Timeline Geraldine de Haas

American jazz singer and concert organiser known as the Jazz Lady, who was the driving force behind the creation of the Chicago Jazz Festival. Born in Newark, New Jersey, she performed internationally as part of the vocal trio Andy and the Bey Sisters before settling in Chicago and devoting her life to promoting jazz. She founded Jazz Unites, Inc. and the Jazzfest at the South Shore Cultural Center, and received the Jazz Journalists Association Jazz Hero Award.

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Geraldine de Haas 11

1935 Geraldine de Haas born in Newark, New Jersey Born Geraldine Wideman in Newark, New Jersey, the seventh of nine children.
1958 – 1967 Andy and the Bey Sisters Performed as part of the vocal trio Andy and the Bey Sisters with her brother Andy Bey and sister Salome Bey. Starting on the Miami club scene, they toured the United States and Europe, becoming the featured act at the Blue Note in Paris and appearing in a jazz film directed by Roger Vadim.
1962 Marriage to Edgar de Haas Married bassist Edgar de Haas. They would have two children, both of whom became performers: son Darius de Haas, a Broadway actor, and daughter Aisha de Haas, a singer and actress.
1968 Moved to Chicago Moved to Chicago when her husband Edgar got a house musician gig at the London House jazz club. Joined the Free Street Theater as an actress and singer, and appeared in the Chicago premiere of Hair.
1974 Duke Ellington Tribute in Grant Park Following Duke Ellington's death in May 1974, organised a tribute concert in Grant Park that united Chicago's jazz community. The event became an annual tradition and laid the foundation for what would become the Chicago Jazz Festival.
1979 Chicago Jazz Festival Founded Her annual Grant Park tribute evolved into the first official Chicago Jazz Festival in 1979, which became one of the largest free jazz festivals in the world.
1981 South Shore Cultural Center Jazzfest Founded the Jazzfest at the South Shore Cultural Center, creating another vital platform for jazz performance on Chicago's South Side.
1990 – 2010 Jazz Unites, Inc. Founded and led Jazz Unites, Inc., a nonprofit dedicated to the growth and appreciation of jazz and educating people through the art form. Continued performing, mentoring young musicians and organising concerts throughout Chicago.
2010 Jazz Hero Award Received the Jazz Hero Award from the Jazz Journalists Association, honouring her decades of tireless work promoting jazz in Chicago.
2013 Moved Back to New Jersey Moved from Chicago to Lambertville, New Jersey, with her husband Edgar to be closer to their children, citing health challenges. 'I always want to have a hand in jazz, wherever I am,' she said.
2026 Geraldine de Haas dies in New Jersey Died of natural causes at Englewood Hospital in New Jersey at the age of 91. Jazz critic Howard Reich called her 'one of the most inspired and influential impresarios that Chicago and jazz itself has ever had.'