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The jazz singer, who died this week on June 15, 1996, appeared for the first time on Chicago stages on Sept. 23, 1939.

As published in the Chicago Daily News, sister publication of the Chicago Sun-Times:

For six decades, Ella Fitzgerald wowed audiences with her beautiful, jazzy voice and her hit songs from “It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing)” to “Summertime.” She also broke barriers when she became the first Black woman to win a Grammy award in 1958.

But on Sept. 23, 1939, no one in Chicago quite recognized the talent, who died this week on June 15, 1996, that was about to perform on the city’s stages for the first time at the Grand Terrace (35th Street and South Park, now King Drive).

“On Thursday night, the dusky song star, now only 21 years old, made her first Chicago night-club appearance with her own band behind her and an intensely interesting Grand Terrace audience in front of her,” Chicago Daily News reporter Joseph Lawler wrote after seeing Fitzgerald perform.

Fitzgerald exploded onto the entertainment scene in 1934 when she won an amateur singing contest at the Apollo Theater in New York City, according to Biography. At the time, she’d been living on the streets. After she won the contest, she met bandleader Chick Webb and began performing with him as a singer at the Savory in Harlem. Just a year before her Chicago debut, she recorded two hits: “A-Tisket, A-Tasket” and “I Found My Yellow Basket.”

Though best known for her singing, Fitzgerald once hoped to become a dancer, and Lawler noted that some of her dancing skills appeared in her singing through the way her voice moved (she had a three-octave range).

“She is, instead, a dance instructor’s dream of a vocalist — a singer who treats her voice like an integral instrument of the band,” Lawler wrote.

The Daily News reporter didn’t include Fitzgerald’s setlist, but she did sing “A-Tisket, A-Tasket” for her fans.

In her dressing room after the show, Fitzgerald told her reporters she’d been writing music since she was 17 and studied it for “a half term in public schools,” the paper reported. She admitted that she knew very little about writing, but the “boys fix it up” when needed.

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Pride Month isn’t just a time for members of the LGBTQ+ community to show their pride— it’s an opportunity for all of us to show up for the LGBTQ+ community. Show your support by visiting one of these LGBTQ friendly restaurants (some of them LGBTQ+-owned) in Chicago.

Wood

3335 N Halsted St, Chicago IL 60657

Named for the craft of owner Franco Gianni’s father, Wood is “an upscale casual dinner and drinks destination” in Northalsted. With small plates like San Marzano Flatbread, large plates like Pan-Roasted Monkfish, and cocktails both innovative and traditional, Wood has something delicious for every palate.

Tweet

5020 N Sheridan Rd, Chicago IL 60640

One of the greatest brunch spots in Chicago is also the sister establishment of Big Chicks. With breakfast burritos, an amazing staff, and a welcoming atmosphere, Tweet is one of the best places you can hit up during Pride Month.

D.S. Tequila Co.

3352 N Halsted St, Chicago IL 60657

This popular tex-mex spot is within walking distance of Wrigley Field, Belmont Theater District, and Center on Halsted. With a great beer list, a rotating frozen drink menu, and trivia nights, D.S. Tequila Co. is a jewel in the crown of Lakeview.

Jennivee’s Bakery

3301 N Sheffield Ave, Chicago IL 60657

Jenni Vee, an immigrant from the Philippines, opened her own bakery in East Lakeview, serving delicious cakes and pastries reminiscent of traditions from both the United States and the Philippines. Her shop caters to both late-night sweet tooths and pre-planned, custom orders.

R Public House

1508 W Jarvis Ave, Chicago IL 60626

In its own words, R Public House is “a community-driven pub that welcomes everyone.” Not only does the pub offer a great selection of craft beers and cocktails, but also donates proceeds from the events it hosts.

Wilde Bar & Restaurant

3130 N Broadway, Chicago IL 60657

With an impressive menu of signature cocktails (and “Wilde Favorites”!) and a tantalizing lunch and dinner menu, Wilde Bar & Restaurant is a great place to celebrate Pride Month in style.

Rogers Park Social

6920 N Glenwood Ave, 60626

A neighborhood-oriented bar, Rogers Park Social offers an array of craft beers and intriguing cocktails. It’s even run by residents of the neighborhood in an effort to further “infuse the spirit of community, diversity, and service” into every facet of your experience there.

Big Jones

5347 N Clark St, Chicago IL 60640

This Southern kitchen and bar embodies the essence of hospitality. Chef Paul Fehribach not only cooks up a mean shrimp and grits, but also volunteers with Cooking Up Change, Share Our Strength, and other organizations.

The post 8 LGBTQ+ Friendly Restaurants in Chicago appeared first on UrbanMatter.

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There had been a birthday party at the home in the hours before the shooting, which killed 4 people and wounded 4 others.

Ratanya Aryiel Rogers had spent the day with friends, celebrating her 28^th birthday, and was waiting for a ride home when the gunfire started early Tuesday.

She and seven others inside the house in Englewood were methodically hunted down and shot, most of them in the head, one of them in the back, according to new details provided by Chicago police.

Rogers was killed, along with two other women and a man who lived in the home in the 6200 block of South Morgan Street. Friends say at least six children lost a parent in the attack, Chicago’s third mass shooting in little over a week.

Rogers was the mother of a young boy, according to Cameisha Jackson, who said she lives in Englewood and knew all four of the people who died.

“She was the life of the party, and she loved to dance,” Jackson said. “She was just a really sweet girl.”

The others who died were Denice Mathis, 32, a mother of four boys; Shermetria Williams, 19, the mother of a 2-year-old girl; and Blake Lee, 34, who lived in the home and did odd jobs in the neighborhood.

Police say someone broke into the home some time before 5:40 a.m. Tuesday and started shooting, according to police spokesman Steve Rusanov, who cited a preliminary report.

All but one victim was hit in the head, he said. The other victim was shot in the back.

Initially, police said the shooting broke out after an argument in the home. Police Supt. David Brown said there were two volleys of gunshots, hours apart, and that there were no signs of forced entry.

Authorities have reported no developments in the case and have not said whether anyone was in custody.

At a vigil outside the home Wednesday night, friends and family struggled to make sense of what happened.

“They were harmless, and that’s why it hurts, because if you knew them, you knew they were scared. You knew they were terrified,” Jackson said.

“What happened the other day really just shouldn’t have happened. Those people in that home didn’t deserve that,” said Robyn Eddmonds, a long-time friend of some of the victims. “That was a cruel person that did that, they didn’t have any morals.”

The Rev. Donovan Price erected four crosses outside the home as a memorial for the victims. A few hours later, dozens of family and friends gathered for the vigil.

Williams’ family spelled out “Shay Shay” and “Mia” in tealight candles on the sidewalk.

“Heaven” by Beyonce, one of Williams’ favorite songs, blared from a car’s speakers as the group released at least 50 pink, white and silver balloons in the shape of stars.

Tears streamed down people’s faces as they recorded and watched the balloons drift away.

“This is so hard,” a woman sobbed as she walked away holding hands with a young girl. “This is a senseless murder.”

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