>> Being a bus driver for 27 years, you're kinda like literally sitting in the driver's seat, you know, looking at life.

(energetic music) I drove through several tax brackets, you know, from the poorest of the poor to the rich of the rich, actually feeling, you know, the movement of the city and what's going on.

From the guy that can't pay to people that just don't have any change and they put a $10 bill in there.

♪ I feel left out and set aside ♪ ♪ I'm tryin' to ♪ >> Announcer: Support for programming Lakeshore PBS comes in part from a generous bequest of the Estate of Marjorie A.

Mills, whose remarkable contribution will help us keep viewers like you informed, inspired, and entertained for years to come.

(upbeat music) >> Announcer: Additional support for Lakeshore PBS and "In Studio" is provided by viewers like you.

Thank you.

(inspiring music) >> Dale: Doing as much as you can as quickly as you can is important to me.

Life is short.

And the earlier we get started helping our community, the better off our community will be.

(energetic music) >> I have a very strong connection to other students.

Everyone makes an effort to help each other.

I'll remember the feeling of being here, the feeling that I was a part of a family.

♪ Things are not always what they seem ♪ ♪ See real life ♪ ♪ Is getting in the way of my dreams ♪ ♪ I get a little taste ♪ ♪ What I feel, yeah ♪ ♪ But get a heavy dose what is real ♪ ♪ I feel tired, I feel left out and set aside ♪ ♪ I'm trying to find the strength y'all, to survive ♪ ♪ When I'm looking in my mirror ♪ ♪ Don't like what I see ♪ ♪ I see a broken man ♪ ♪ Staring right back at me ♪ ♪ I need a plan ♪ ♪ And a little good luck ♪ ♪ To see me through, see me through ♪ ♪ When times get rough, hey ♪ ♪ I feel tired, I feel left out and set aside ♪ ♪ I'm trying to find the strength y'all, to survive ♪ ♪ See my woman and bills are all in my face ♪ ♪ They both worry me and want to be paid ♪ ♪ I ain't got much, baby, ♪ ♪ But it's more than you need ♪ ♪ So don't forget, girl ♪ ♪ You were the one that picked me, hey ♪ ♪ That's why I'm tired, I feel left out and set aside ♪ ♪ I'm trying to find the strength to survive ♪ ♪ I stopped feeling sorry for myself ♪ ♪ It's up to me and only but me and no one else ♪ ♪ My soul was dead but my spirit's alive ♪ ♪ I finally found the strength, y'all ♪ ♪ The strength to survive, yeah ♪ ♪ I'm not tired, I'm not left out or set aside ♪ ♪ I finally found the strength, yeah, to survive ♪ >> I pride myself on storytelling type songs.

So when you do acoustic, the words come alive more.

As far as the story can be heard better with an acoustic.

Sometimes when you have a big band around you, you can't get the nuances of the songs.

Some of the things that I'm trying to say.

I want people to, you know, not just listen to the song, but hear the song, you know.

You can use other subjects other than, "My woman left me."

You can write real headline songs in the three-chord context, you know?

And that was kind of like my idea to let them know I can do that, too.

You know what I mean?

Along with using, you know, chords, you know, other chords and diminished and blah, blah, blah and all that other stuff, you know.

You can lump real songs and real stories in those three chords, you know?

>> Interviewer: What does lump mean?

>> Well, you know, when, when people say, "Oh, the blues.

"Da doom, da doom, da doom, da doom."

That's what they call a lump.

Because I guess, you know, it sounds like a lump, like he's galloping along or whatever, like a horse galloping or whatever.

But yeah, I mean, you can write, you can write real stories in that context, you know.

♪ When I leave your house, I put money on the table.

♪ ♪ See, I bought you things when I wasn't able ♪ ♪ I got you things I couldn't pronounce ♪ ♪ I don't know what it was, but it was $60 an ounce ♪ ♪ I've been your rock in the weary land ♪ ♪ I ain't your husband, baby ♪ ♪ I'm just a boyfriend ♪ ♪ I've been better to you ♪ ♪ Than I've been to myself ♪ ♪ I'm the one you call on when there's nobody else ♪ ♪ I pay your mortgage when I pay my rent ♪ ♪ I can't find you, baby, when my money is spent ♪ ♪ On the days when I get paid, baby ♪ ♪ See you pick up your phone right away ♪ ♪ Love is a gamble, and I lost ♪ ♪ I can't blame nobody, baby, it's all my fault ♪ ♪ I've been better to you ♪ ♪ Than I've been to myself ♪ ♪ I'm the one you call on when there's nobody else ♪ ♪ Yes, you do ♪ ♪ Got my nose wide open ♪ ♪ It's one sided love, baby, and I'm hopeless ♪ ♪ I take what you give and I'm satisfied ♪ ♪ Even though baby, I'm living a lie ♪ ♪ I've been better to you ♪ ♪ Than I've been to myself ♪ ♪ I'm the one you call on when there's nobody else ♪ Yeah.

