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Secret History of Chicago Music - Jo Ann Garrett

Local soul sensation Jo Ann Garrett disappeared from the biz in her 20s

By Mike in News Archives
Updated on 29 Jun 2024 · Published 19 Dec 2022

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The Chicago Readers 'Secret History of Chicago Music' series of articles by Steve Krakow hits the spot yet again, this time it's taking a look at Jo Ann Garrett.

Local soul sensation Jo Ann Garrett disappeared from the biz in her 20s
This flexible, distinctive singer worked with the likes of Pervis Spann, Andre Williams, and Charles Stepney—but her career lasted only a few years.
by Steve Krakow
December 16, 2022

... urged Garrett to audition for WVON DJ and club owner Pervis Spann. Garrett passed the audition, which got her a spot at a talent show at the Regal Theater. She took second place, behind the Five Stairsteps (later of “O-o-h Child” fame), and both artists ended up with record contracts. Garrett was still just 16 or 17 years old, but already her music career was being managed by Spann and Robert “Bob” Lee, who owned a small local label called Hawk Records and worked in A&R for the short-lived but more successful Crash...

Get over to the Chicago Reader website for the full length article, worth the walk.

https://chicagoreader.com/music/local-soul-sensation-jo-ann-garrett-disappeared-from-the-biz-in-her-20s/

View all Secret History of Chicago Music articles on The Chicago Reader site via

https://chicagoreader.com/music/the-secret-history-of-chicago-music/



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Thinksmart

Thinksmart 523

Posted

Very interesting, thanks for the link. There was a good article on Andre Williams there too.

Soulfinger

Soulfinger 573

Posted

That's really interesting. There's a lot of other stuff on there that looks equally so. Thank you for posting.

JOMT

JOMT 12

Posted

Excellent. Only know/have one of her 45s so will definitely be checking out the others.

jukeboxgeorge

jukeboxgeorge 29

Posted

The author didn't do much research.  Jo Ann Garrett has lived in the same house in Chicago for decades.  She played at least one show per year 1972-1975.  In 1996 a Chicago newspaper had a preview story about Andre Williams' first Chicago show in 35 years; it stated that Andre's "former protege and ex-wife, singer Jo Ann Garrett," would perform.  And in 2008 she performed at a Chicago club.  There may have been other performances that were not included in club listings of Chicago papers.  The author of this should have done more than ask a few mates about her.




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