In 1942, Theodore Taylor, always the ladies man, was chased out of Mississippi one day after a sordid affair with a woman. He spent the first day hiding in drainage ditches and then headed for Chicago. He never went back. Hound Dog Taylor and his band, the HouseRockers, became an iconic act on the South and West sides blues scene until his death in 1975. His body, like so many other legends of the Chicago blues, lies interred beneath a modest stone along the Cal-Sag Trail.
Discover the history of Chicago Electric Blues on our bicycle tour that celebrates the legendary Blues masters. Gathered around their graves, sample the colorful life stories of Hound Dog Taylor, Magic Sam, Muddy Waters, and many others while you learn how Chicago electric blues of the 1950's galvanized the emergence of Rock & Roll in the 1960's.
LIMITED TO 90 RIDERS. Pre-register $24; otherwise $30 after August 17.
We'll start at Natural Law Cocktail Club in Blue Island and pedal casually on quiet streets to three historic cemeteries near the Cal-Sag Trail where these blues greats are interred. Blues artist and historian Harmonica Neil meets us graveside to share stories and music of the Chicago blues legends.
Here’s Neil wailing on Hound Dog from the very first Graveyard Blues Tour, way back in 2012:
The route is an easy 22 miles at a relaxed, nobody-gets-left-behind pace. Refreshments and SAG support. We’ll finish at Natural Law for music and refreshments.
Natural Law is at 13404 Old Western Ave in Blue Island. Ample parking and easy access from both Metra Rock Island and Metra Electric lines. Plan to arrive at 8:30, finish around 3.
Cars: We can accommodate automobiles at $70 per car. But, limited to 7 cars.
Skulls: All of our riders wear helmets. But you knew that already.
For more info, email to friends@calsagtrail.org.
Produced by and benefiting Friends of the Calumet-Sag Trail, whose nonprofit mission is the construction, use and enhancement of a the 26-mile multi-use Cal-Sag Trail.