KAREN MURPHY

Karen Murphy is the editor of Chicago Blues News, an e-newsletter that covers the Chicago blues community and beyond. Murphy has a B.S. in journalism from Northern Illinois University and been a magazine editor, writer and photographer for her entire career. She was born and raised on Chicago’s South Side, and has been a blues fanatic since she first heard Muddy Waters in high school.

PHOTOS

Kate Moss

With Benny Turner, Ann Arbor (MI) Blues Festival, Aug. 17, 2019

Donna Herula

City News Cafe, Chicago, April 22, 2018

Erica Rica Jean Korak

With Mississippi Heat, Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise #34, Jan. 23, 2020

Tikyra Jackson

Southern Avenue, Buddy Guy’s Legends, Jan. 18, 2018

Sheryl Youngblood

Sheryl Youngblood Band, Buddy Guy’s Birthday Bash, Buddy Guy’s Legends, Chicago, July 23, 2019

Yoko Noge

Yoko Noge and the Osaka Blues Women, Rosa’s Lounge, Chicago, May 29, 2019

Miss Hy–C

Miss Hy-C and Fresh Start, Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise #34, Jan. 25, 2020

Monica Myhre

Dave Weld & the Imperial Flames, Buddy Guy’s Legends, Chicago, Oct. 6, 2019

A TRIBUTE TO KOKO TAYLOR

Koko Taylor

Photo Nunu Picks

Alligator Recording Artist, Queen of the Blues, Koko Taylor https://news.wttw.com/2021/06/28/traveling-exhibit-honors-koko-taylor-and-other-women-blues https://www.alligator.com/artists/Koko-Taylor/

DIRT WOMAN BLUES

grainne-duffy

Photo Blackham Image

Irish singer & guitarist Grainne Duffy Chicago, IL USA
March 14 - Martyrs'
March 15 - Rosa's Lounge
March 16 - Irish Heritage Center
Grainneduffy.com

STRINGS OF JOY

Anne Harris

Photo Amanda Gresham

Anne Harris, blues fiddle player, makes history https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=ann+harris+wgn

PASSING THE CROWN

Cookie Taylor, daughter of Koko Taylor, presented her mother's crown to Shemekia Copeland

Photo Amanda Gresham

On 2011 Cookie Taylor, daughter of Koko Taylor, presented her mother's crown to Shemekia Copeland, crowning her the new Queen of the Blues. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rz68obDv5TQ

CELEBRATE MARY LANE

Come see the city of Chicago pay tribute to Mary Lane at Chicago Blues Fest, Women in Blues Stage, June 12th, 2:55 pm Mary Lane Dates in June

HELPING OTHER MUSICIANS IN NEED

Local Singer Helping Other Musicians in Need, Holle Thee Maxwell ‘Making A Difference’ on NBC 5

ELLA JENKINS TURNS 100 AUGUST 6TH 2024

"You sing a song and I'll sing a song. And we'll sing a song together."

WOMEN OF THE BLUES PRESENTS
WOMEN OF THE BLUES: A COAST TO COAST COLLECTION

The Collection features over 100+ photographs and art of 'Women of the Blues' performing, in portrait and screaming the blues. The curated collection is a tribute to Alligator recording artist, Queen of the Blues, Koko Taylor and supports the Koko Taylor Celebrity Aid Foundation and the Sisters of Royalty among other benefactors. Twenty photographers from around the world share their very poignant and powerful images of these extraordinary women, photographed from the stage at the Chicago Blues Festival to the Maui Sugar Mill in Los Angeles, from the Blues Cruise on the Caribbean to festivals on the East Coast.

The Collection takes you behind the lens that captured the images of superstars like Mavis Staples and Irma Thomas to beloved West Coast artist Candye Kane and Sherry Jackson Pruitt. Other featured artists include Koko Taylor Award recipient Ruthie Foster, Chicago's Southern soul blues diva Nellie 'Tiger' Travis, the legendary Holle Thee Maxwell, international touring blues singer Deitra Farr, and rising star the newly crowned Queen of the Blues, Shemekia Copeland, daughter of Johnny Copeland, and Tomiko Dixon, granddaughter of Willie Dixon, and many more beautiful images of women who sing and play the blues.

The world premiere of ‘Women of the Blues – A Coast To Coast Collection’ was first presented by Orman Music And Media Group at Firecat Projects in Chicago, May 27, 2016 and opened June 8th in conjunction with the Chicago Blues Festival. The exhibit was on display October 3rd through December 12, 2016 at The University of Chicago Medical Center. The ‘Women Of The Blues – A Coast To Coast Collection’ was on display at the National Blues Museum in St. Louis January 7th through March 31st, 2017. “Women of the Blues: A Coast To Coast Collection” made a return appearance to the University of Chicago Medical Center, in celebration of World Music Festival in September and the first Logan Center Blues Festival in October. A portion of full exhibit was back on display at the HydePark Campus. The show was located in the skybridge between Mitchell Hospital and DCAM. In 2017 Collection was shown on the Jumbotron at the Petrillo Bandshell for 2017 Chicago Blues Festival. In January 2020, the Collection opened at the Blues Hall of Fame in Memphis.

Opening in March of 2020, Lynn Orman Weiss, founder and curator of Women of the Blues Foundation in partnership with Delmark Records President and CEO, Julia A. Miller, celebrated Women's History Month with an exhibit featuring 100 blues women, and highlighted past and present blues women in the Delmark Records family. The collection paid tribute to the 100 years of historical recordings, the first million dollar selling blues song, “Crazy Blues” by Mamie Smith, a breakthrough into mainstream recording, and to pay homage to the women of the Suffrage Movement.

In the summer of 2022, Lynn curated the Collection at the Epiphany Center for the Arts that featured the line-up of Women Blues Performers at The Chicago Blues Festival, and presented a lecture on Women of the Blues at Chicago’s historic Cliff Dweller’s Club.

The touring exhibit is available for showings at museums, hospitals, schools and art galleries interested in educating the public about the blues divas both present and past, their musical journey and contributions to American Roots Music and the art of unique visions of seasoned photographers from across the country and around the world, who focus on blues music and those talented performers who inspire them.

Please contact Lynn Orman Weiss, Women of the Blues to arrange a showing in a city near you.

Learn more about THE EXHIBIT.

Learn more about THE PHOTOGRAPHERS.