In the late 1930s and early 40s, the sound of boogie woogie piano became something of a national craze. The style was largely developed in Chicago by players performing at Depression-era “rent parties ...

You’ve probably heard of boogie woogie. Its distinctive bass riffs pop up in Lead Belly’s guitar playing, Elvis Presley’s version of Otis Blackwell’s “All ...

Chicago has given birth to musical genres ranging from gospel to boogie woogie. John McDonough traces the almost accidental discovery of the latter, and the man who popularized the music.