• CherylCorleyatShoutOut
    Cheryl Corley at Shout Out. Photo by Vern Hester
  • 0
    Enjoying Shout Out in Wilson Park. Photo by Vern Hester
  • ErnieAdamsondrumsatShoutOut
    Ernie Adams on drums at Shout Out. Photo by Vern Hester
  • TheodisRodgersforegroundandMarleneRosenbergleftatShoutOut
    Theodis Rodgers, foreground, and Marlene Rosenberg, left at Shout Out. Photo by Vern Hester
As part of its summer Night Out in the Parks series, the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs presented Shout Out: A Tribute Concert to Queers in Sacred and Gospel Music. The event which took place on the afternoon of Sept. 23 in Wilson Park, featured bandleader and vocalist Lucy Smith guiding her band through a selection of Gospel music with narrator Cheryl Corley providing insightful narration.

Storied architects of rock and roll like Richard Penniman [widely known as Little Richard] and Sister Rosetta Tharpe were celebrated and acknowledged along with the Reverend James Cleveland Sr, Clara Ward and rocker Billy Preston. During the set, Corley touched on the stark history of how what was preached in church went against the artistic and largely queer musical contributions of those in the choir. For example, Penniman’s meteoric rise to fame in the ’50s was abruptly halted by his personal religious conflicts.

The next Shout Out performance is scheduled for Oct. 14 from 2-3:30 p.m. at LaFollette Park Auditorium at 1333 N. Laramie. The event is free. For more information go to http://www.lucysmithjazz.com