Sweet Home: The Storied History of Chicago Blues
Sunday, May 25th, 2025, at 2:30 pm via Zoom
A Theodore Talk with Jacob ‘Brother Jacob‘ Schulz
In this Theodore Talk, you’ll journey through the rich history and evolution of Blues music, tracing its origins from the deep Southern fields to the bustling streets of Chicago, where it found its modern-day home. You’ll explore the socio-cultural forces that shaped the blues, its migration during the Great Migration, and how Chicago became a beacon for blues innovation, producing legendary artists and iconic sounds.
Venues across the south and west sides like the Checkerboard Lounge in Bronzeville and the outdoor Maxwell Street Market became the beating heart of the Chicago blues scene, where legends like Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, and Willie Dixon crafted the soundtrack of the city — a sound which was often captured by the legendary Chess Records Studio.
Jacob ‘Brother Jacob’ Schulz, Chicago blues musician and historian online at <www.brotherjacob.com>, will discuss the current challenges facing the blues, including its fading mainstream presence and efforts to preserve its legacy for future generations. This talk will not only highlight the deep historical roots of the blues but also showcase how it continues to resonate as a timeless and influential art form today.
You might even learn about a few joints to visit while visiting Chicago during the Annual Gathering! This is the sixth of seven(!) Chicago-related talks leading up to the AG, which will take place in Chicago this summer during July 2nd – 6th. Learn more about the AG here.
Register for this presentation here: https://tinyurl.com/2663hn36.
Remember, Theodore Talks are always offered FREE to all Mensa members in an effort to provide more value for your membership.
Theodore Talks take place via Zoom on the fourth Sunday of each month at 2:30 pm (CT). Each presentation will last about 45 minutes and then followed by a Q&A session. Then after the Theodore Talk and any questions comes Mensa News & Notes. We generally end the day with general chat about whatever anybody wants to talk about.
So, you’re not able to attend this Theodore Talk (lecture and discussion)? Go ahead and register anyway; a link to the recording will be sent to you once the talk is over. All Theodore Talks have closed captioning enabled.
A list of future Theodore Talks can be found on the Mensa National Events Calendar, by visiting the American Mensa home page, or by viewing the 2025 Theodore Talks article in the January issue of the Mensa Bulletin.
Questions? Contact Brad Lucht at [email protected].
