Learn about Chicago music history with 'Sound Opinions' May 11

Over a dozen suburban libraries are hosting “Sound Opinions Presents: The 10 Most Important Artists in Chicago Music History” on Tuesday, May 11. It will be 7 to 8:30 p.m. on Zoom.

Join music critics Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot, hosts of the world's only rock 'n' roll talk show, for a live, online event celebrating Chicago music.

They will trace the city's rich musical history via the 10 artists they feel contribute the most enduring and influential sounds over the past half-century. Genres include gospel, blues, rock, R&B and more.​Each week on ”Sound Opinions,” they interview artists, talk about pop culture and music industry news, review new record releases and give trends a historical context. “Sound Opinions” can be heard on WBEZ and 150 other public radio stations across the country. Learn more at soundopinions.org.

Born in Jersey City, New Jersey, the year the Beatles arrived in America, DeRogatis began voicing his opinions about rock 'n' roll shortly thereafter. He is a full-time lecturer in the Professional Writing Program of the English Department at Columbia College Chicago and continues to write about popular music for WBEZ Chicago. DeRogatis spent 15 years as the rock critic at the Chicago Sun-Times and continues to cover news and culture as a freelance writer, including via contributions to The New Yorker. He is the author of 10 books, including “Let It Blurt: The Life and Times of Lester Bangs,” “America's Greatest Rock Critic,” and “Soulless: The Case Against R. Kelly.” DeRogatis has played in punk-rock bands since age 13 but jokes that he is a drummer, not a musician. He lives on the North Side of Chicago with his wife, while his daughter pursues musical theater.

Kot spent 30 years as the music critic at the Chicago Tribune where he comprehensively covered popular music and reported on music-related social, political and business issues. He has written several books, including “I'll Take You There: Mavis Staples, the Staple Singers, and the Music That Shaped the Civil Rights Era” and “Wilco: Learning How to Die.” Kot also has made major contributions to books on Johnny Cash, George Harrison, the Velvet Underground, Queen, Aerosmith, R.E.M. and the Beatles. A longtime contributor to Rolling Stone, Kot has written for a dozen national publications, including Details, Blender, Entertainment Weekly, Men's Journal, Guitar World, Vibe and Request. Kot has lived on Chicago's Northwest Side through numerous character-building winters with his wife, two daughters and far too many records.

Together, Kot and DeRogatis issued “The Beatles vs. the Rolling Stones: Sound Opinions on the Great Rock 'n' Roll Rivalry (2010), written in the fun but combative style of the radio show.

Closed-captioning will be available for this program. Sign up via one of the library websites.

This program is presented in partnership by: Addison Public Library, Arlington Heights Memorial Library, Aurora Public Library, Des Plaines Public Library, Forest Park Public Library, Glenview Public Library, Highland Park Public Library, Lincolnwood Public Library, Niles-Maine Library District, Oak Park Public Library, Schaumburg Township District Library, Skokie Public Library, and Wheaton Public Library.