Maxwell Street Chicago.

It was a unique socio-cultural phenomenon, where people of all races and religions came together to buy, sell, bargain and sing the blues.

The birthplace of the urban blues and “the music school” for blues legends like Buddy Guy, Junior Wells, Howlin’ Wolf and the “father of rock and roll” Bo Diddley.

Where a black man could own a Jewish deli and Jewish merchants would help black musicians find a commercial audience for their unique Chicago sound.

This blog is the companion to the films Electrified: The Story of the Maxwell Street Urban Blues and Cheat You Fair: The Story of Maxwell Street, documentaries by Emmy-nominated producer & director Phil Ranstrom that chronicle the history of this remarkable, now demolished, urban space.

Electrified tells the story of the Chicago blues and Cheat You Fair documents the last days of the historic Maxwell Street market. This blog will bring you behind the scenes of the films, into the hearts and minds of the film-makers. And perhaps a few unexpected places as well.

All in the spirit of Maxwell Street Chicago.

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Email: electrifiedblues@gmail.com