Alligator Records’ Bruce Iglauer Named A Chicagoan Of The Year

It is with great pleasure that we congratulate our longtime friend and client, Alligator Records’ Bruce Iglauer for being named one of nine Chicagoans of the year by The Chicago Tribune. Alligator Records kicked off 2011 in February with the release of the 2-CD set The Alligator Records 40th Anniversary Collection. In June, during the Chicago Blues Festival, Iglauer received a proclamation from Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel. Mayor Emanuel honored Iglauer’s contribution to the city’s musical heritage on a night dedicated to the label’s anniversary, featuring performances by blues icons Lonnie Brooks, Eddy “The Chief” Clearwater, Michael “Iron Man” Burks, Rick Estrin, and Shemekia Copeland.  Among the many other highlights of the label’s 40th anniversary, in July, rolled out a new Alligator Records website built by 305 Spin featuring over 3,000 track samples from over 280 albums by more than 100 of the leading blues artists from yesterday and today. 305 Spin is very proud of everything that Alligator Records celebrated in 2011, and we wish them continued success and growth in 2012 and for many years to come.

Check out the website at www.alligator.com. And while you are at it join us in congratulating Bruce on Facebook at www.facebook.com/alligatorrecords.

305 Spin Congratulates Alligator Records and Lonnie Brooks

305 Spin congratulates Alligator Records and legendary bluesman Lonnie Brooks for being honored by the City of Chicago at the 2011 Chicago Blues Festival.  Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel honored the 40th Anniversary of Alligator Records with a congratulatory letter presented to Alligator president and founder Bruce Iglauer on Sunday, June 12, at the Chicago Blues Festival.

Emanuel and the City Council also honored legendary Alligator recording artist, Lonnie Brooks, with a proclamation, declaring June 12, 2011 “Lonnie Brooks Day” throughout Chicago. The presentation took place in between songs during Brooks’ blistering set, and caught both Igaluer and Brooks by complete surprise.

In his letter to Iglauer, Mayor Emanuel stated, “Chicago is proud to be the home of Alligator Records. Guided by your vision and determination, Alligator Records has produced some of the finest blues talent.”
The Lonnie Brooks proclamation declares Brooks “a worldwide icon of Chicago blues” and “encourages all Chicagoans to recognize his many achievements and contributions.”

The Blues Festival’s Sunday evening main stage was turned into a virtual rollicking roadhouse as Brooks, along with Alligator stars Eddy “The Chief” Clearwater, Michael “Iron Man” Burks, and Rick Estrin all celebrated Alligator’s anniversary. The overflow crowd was treated to an evening of raucous, hard-edged, house-rocking music.

Powerhouse singer Shemekia Copeland, who began her career on Alligator opened the show, and joined everybody on stage for the triumphant finale. In an emotional ceremony near the end of Copeland’s set, Cookie Taylor Threatt, daughter of the late Koko Taylor, presented Copeland with Taylor’s crown and declared Copeland the reigning Queen Of The Blues.