Illinois Rock and Roll Hall of Fame honors Chicago's Blues legacy and more for 2025's induction event at Rialto Theater, Joliet
- chicagoblueseditor
- Sep 19
- 3 min read
Story & Photos by Jim Summaria
The Illinois Rock and Roll Museum and Hall of Fame held its 2024-25 Induction Ceremony on September 14 at the Rialto Theatre in Joliet and the blues was well represented with new inductees. Delmark Records entered in the Record Company Category, Willie Dixon was recognized in Songwriting and Little Walter, Howlin Wolf and Bo Diddley as solo artists.
Delmark Records President and CEO Julia A. Miller and Artistic Director Elbio Barilari accepted the award and gave a brief speech about the venerable blues and jazz label's history dating back to 1953. Delmark recording artist Sheryl Youngblood gave an energetic and entertaining performance belting out "Every Day of Your Life" and "Red Hot Women in Blues."
Also honored was Vee-Jay Records, a Chicago blues/R&B/rock label that released the first ever U.S. recording by a then unknown group called The Beatles. Vee-Jay was the first label to release a record with Jimi Hendrix playing on it when he was a member of Little Richard's band.
Willie Dixon's son Freddie received his father's award. Also accepting in honor of their father was Bettye Kelly and Barbra Marks daughters of Howlin' Wolf and Bo Diddley's daughter Evelyn (Tan) Cooper. Little Walter's daughter Marian Diaz took the award and happily gifted her father's robe to the museum.
Harmonica master Billy Branch and his band Elevation with special guest star the brilliant guitarist Ronnie Baker Brooks paid homage to Little Walter by performing excellent versions of Little Walter's "My Babe" and "Mellow Down Easy."
The Freddie Dixon Band first played the Bo Diddley classic, which was penned by Willie Dixon, "You Can't Judge a Book by the Cover." They followed that up with Dixon's "Spoonful" recorded by Howlin' Wolf back in 1960. Violinist Judy Lei added an inspiring solo. They closed with "You Shook Me" which Muddy Waters first recorded and later the Jeff Beck Group and Led Zeppelin.
Other honorees included the musical Grease and its creators Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey, songwriter Tim Drummond, rock bands Smashing Pumpkins, Head East, E'Nuff Z'Nuff and Disturbed, folk artists Steve Goodman and Bonnie Koloc, pop rock singer Richard Marx.
Radio stations WCFL and Q101, and radio personalities Bob Stroud and Mitch Michaels were also inducted.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to R&B artists Marshall Thompson & the Original Chi-Lites. Country artist Suzy Bogguss was presented with the Founder's Choice Award. And the rock band Disturbed won the President's Choice Award.
To be nominated an artist's must have an Illinois connection either by being born, raised or have had a career in the state. The museum is located at 9 West Cass Street in Joliet and is open for visitation. More information can be found at www.roadtorock.org
Jim Summaria began professionally photographing rock concerts in 1973 at the age of 19 when he became the staff photographer for the Chicago rock concert promoter Flip Side Productions. Jim's photos have been published in numerous books, magazines and CDs. His rock ‘n’ roll photos have been viewed at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, the Illinois Rock & Roll Museum and Hall of Fame on Rt.66 and the Grammy Awards. Jim and writer Mark Plotnick co-authored the books Classic Rock: Photographs From Yesterday & Today and the October 2024 release ‘70s Chicagoland Rock Concerts. Jim and Mark also co-host the radio podcast That Rock Show on the Illinois Rock & Roll Museum platform.
###
