Brother Jacob is a proud Chicago native, blues artist, radio host, and cultural preservationist whose performances blend the soul of gospel with the electric grit of Chicago blues. Born and raised on the city’s South Side, he fell in love with the blues as a child listening to WVON-AM’s Pervis Spann “The Blues Man” in the midnight hours. That deep musical foundation sparked a lifelong calling that would evolve into a unique voice on stage, over the airwaves, and in the city’s cultural conversations.
 

He began his professional journey through the Blues in the Schools program, performing at the Chicago Blues Festival under the mentorship of Deitra Farr. Over the years, Brother Jacob has become a familiar face on the scene, not just as a guest vocalist or sit-in performer, but as a frontman building a body of work with his own band and his own voice.

His music carries a spiritual intensity, rooted in storytelling and tradition, and driven by a mission to connect, uplift, and preserve. Whether performing solo or leading a full band, Brother Jacob delivers blues with reverence and revival.

 

Band Bookings & Featured Performances

(As Bandleader/Booked Act)

• Lee’s Unleaded Blues (featured Saturday artist series)

• Honky Tonk BBQ (Pilsen)

• Beer House Chicago (Lincoln Park)

• The Waterhole (South Side)

• Maxwell Street Blues Festival

• UIC Forum – Blues Cabaret
   

(Notable Guest or Sit-In Appearances)

• The Vittum Theater

• Chicago Blues Festival

• Harlem Avenue Lounge

• Buddy Guy’s Legends

• Rosa's Lounge

• UIC Men’s Basketball Games – National Anthem / Live Entertainment

• UIC Pavilion / Credit Union 1 Arena – Halftime show appearances
   

Media & Broadcast Appearances

• Chicago Cubs 7th Inning Stretch Guest Conductor (June 13, 2025)

  • Marquee Sports Network – televised performance

• “A Common Thread: Cubs Baseball & Chicago Blues”  Chicago Cubs Blues Alternate Jersey Promotional Video – with Ian Happ & Justin Steele

• Fox 32 News – multiple feature stories

• Marquee Sports Network – televised performance

• ESPN – UIC Flames-related performance appearance
   

Notable Artist Collaborations & Shared Stages

(Performed with or shared the bill with...)

Otis Clay, Billy Branch, Zora Young, Deitra Farr, Nellie “Tiger” Travis, Sheryl Youngblood, Wayne Baker Brooks, Toronzo Cannon, Mike Wheeler, Demetria Taylor, Delores Scott, Lynne Jordan, Marie Dixon, Billy Flynn, Matthew Skoller, Joe Pratt & the Source One Band
 

Radio Shows (Host) Note: Currently on hiatus.

• Blues and News with Brother Jacob
  Sundays, 6–9 PM CT | UIC Radio
  A weekly blend of classic blues, current events, and commentary rooted in tradition and community.
   

• Blues in the Night
  Thursdays, 11 PM–1 AM CT | UIC Radio
  A moody late-night blues experience spotlighting emotional storytelling and musical catharsis.
   

Discography

• Blues From Below (2013) – Debut studio album

• A Tribute to Inspiration (Guest Vocalist) – McDowell Brothers
   

Education

• Master of Public Administration, University of Illinois at Chicago (2018)

• B.A. in Urban and Public Affairs, University of Illinois at Chicago (2015)