess was based at several locations on the south side of Chicago, initially at South Cottage Grove Ave. The most famous was 2120 S. Michigan Avenue, from May 1957 to 1967, immortalized by the Rolling Stones in “2120 South Michigan Avenue,” an instrumental recorded there during the group’s first U.S. tour in 1964, where they also recorded “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction.”
The birth of the Blues Museum
In his later years, Willie Dixon founded the Blues Heaven Foundation to protect Blues artists of the past and inspire future generations with the straightforward power of the Blues tradition. The museum is dedicated to the preservation of the history of blues music.
His widow, Marie Dixon, and other Foundation donors purchased the dilapidated Chess Records building at 2120 S. Michigan Avenue in 1993, and began the restoration of the historic landmark, reopening in September 1997 with a dedication ceremony.
Blogger Steve Glassman recounted his tour of the Blues Museum in 2020, waxing rhapsodic over the restored office of Leonard Chess, who passed away in 1969, as well as the red dress owned by Koko Taylor, the ‘Queen of the Blues.’ Dixon brought her to Chess Records in 1964, where she recorded ‘Wang Dang Doodle.’
The “absolute highlight” of the tour for Glassman, however, was the Main Studio, where so many legendary recording sessions took place.
Adjoining the museum is the Willie Dixon Blues Garden. Every summer, the Garden features a Record Row Concert Series from June through mid September, with FREE performances every Thursday evening from 6 to 7:30.
The restoration of the building has preserved a lifetime of memories. Take, for example, this recent Google review:
“I’ve been to Stax and Sun in Memphis and Fame in Muscle Shoals (all amazing), but the Blues Heaven Foundation tour in Chicago is exceptional. Best in class. What a treasure—and our tour guide Janine was phenomenal. Highly recommend! ❤️”
The museum is on a winter break currently, but re-opens on March 1.
Tours of the Chess Records building are by RESERVATION ONLY, Tuesday-Saturday, from noon-4pm. Admission is $25 Adult and $20 Child (5-17). To request a tour, please email info@BluesHeaven.com with date and time requested. Tours begin every hour on the hour. The last tour begins at 3 PM. For more information, click here.
Alison Moran-Powers and Dean’s Team Chicago
