A special online panel discussion celebrating Nick Rudd’s Influences on the C-U music scene featuring Paul Chastain, Jeff Evans, Jason Finkelman, Todd Fletcher, Steve Lindstrom, Brian Reedy, Mark Rubel, Steve Scariano, Adam Schmitt, and Cynthia Voekl
April 13, 2021
6:00-7:30
Registration
Sponsored by the Sousa Archives and Center for American Music and the Nick Rudd Music Fund at The Urbana Free Library Foundation

America’s 1970s dynamic music scene included power pop, disco, art rock, and glam rock.  Music groups of many styles, including Badfinger, Roxy Music and David Bowie, shaped both Champaign-Urbana’s music scene and the early music trajectory of the young Decatur, Illinois musician, Nick Rudd (1960-2020).

While still living in Decatur Nick started what would become the B-Lovers band in 1980, and in February 1982 he moved to Urbana-Champaign.  Later that year he started working at various record stores including The Pop Shop, Record Service, and Record Swap.  Working in these stores expanded the breadth and depth of Nick’s musical passions, which became scholarly and literary pursuits.  The B-Lovers recorded their first EP album at Faithful Sound with Mark Rubel in 1982, including the songs Inside Out, Shakin 209, and Everything is Falling.

For the next forty years, Nick Rudd’s influence on the Champaign-Urbana music scene was legendary.  The musicians who worked with him throughout this period continually reveled in his engaging and thought-provoking lyrics and music performances which David Wisniewski called “poetry interwoven with music.”

Join Paul Chastain, Jeff Evans, Jason Finkelman, Todd Fletcher, Steve Lindstrom, Brian Reedy, Mark Rubel, Steve Scariano, Adam Schmitt, Cynthia Voekl, and others in a free-form discussion celebrating Nick Rudd’s contributions to the Champaign-Urbana music scene from the B-Lovers to the Jans Project, Water between the Continents, and so much more.  The public is invited to attend this special online panel discussion by registering in advance using this registration link.

For more information, either call 217-333-4577 or send an email to sousa@illinois.edu.