♪ When my woman say ♪ ♪ Come and get some of this pumpkin pie ♪ ♪ She got that look on her face, y'all ♪ ♪ And that twinkle in her eye ♪ ♪ My baby just love me too much ♪ ♪ Don't know the reason why ♪ ♪ She started acting this way ♪ ♪ About the age of 45 ♪ ♪ I ain't that good looking but ♪ ♪ I guess I'm doing something right ♪ ♪ Because my woman want to make love ♪ ♪ Morning, noon and night ♪ ♪ My baby just love me too much ♪ ♪ Don't know the reason why ♪ ♪ She started acting this way ♪ ♪ About the age of 45 ♪ ♪ My woman talk too much ♪ ♪ And I know it's true ♪ ♪ 'Cause she done told all her friends ♪ ♪ And I gotta make love to them, too ♪ ♪ My baby just love me too much ♪ ♪ Don't know the reason why ♪ ♪ She started acting this way ♪ ♪ About the age of 45 ♪ ♪ One day I'm gonna die ♪ ♪ Lord it's gonna be my time ♪ ♪ But she gonna be up there waiting for me ♪ ♪ On cloud nine, my baby love me too much ♪ ♪ Don't know the reason why ♪ ♪ She started acting this way ♪ ♪ About the age of 45 ♪ Y'all smell some pumpkin pie?

See you later.

(Toronzo laughing) I guess I'm considered a contemporary blues artist.

When Muddy and Buddy Guy and all those guys wrote back in the day, I haven't lived their experience.

So I can only, you know, I can only write what I know and what I feel and what's happening to me and what's going on around me.

It's a shame that songs like "Insurance" could be considered timeless.

You know, hopefully, you know, hopefully that song won't be timeless.

You know, everybody be cool and get what they need to take care of themselves.

But I just try to write from, again, from today's perspective.

I pull elements from, of course, like R and blues or soul and things like that because they're all connected.

I always say Muddy Waters didn't sound like Son House, but Muddy loved Son House.

Buddy Guy didn't sound like Muddy Waters, but he loved him.

And it goes like that.

So this is my blues, even though they might say it sounds more contemporary.

But you know, I always encourage people to listen to the words, you know.

Try not to, you know, it's blues with new clothes on.

The blues is the foundation, you know, for all popular music.

But the blues is still vibrant, it's still in music today.

♪ My doctor said I'm going down slow ♪ ♪ What's ailing me he don't know ♪ ♪ I got a job but I'm still the working poor ♪ ♪ He gave me one little pill and said ♪ ♪ Go get some insurance ♪ ♪ Get some insurance ♪ ♪ Insurance, 'cause I'm too young to die ♪ ♪ I went to the office just to see ♪ ♪ To find some 'surance to cover me ♪ ♪ Most prices I can't afford, ♪ ♪ It made an atheist call on the Lord ♪ ♪ Insurance ♪ ♪ Insurance ♪ ♪ Insurance ♪ ♪ 'Cause I'm too young to die ♪ ♪ I read the fine print, signed on the line ♪ ♪ I hope I got enough to keep from dying ♪ ♪ After all the questions and the third degree ♪ ♪ It felt just like a colonoscopy ♪ ♪ Insurance ♪ ♪ Insurance ♪ ♪ Insurance, y'all ♪ ♪ 'Cause I'm too young to die ♪ ♪ I read in the paper the other day ♪ ♪ A man lost his spouse ♪ ♪ She's pushing up daisies, now he can't pay the bills ♪ ♪ And now he lost his house ♪ ♪ Insurance ♪ ♪ Insurance ♪ ♪ Insurance ♪ ♪ 'Cause I'm too young to die ♪ ♪ I went to the office with a plan ♪ ♪ Insurance card in my hand ♪ ♪ He looked at it and he said to me ♪ ♪ Pre-existing conditions come with a fee ♪ ♪ Insurance ♪ ♪ Need some more insurance, y'all ♪ ♪ Insurance, yeah ♪ ♪ 'Cause I'm too young to die ♪ Hey doctor, how much for an aspirin again?

Just give me two of 'em, I'll crumble it up, you know.

That'll last me a week.

♪ Insurance ♪ Hey doctor, I need 13 stitches, but all I can afford is 11.

♪ Insurance ♪ I need a CAT scan?

All I can afford is a kitten scan.

♪ Insurance ♪ ♪ Insurance ♪ Well, just give me the nurse's phone number.

♪ Insurance ♪ I'll get all the medicine I need.

