[photogallerylink id=103101 align=left]Celebrating the genre’s rich past and its promising future, the Chicago Blues Festival is three days of the finest blues music in the world. Chicago’s own Mavis Staples is set to close the festival on Sunday, June 10. More than sixty years after she began singing with her ground-breaking family group, the Staple Singers, she is more popular than ever.

In 2011, Mavis Staples won the Grammy for “Best Americana Album” for You Are Not Alone, which was produced by fellow Chicagoan, Jeff Tweedy of Wilco. Not only is Staples a living Gospel and Blues legend, but also, a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award winner, a National Heritage Fellowship Award recipient and Rolling Stone listed her as one of the 100 Greatest Singers of All Time.

[photogallerylink id=40226 align=left]Friday, June 8: There will be a centennial celebration of Texas guitar legend Lightnin’ Hopkins starring Texas Johnny Brown as headliner with Texas natives, Reverend KM Williams, Milton Hopkins (Ligntnin’ Hopkins cousin) and Jewel Brown opening the evening’s salute.

The Petrillo will open on Friday with a special tribute to “Honeyboy” by Paul Kaye. Kaye toured and performed with David “Honeyboy” Edwards. Next, a program called Muddy Waters Disciples; Pinetop Perkins, Willie Big Eyes Smith and Mojo Buford will be remembered on the Petrillo stage in a set featuring: Muddy Water’s son, Mud Morganfield; Willie Big Eyes Smith’s son, Kenny Smith; Bob Magolin, Barrelhouse Chuck, Lil Frank and Bob Stroger.

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