The SGS Team along with Lady D encountered this crew while cruising at Tremont’s Lincoln Park. Their scent was strong and their steps were deadly. For sure every tribe has its own style. The Rude Mechanical Orchestra owns its way with fervor! SGS DGC

During much of my childhood Mom worked at the Rap Art Center which was located on the northwest corner of Hampstead and Cedar Road. Any one who cared to could drop in make art, ceramics, music or just cry the blues. The staff was the usual lot of 70s era do-gooders a few of whom had a profound influence on my early years.

Neil ran the recording studio in the basement. He spoke little and allowed us play whatever we desired. He was free of judgment unless it involved the music of Prince. He could play virtually any instrument but was particularly gifted on the Fender Rhodes. Neil was not concerned with fashion, this could explain his aversion to all things Paisley. A skilled musician, sound engineer, and mathematician, Neil was the silent hand that guided us through the world of improvisation. (more…)

The SGS archives team had to dig deep to find the publication High Gear. High Gear was the predecessor to the Gay People’s Chronicle. We asked around CLE- and no one seemed to have any copies of this newsletter. SGS was able to secure a loan of High Gear from Northern Illinois University. This incomplete run is the only collection of High Gear that we could find in the nation. The loan arrived in the form of a reel of Microfilm and it covered the time span of September 1979-May 1980. If you would like to see more from High Gear please click here. The newsletter High Gear was started by the Gear Foundation in 1975 and it was the city’s first attempt to produce a magazine for gays and lesbians. The slide show above is just a sampling of many of the great advertisements and stories we found from this work. If you are interested in additional history on High Gear and how this magazine eventually became the Gay People’s Chronicle please check out this link.