Chicago/South Loop Needs to Embrace its Music History

We recently stumbled upon an interesting article in the Chicago Tribune about Alderman Fioretti's vision to turn Motor Row into "Music Row" (or if you're like us, you would prefer "Record Row"). There has been a lot of discussion over the past couple of months about the subject and this time, the Chicago Tribune editors weigh in:

When it comes to great American music, the Second City might as well be called the Seventh City.

Chicago has a thriving music scene with scores of jazz, blues, folk and rock clubs. But Nashville, Memphis, New Orleans, Austin, Detroit, and even Kansas City, Mo., seem to have embraced their music heritage more successfully than Chicago has through cultural programming, historical districts and ambitious promotion.

"Music City USA"? Nashville claimed that title in the 1950s, for good reasons. But as much as we love the Grand Ole Opry – and Motown, Dixieland, the Delta Blues and K.C. jazz – the music crown should belong in the toddlin' town, once the home of Benny Goodman and Earl "Fatha" Hines and Jelly Roll Morton and Muddy Waters and Junior Wells and Steve Goodman and John Prine and … well, you get the idea. We've had it all and should celebrate that.

So we want to support Ald. Bob Fioretti's efforts to revitalize a small stretch of South Michigan Avenue known as "Motor Row" into an entertainment district commemorating the great music history that rose up alongside the auto showrooms of yesteryear.

We echo these thoughts and hope the momentum continues for this initiative. Chicago has an amazing music history...let's own it!