Alligator Celebrates 50 Years
WDCB’s Leslie Keros looks back at the history of Chicago-based Alligator Records as it turns 50.
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“My mission now is to promote those artists who will be carrying this music into the next 50 years, not resting on my laurels at all, but doing everything I can to ensure the vitality and health of the future of the blues.” - Alligator Records founder Bruce Iglauer talking about his hopes for the future.
Alligator Records founder Bruce Iglauer
The city of Chicago proclaimed June 18 Alligator Records Day. The legendary Chicago-based Blues label, started by Bruce Iglauer, is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year.
“It’s soul-healing music, it’s soul to soul communication, it’s also fun and danceable. When I came to Chicago, somebody said to me, you don’t listen to the blues to be sad, you listen to the blues to get rid of the blues.” - Alligator Records’ Bruce Iglauer describing that healin’ feelin’.
Alligator catalog page spread, spring 1976.
