“Going To See Miss Gerri
One More Time” is a moving song about a lost chapter in the cultural
history of Chicago’s black population. As
Living Blues put it, “It’s
the story of Gerri Oliver, long-time proprietor of the Palm Tavern on
47
th Street on Chicago’s South Side. That neighborhood, often
referred to as Bronzeville, is rich with African-American history – it’s been
called the ‘Harlem of the Midwest’ – and much of that history unfolded in the
legendary watering hole that Gerri Oliver presided over from 1956 until the city
shut it down (or, more accurately, snatched it out from under here) in July of
2001.”
The song was written by acclaimed Chicago bluesman Billy Branch, whom Oliver
called her "son.” To ensure historical accuracy, Branch consulted with Dr.
Timuel Black, one of the city’s most respected African-American scholars and
historians.
Living Blues called the result “by any objective
standard, both an eloquent piece of storytelling and an appropriate tribute” and
which Branch calls “the best song I’ve ever written.”
The song is the centerpiece of
Blues Shock, the first studio CD from
the three-time Grammy nominee with his band in fifteen years. A fan of Billy’s,
Will Gay, created a video for the song as a gift to the musician. Comprised
largely of old photos (including some disturbing images), it illustrates the
historical significance and heartfelt sentiments of the lyrics that tell the
story of Gerri’s life. The song and video highlight her struggles with racism
and segregation, from her birthplace in Mississippi in 1922 to Chicago, where
she moved in the ‘40s in search of a better life, as well as her endurance and
triumph as owner of an elite social and cultural touchstone for the black
community. In a lengthy cover story
Living Blues calls the composition
“nothing less than the story of the Great Migration itself, exemplified in the
life trajectory of one remarkable woman.”
In its heyday, the Palm Tavern was the hot spot for celebrities – folks like
Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, Sammy Davis, Jr., Count Basie, Billie Holiday,
Nat King Cole, Quincy Jones, and Dinah Washington, who would hang out there
after their gigs - as well as for other luminaries such as dancer Josephine
Baker, writers Richard Wright and Langston Hughes, and in later years, Frank
Sinatra and Tommy Dorsey. It was, in short, as the
Chicago Tribune put
it, “a landmark in Chicago history and American musical culture.”
 |
Its demise haunted Branch, who says, “It was just a tragedy. The way they
closed the Palm Tavern, without fanfare or celebration, it felt so wrong. Such
a rich historical and cultural legacy, to be just erased without any mention –
this song is my way of paying homage to Gerri Oliver and the Palm
Tavern.” |
To watch the video,
please click HERE.
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