“I’m from the South Side, 99th and Throop. Went to school on the South Side, and then every day traveling downtown to go to ballet school. I’m really a Chicago boy, for sure.” 

An iconic Chicago venue has invited a familiar face to join its leadership ranks.

As we reflect on the year gone by, WFMT salutes the contributions of members of the arts community who died this past year.

The Chicago born and based Lewis was revered in jazz circles for hits like “The In Crowd” and “Hang on Sloopy.” He earned three Grammys and seven gold records.

WFMT spoke to the Chicago-born Lewis in 2015, when, at the age of 80, his music received its first CSO performance.

In addition to the annual CSO residency, Ravinia will play host to a spate of guest ensembles, including Music of the Baroque, The Knights, the Lincoln Trio, Chanticleer, the Chicago Philharmonic, and the Chicago Sinfonietta.

A jazz pianist and composer is being honored with a lifetime achievement award on the occasion of African-American Heritage Month.

Though African Americans have faced oppression throughout American history and the arts, Black composers’ contributions to music have been nothing short of history-changing.