Greetings Everyone!

I hope you’re doing well. Since the beginning of the year, I’ve been immersed in a new collaborative project with the wonderfully talented Cheryl Corley. We’re excited to share it with you this summer.

America: Songs and Stories of Protest and Freedom is a prosaic, poetic and musical journey about the United States that encompasses the rage, hope, resilience and history that shaped the country over its many years and includes the stories, speeches and songs about freedom and change as experienced by leaders, activists and others. The concert chronicles America’s story from its founding years to the 21^st century.  It includes the words of Thomas Paine’s Liberty Tree, Katherine Lee Bates’ America the Beautiful, and Langston Hughes’ Weary Blues. Songs include: Woody Guthrie’s This Land Is Your Land, Marvin Gaye’s Mercy Mercy Me, and Beyonce’s Freedom.

Cheryl and I spoke with journalists at WGN-AM Radio and ABC7 TV recently about our new program series. If you'd like, you can check those out at the links below:

Corley and Smith on ABC7 Chicago Eyewitness News (TV) – July 6, 2026 

Corley and Smith on Outside the Loop – WGN AM Chicago (Radio) – July 4, 2026

Our first stop is at Seward Park in the Near North
Neighborhood

America: Songs and Stories of Protest and Freedom

IF IT RAINS, THE CONCERT WILL BE INSIDE THE FIELDHOUSE

Saturday, July 25, 6:00 p.m.

Seward (William) Park

375 W Elm (Division & Orleans)

312-742-7895

A FREE AND ALL AGES EVENT

Cheryl Corley, narrator

Lucy Smith Quintet

Lucy, vocals

Jon Deitemyer, drums

Carmani Edwards, bass

William Kurk, keys

Greg Ward, alto sax

The concert will also be presented on Saturday, August 22 at 5:00 p.m. at Clarendon Park (4501 N Clarendon) and Saturday, September 19 at 3:00 p.m. at Washington Park in front of DuSable History Museum (740 E 56th Place). America: Songs and Stories of Protest and Freedom is part of the Chicago Park District's Night Out in the Parks programming this year, so bring your chairs, blankets, and snacks for a great night out in the parks. I hope you can join us!

Lucy