(Koko Taylor and Bruce Iglauer)
Album Essentials: 20 Blues Albums You…The Chicago Tribune has named Alligator Records president and founder Bruce Iglauer one of nine 2011 Chicagoans Of The Year. The 2011 celebration kicked off in February with the release of the 2-CD set The Alligator Records 40th Anniversary Collection. “Over the forty years, our definition of “Genuine Houserockin’ Music” has expanded to include not only pure blues artists, but also musicians and songwriters who have taken the spirit of the blues and created their own sounds and styles, sometimes called roots rock or rockabilly or front porch soul or, in a few cases, gospel, the ultimate soul-rockin’ music,” Alligator Records founder Bruce Iglauer.
Bruce made a visit to Blues Breakers in March of this year to talk about the history of the label the newly released collection Alligator Records: 40th Anniversary Collection.
20 Memorable Blues PerformancesAmong the many other highlights of the label’s 40th anniversary, one of the most significant came in June during the Chicago Blues Festival, when Iglauer received a proclamation from Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel. Mayor Emanuel honored Iglauer’s contribution to the city’s musical heritage on a night dedicated to the label’s anniversary, featuring performances by blues icons Lonnie Brooks, Eddy “The Chief” Clearwater, Michael “Iron Man” Burks, Rick Estrin and Shemekia Copeland.
The Alligator Records 40th Anniversary Collection contains 38 tracks from the likes of Koko Taylor, Lil’ Ed & The Blues Imperials, Albert Collins, Buddy Guy, Robert Cray, Shemekia Copeland, Mavis Staples and more.
Article originally appeared on WXRT (http://wxrt.radio.com/) and was written by Zach Nechvatal.