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Photo credit Sophia Castro

Chicago poet, educator, producer, and radio chat show host, Mario is the host/executive producer of News From the Service Entrance with Mario Smith on WLPN-LP Lumpen Radio in Chicago and the host of the Silverroom’s Randomly Selected podcast.

He was featured in the Chicago Reader’s The People Issue in 2022. His poetry appears in the books Power Lines: A Decade Of Poetry from Chicago’s Guild Complex and The Break Beat Poets published by Haymarket Press. 

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Witness something you can see NOWHERE else. There is no cover band like The Midnight Sun.

There is no other band that can deliver the energy, spirit, and passion of this music better than Midnight Sun; a collective of world-class musicians and artists that have been a fixture in Chicago's music scene for almost 50 years.

After re-emerging from the pandemic in 2021, The Sun has pushed its groove to higher heights and rave reviews. Taking its fans back in time, with hit performances and covers of the greatest Funk and R&B tunes from the 60s to today. Witness something you can see NOWHERE else.

Established 1976, The Midnight Sun is not just a band, but a Chicago music institution. Assembled from Chicago's elite funk, soul, and R&B talent, members of Midnight Sun have backed the biggest artists: The Isley Brothers, Aretha Franklin, Buddy Guy, R. Kelly, Gerald Albright, Roy Ayers, Destiny's Child, Brian Culbertson, The Emotions, Terisa Griffin, Fred Hammond, Lalah Hathaway, Al Jarreau, The Ides of March, JD McPherson, Marcus Miller, David Sanborn, Jill Scott, Johnnie Taylor, CeCe Winans – the list keeps going.

Midnight Sun’s music sets are a curated selection of the deepest cuts from every era of funk, soul, and R&B - from all the way back to the present day, and are best known for their ability to play the greatest music with remarkable precision. With a dynamic rhythm section, horn section, and the most versatile vocalists around, Midnight Sun always gives a top-notch and electrifying performance connecting audiences from every walk of life.

Isiah Mitchell - Lead & Background Vocals 
Maurice Johnson - Keyboards & Background Vocals
Eric Johnson - Drums
Marqueal Jordan - Lead & Background Vocals
Keith Henderson- Lead Guitar
Maurice Fitzgerald - Bass
Chris Paquette - Percussion
Chris Greene - Saxophone
Bryant Smith - Trombone
John Moore Jr. - Trumpet

We'll have a special guest DJ, but we can't share any more details!