Page 34 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Chicago

32  INTRODUCING CHIC A GO

Remarkable Residents

Chicago has always been a city at the forefront. It has
nourished leaders in diverse fields, from music to industry,
from architecture to sports. Some have been drawn to Chicago
from other parts of the US and abroad; others were born and
bred in Chicago. All have left their mark on the city and,
indeed, on the world, including, most notably, the current
President of the United States, Barack Obama. As the city
where the skyscraper was developed in the late 1800s, Chicago
has long been a center for architectural innovation, with many Blues legend Muddy Waters playing
his electric guitar
of North America’s influential architects based here for at least
part of their careers. Having nurtured outstanding musicians Delta to Chicago, where his use
since the 1910s, the city is also famous for its jazz and blues. of electric guitar was seminal.
Nat “King” Cole (1919–65),
(see p52), Sullivan declared that with his unique and velvety
form follows function. Indeed, vocals, broke several color
the detailing allowed the barriers in the 1950s. He was
architect artistic license while the first African American to
drawing in passers­by. have a radio and TV show.
Sullivan nurtured a young The electronic dance music
draftsman with whom he worked, genre House originated here,
Frank Lloyd Wright (1867–1959). and the 90s rock scene erupted
Over the next 70 years, Wright with bands like Smashing
played a significant role in Pumpkins and Wilco. Hip­hop
Frank Lloyd Wright, one of the world’s modern architecture, fathering star Kanye West is from Chicago.
most influential architects the Prairie School (see p29) and
designing such masterpieces as
Robie House (see pp104–105). Actors and Comedians
Architects Ludwig Mies van der Rohe Paul Sills and Bernie Sahlins
Chicago architects have literally (1886–1969) moved to opened Chicago’s renowned
shaped the city. Daniel Burnham Chicago in 1937. The impact improvisational comedy spot
(1846–1912) was one of of his International style (see Second City in 1959. Many
Chicago’s most successful p29) was profound. comics, including Gilda Rad ner
architects. His partnership with (1946–89), Stephen Clobert,
John Wellborn Root (1850–91) Tina Fey, Bill Murray, Dan
led to buildings such as the Musicians Aykroyd, and Joan Rivers, got
Rookery (see p44), a stunning Louis Armstrong (1901–1971) their start here. Comic genius
early skyscraper. His later lived in Chicago from 1922 to Jack Benny (1894–1974) and
partnership with designer 1929. He launched a revolution Saturday Night Live star John
Charles Atwood (1849–95) with his trumpet playing, Belushi (1949–82) both lived in
resulted in the groundbreaking popularizing the new art of jazz. Chicago suburbs.
Reliance Building (see p52). If Armstrong was the king of Several Chicago­based
Burnham was in charge of jazz, Benny Goodman (1909– actors, including John Cusack
designing the 1893 World’s Fair. 1986) was the king of swing. and John Malkovich, have
However, it is for the 1909 Plan of His Russian parents settled in
Chicago, which he coauthored Chicago’s West Side, where
that he is best known. This Goodman joined the Hull­House
document of civic planning (see p118) youth band. Later,
became the vision for Chicago, he led the US’s first racially
proposing a series of riverfront integrated band, inviting black
public spaces and the widening pianist Teddy Wilson to join his
of major roads to make the orchestra. Jelly Roll Morton
downtown easily accessible. (1890–1941), the great pianist
Louis Sullivan (1856–1924) from New Orleans, came to
has been called the first truly Chicago in 1922. Morton claimed
American architect. Cele­ to have invented jazz. Muddy
brated for his organic style of Waters (1915–83) didn’t claim to
ornamentation, as seen on the have invented blues, but he did Chicago’s Oprah Winfrey, a national
windows of Carson Pirie Scott bring the sound of the Mississippi TV personality

032-033_EW_Chicago.indd 32 13/07/16 2:59 pm
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Feature template “UK” LAYER
(SourceReport v1.5)
Date 8th November 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm