Last year, friends Lucy Smith of the Lucy Smith Quintet and journalist Cheryl Corley came together to create a summertime experience titled “Chicago Bound” that melded Great Migration stories with the creation of Chicago blues and the musicians that fueled the genre. The tunes of notable musicians like Willie Dixon, Otis Rush, Koko Taylor, and Lillian “Lil” Green were featured while Corley narrated the stories behind the songs of the artists.

This year, the duo brings forth the work of the iconic Chicago poet Gwendolyn Brooks and musician Curtis Mayfield in a 90-minute program titled “Chicago’s Soul: The Words and Music of Gwendolyn Brooks and Curtis Mayfield.” Songs like “Move on Up,” “The Makings of You” and “(Don’t Worry) If There’s Hell Below, We’re All Going to Go” get air time, as

See Full Page