The Windy City is not just known for deep-dish pizza and hot dogs without mustard. Its music scene remains one of the most vibrant worldwide, spanning all genres and consistently paying homage to its past. Chicago is responsible for some of music's most legendary acts. Here are 5 of the best.
1. Alkaline Trio
Pop-punk is not everybody's cup of tea, especially hardcore punks. Yet, regarding the overall scene, Alkaline Trio has achieved a certain amount of punk/alternative credibility. With its unique, creative, and often satirical macabre approach to punk, Alkaline Trio has enjoyed a solid career since breaking from the Chicago suburbs in 1998. The campy "Radio" from 2000 and 2003's Good Mourning record should be considered the highlights of the band's run.
2. The Buckinghams
In the late mid-to-late 1960s, The Buckinghams were quite popular in Chicago and eventually enjoyed worldwide fame. In 1967, the group's pop sound was responsible for five Top 40 hits — most notably "Kind of a Drag," which reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. Original lead singer and North Sider Dennis Tufano, who attended Gordon Tech High School (now DePaul College Prep), continued to tour while performing the band's hits.
3. Chance the Rapper
From Chicago's Chatham neighborhood on the South Side, Chance's father worked for the late Chicago Mayor Harold Washington and then-Senator Barack Obama. Since breaking onto the rap scene in 2012, Chancelor Jonathan Bennett has become an international superstar and multi-Grammy Award-winning artist. He's also taken his talent and versatility to the screen — big and small. Amid all the fame, Chance still finds time to give back and support Chicago-related causes and programs.
4. Chicago
After coming together while some of its members were attending DePaul University, Chicago blossomed into one of the most successful bands in rock history. Bassist-vocalist and South Sider Peter Cetera also enjoyed a successful solo career. Known throughout the 1970s for classic songs like "25 or 6 to 4" and "Feelin' Stronger Everyday," and during the 1980s for pop ballads such as "Hard to Say I'm Sorry" and "You're the Inspiration," the group was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2016.
5. Common
From the South Side neighborhood of Calumet Heights, Common (born Lonnie Rashid Lynn) caught the rap bug while attending Chicago's Luther South High School. Since then, he became one of the biggest entertainers in the world. Common is a Tony Award from becoming an EGOT. He has one Oscar, one Primetime Emmy, and three Grammys.