The R&B Club Discusses the History of Chicago R&B

Name: The R&B Club Discusses the History of Chicago R&B
Start: 2026-01-11T12:00:00-05:00
End: 2026-01-11T15:00:00-05:00
Location: 540 Penn St NE, Washington, DC 20002, USA

Schedule

Sun Jan 11 2026 at 12:00 pm to 03:00 pm

UTC-05:00

Location

540 Penn St NE, Washington, DC 20002, USA | Washington, DC

We begin the new year with the same mission. In the past, we've explored the R&B histories of Philly, D.C., and the entire state of California as a way of charting the genre's impact on a location-specific level. This month, as we enter our eighth year (!!!), we're looking at the ins and outs of Chicago.
The Great Migration transformed Chicago into a major epicenter for R&B, bringing new styles to the area as Black people departed the South in pursuit of better lives. Our goal, as always, is to unpack how R&B has benefited in the long run—from the birth of Record Row, to Chicago Soul, to the present. Curtis Mayfield (solo and with the Impressions), Donny Hathaway, and Chaka Khan are familiar names, but Minnie Ripperton is also from Chicago and Earth, Wind & Fire was founded there. Expect some "Did you know?" moments, expect the comforting sounds of artists you've come to love through the years.
We love starting the year off strong, so join us at Songbyrd on January 11 from 12-2pm. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door. Also, if it happens to be particularly cold, consider the elements every Chicago artist faced on their path to make the city essential to the music we enjoy today. That wind is no joke and we're not joking when we say it's best to get your tickets sooner than later.
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The R&B Club is a cultural gathering founded in 2018 that discusses the influence of R&B music. In other words, think of it as a musical book club-style meetup. Follow us on social media at @therandbclubdc for more information.