Five-time Grammy winner Lalah Hathaway is celebrating the release of her new album, Made In Chicago, on Oct. 1.
The date holds special meaning for Chicago’s own Hathaway: Oct. 1 is the birth date of her legendary father, late soul singer and keyboardist Donny Hathaway. The day also marks the CTA’s 79th anniversary. Hathaway chose to release Made In Chicago on her father’s birthday as a tribute to his legacy.
Her ninth studio album is a love letter to the city that raised Hathaway, drawing from the inspirational sounds from artists she grew up listening to — like Earth Wind and Fire, Chaka Khan, Stevie Wonder and others — while reimagining them through a modern R&B lens. The lead single, “47th Street,” features fellow Chicago and poet J. Ivy. The title is a nod to the street the Hathaways lived on.
Since 1998, the voice of the CTA has been a man by the name of Lee Crooks, a Milwaukee native. Now, that will change, as Hathaway has also partnered with the CTA to temporarily voice station announcements across the entire rail system, making her voice part of the daily soundtrack for Chicago riders.