♪ Insurance ♪ ♪ Insurance ♪ ♪ She didn't mean it ♪ ♪ That's what she said ♪ ♪ See, he was an old friend ♪ ♪ And she lost her head ♪ ♪ Now I know my woman ♪ ♪ Is nice and kind ♪ ♪ But now we don't know if the baby is his or mine ♪ ♪ I got to walk it off ♪ ♪ Gotta walk it off ♪ ♪ The feeling's so strong ♪ ♪ Might do something wrong so I'm gonna walk it off ♪ ♪ My wife in the club ♪ ♪ My girlfriend on a way ♪ ♪ I'm sitting here nervous ♪ ♪ While I'm on stage ♪ ♪ She came right in ♪ ♪ And sat right down ♪ ♪ Wearin' the same dress I bought them both ♪ ♪ When I was out of town ♪ ♪ Gotta walk it off ♪ ♪ Gotta walk it off ♪ ♪ The feeling's so strong ♪ ♪ I might do something wrong so I'm gonna walk it off ♪ ♪ She called me up ♪ ♪ To get her kicks ♪ ♪ Her husband get home at seven ♪ ♪ I'm gone by six ♪ ♪ I get to my house ♪ ♪ And open my door ♪ ♪ There he is with my woman ♪ ♪ On my living room floor ♪ ♪ I gotta walk it off ♪ ♪ Gotta walk it off ♪ ♪ The feeling's so strong ♪ ♪ I might do something wrong so I'm gonna walk it off ♪ ♪ I pulled a knife ♪ ♪ He pulled a gun ♪ ♪ And looked at me ♪ ♪ Like I should run ♪ ♪ I pulled my hand grenade ♪ ♪ Shook it in his face ♪ ♪ And pulled the pin because that's the Chicago way ♪ ♪ You better walk it off ♪ ♪ You better walk it off ♪ ♪ The feeling's so strong ♪ ♪ I might do something wrong so I'm gonna just walk it off ♪ >> Crew: Toronzo Cannon, "Midlife Crisis", take one.

♪ Woke up this morning feeling kind of strange ♪ ♪ Some of you men might feel the same ♪ ♪ Looked in the mirror the other day ♪ ♪ My chest hair was turning gray ♪ ♪ My old friends are far too old ♪ ♪ Don't want to hang with them no more ♪ ♪ Looked to the doctor say, what's wrong with me ♪ ♪ Looked in my eyes, There's one thing I see ♪ ♪ You're having a midlife crisis ♪ ♪ A midlife crisis ♪ ♪ You're 50 acting like you're 22 ♪ ♪ A midlife crisis ♪ ♪ Walked out the office kind of shook ♪ ♪ Started looking for my address book ♪ ♪ To find an old flame to talk to me ♪ ♪ And pretend it's 1983 ♪ ♪ I'm having a midlife crisis ♪ ♪ A midlife crisis, yeah ♪ ♪ I'm 50 acting like I'm 22 ♪ ♪ Midlife crisis ♪ ♪ I bought a car I'm afraid to drive ♪ ♪ It's too small and the price was high ♪ ♪ Trying to be young ain't working out ♪ ♪ Now I'm missing payments on my house ♪ ♪ I'm having a midlife crisis ♪ ♪ A midlife crisis ♪ ♪ I'm 50 acting like I'm 22 ♪ ♪ Midlife crisis.

♪ ♪ Went to a bar with a younger girl ♪ ♪ Whole different scene, not my world ♪ ♪ Music came on, she jumped on stage ♪ ♪ Now I'm realizin' she's my daughter's age ♪ ♪ I'm having a midlife crisis ♪ ♪ A midlife crisis, yeah ♪ ♪ I'm 50 thinking like I'm 22 ♪ ♪ A midlife crisis ♪ ♪ I'm going home to my wife ♪ ♪ Opened the door, she looked at me twice ♪ ♪ She holding hands with a younger dude ♪ ♪ I guess my wife has got it too ♪ ♪ We having a midlife crisis ♪ ♪ A midlife crisis, yeah ♪ ♪ We're 50 acting like we're 22 ♪ ♪ A midlife crisis ♪ Yeah.

(Toronzo laughing) >> Announcer: Support for programming Lakeshore PBS comes in part from a generous bequest of the Estate of Marjorie A.

Mills, whose remarkable contribution will help us keep viewers like you informed, inspired, and entertained for years to come.

(upbeat music) >> Announcer: Additional support for Lakeshore PBS and "In Studio" is provided by viewers like you.

Thank you.

(inspiring music) >> Dale: Doing as much as you can as quickly as you can is important to me.

Life is short.

And the earlier we get started helping our community, the better off our community will be.

(energetic music) >> Almost every single professor I've had, I'm on a first name basis.

By building that relationship with faculty, I was able to get involved with research.

It's one thing to read about an idea in a book versus physically doing it and seeing the results.

(energetic blues music) ♪ Here I stand ♪ ♪ Guitar in hand ♪ ♪ Everybody knows a Chicago man ♪ ♪ It's in my walk ♪ ♪ It's in my talk ♪ ♪ Your woman want me ♪ ♪ It's not my fault ♪ ♪ I broke some rules ♪ ♪ Paid some dues ♪ (bright music)