Summer’s arrival has brought great weather that will provide an excellent time in Grant Park, just off of Lake Michigan, for the 28th Annual Taste of Chicago, which promises to be spectacular. This year’s Taste of Chicago, which kicks off on June 27 and c
A thrilling Chicago native, Chaka Khan has earned 10 Grammy Awards. Decades ago, as a little girl, she won the hearts of audiences every Easter Sunday dancing and singing at the High Chapparell as Yvette Marie Stevens. It was long before her name was changed to Chaka Khan and audiences locally and nationally longed to hear her perform.
Her latest album, Funk This, is her first new project in a decade, and includes duets with Mary J. Blige and Michael McDonald. The album won a Grammy Award this year for best R&B Album. Opening for Chaka Khan is contemporary vocalist Angie Stone, whose recent album, The Art of Love demonstrates the writing ability of the vocalist. Stone performs at 5:30 p.m. Stevie Wonder is slated to entertain at the Taste in a return engagement June 28 at 5:30, presented by U.S. Cellular.
Wonder first performed at the Taste two decades ago, during the summer of 1988. Born Steveland Judkins, the triumphant young superstar, known internationally as Stevie Wonder, is a native of Saginaw, Mich. He was discovered by Ronnie White of the Miracles and taken to Motown Records where Berry Gordy signed him to the label.
The management named him Little Stevie Wonder. Lee Ivory, a former columnist for the Chicago Defender and publicity director for Motown, learned that the English blind jazz virtuoso pianist George Shearing was appearing in Detroit, and he took Stevie Wonder to meet him. Upon learning that Stevie Wonder would be meeting this world-famous jazz pianist, the occasion became highly anticipated one.
Stevie Wonder earned instant popularity. Motown then assigned to him a masterful writer in Hank Cosby, who accentuated the prodigious talent of Stevie Wonder and guided him into superstardom. Stevie Wonder was also instrumental in helping Congress to adopt a national holiday in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Admission to the Chaka Khan and Stevie Wonder performances is free.
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