Music Talk | Remembering Charles Stepney, with Duane Powell and the Stepney Sisters

About the Event

For this afternoon of music and remembrance, DJ and music historian Duane Powell joins the Stepney Sisters to hear stories and songs in honor of their father, the legendary composer and music producer Charles Stepney. With a catalog consisting of some of the most iconic songs and samples of all time, Stepney is one of Chicago’s most under-recognized figures in music history.

A Chicago native with Mississippi roots, Charles Stepney was a prolific musician who wrote effortlessly across genres including blues, soul, pop, jazz, gospel, and rock. His musical genus is part of the fabric of American culture, with his work continuing to be featured in commercials and films. His riffs have been sampled in modern hit songs like the Fugees’ rendition of “Killing Me Softly With His Song,” “Family Business” by Kanye West, and many more. Stepney’s progressive contributions further cement Chicago as an epicenter of innovative art.

MCA Music Talks pair powerhouse musicians with artists, activists, writers, and historians to take on big ideas in art and culture. These intimate evenings of performance and conversation reveal art world anecdotes, shared ideas, and creative inspirations. Don’t miss the Stepney Sisters’ Rotary Connection 222 earlier in the week at Tuesdays on the Terrace!

This program is organized by Laura Paige Kyber, Assistant Curator of Performance.