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Bronze Award
Chicago Kinfolk: The Juke Joint Blues
Chicago Blues History
United States
2026
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Execution Audio
Entrant Company
Terry Blade Music
Entry Type
Mixed
Launch Country
United States
Program
Clio Music 2026
Medium Type
‌Use of Music
Medium
Use of Music Innovation
"Chicago Kinfolk: The Juke Joint Blues" is an ethnographic blues music album by Chicago-based singer-songwriter Terry Blade. The album aims to honor the trailblazers and pioneers of Chicago blues music, including Theresa Needham (The Godmother of Chicago Blues), Muddy Waters Jr., Jimmy Walker, Lefty Dizz, and Willie Monroe. The album features original blues songs written, performed and recorded by Blade; Blade's rendition of a song Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup recorded in Chicago in 1946; and excerpts from interviews with well known Chicago blues musicians in May 1977. The audio recordings of these interviews are in the public domain, and were curated through Blade's research of the Chicago Ethnic Arts Project Collection of the American Folklife Center at the U.S. Library of Congress. Chicago Kinfolk's act of revitalizing Chicago Blues through direct integration of primary sources is a significant contribution to cultural preservation and education, offering a new model for how artists can interact with, advertise, market, and disseminate historical materials. The fundamental purpose of this integration is to create a dialogue and an ethnographic record. By bringing the archive directly into the listener's home, Chicago Kinfolk bypasses traditional academic gatekeepers and makes historical voices directly accessible, thereby democratizing access to cultural heritage. This active engagement creates a new pathway for audiences to connect with the past, demonstrating a novel form of artistic stewardship.
Credits
Music Company
Terry Blade Music
Chicago
Production Company
The Muse Group/The Audacity Team
London
Distribution Company
Groover Spark
Paris
Streaming Platform
Bandcamp
Oakland
United States Research Library
Library of Congress
Washington, DC
Music Publisher
Warner Chappell Music
Los Angeles
Songwriter
Terry Blade
Artist
Terry Blade
Voice Talent
Terry Blade
Songwriter
Larry D. Robertson
The Godmother of the Chicago Blues
Theresa Needham
Chicago Blues Pioneer, Musician, and Cultural Icon
James "Muddy Waters Jr." Williams
Songwriter
Bobby Cole
Chicago Blues Pioneer, Pianist, & Cultural Icon
Jimmy Walker
The Father of Rock and Roll
Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup
Songwriter
Ryan Jenkins
Chicago Blues Pioneer & Cultural Icon
Willie Monroe
Chicago Blues Pioneer, Guitarist, and Cultural Icon
Walter "Lefty Dizz" Williams
Special Contributor
Ralph H. Metcalfe Jr
Special Contributor
Beverly Johnson
Composer
Bobby Cole
Composer
Neil Cross
Composer
Lobo Coco
Composer
Carl Bladts
Composer
Jason Shaw
Composer
Kevin Macleod
Composer
Antonio D. Giovanni
Historical Figure
Madame Stephanie St. Clair
Photographer
Matt Richmond
Photographer
Arienechang
Wikimedia Foundation
Photographer
Jonas Devydenas
Photographer
Marion Post Wolcott
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