The Checkerboard Lounge was a blues club on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois, established in 1972 at 423 E. 43rd St. by L.C. Thurman and Buddy Guy.[1][2] In 1985, Guy left the partnership and later established Buddy Guy's Legends in Chicago's South Loop neighborhood.

The Rolling Stones video and live album Live at the Checkerboard Lounge, Chicago 1981 included the Rolling Stones performing with Muddy Waters, Buddy Guy, Junior Wells, and members of Muddy Waters' band.[3][4]

In 2003, the Checkerboard Lounge, in danger of closing due to structural issues with the building,[5] moved to a newly renovated building at 5201 S. Harper Court in Hyde Park.[2] The club experienced declining attendance and it closed its doors in 2015, after the death of L.C. Thurman.[6]

The club hosted musical acts including Lefty Dizz, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Eric Clapton, Magic Slim, Vance Kelly, Muddy Waters, The Rolling Stones, James Cotton, Little Johnny Christian and the Chicago Playboys, Buddy Scott and the Rib Tips, Jerry Lucky Lee and the Groove Machine, and Chuck Berry.[7][3]

References

  1. ^ "Historic venues: The Checkerboard Lounge". Chicago Blues Experience. October 12, 2015. Retrieved March 6, 2017.
  2. ^ a b Cholke, Sam (September 24, 2015). "Legendary Checkerboard Lounge Closed After Owner's Death". DNAinfo. Archived from the original on March 7, 2017. Retrieved March 6, 2017.
  3. ^ a b Margasak, Peter (May 22, 2003). "Checkerboard's New Lease on Life/No Illusion". Chicago Reader. Retrieved March 6, 2017.
  4. ^ Malooley, Jake (July 16, 2012). "Muddy Waters & The Rolling Stones Live at the Checkerboard Lounge, Chicago 1981". Time Out Chicago. Retrieved March 6, 2017.
  5. ^ Sonnenberg, Jim (February 15, 2003). "Last call at Checkerboard Lounge". Crain's Chicago Business. Retrieved March 6, 2017.
  6. ^ Wisniewski, Mary (June 14, 2014). "Legendary Checkerboard Lounge blues club ailing and wailing". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved March 6, 2017.
  7. ^ Krakow, Steve (January 30, 2019). "Lefty Dizz was one of the greatest showmen in the blues". Chicago Reader. Retrieved January 3, 2021.

41°48′59″N 87°36′55″W / 41.816435°N 87.615211°W / 41.816435; -87.615211


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