As we celebrate what would’ve been her 77th birthday (Kuzaliwa), we’re sharing a special collection of music and would love to hear the memories, lessons, performances, and moments that made Mama Ann unforgettable.
Share your story below.
Chicago has legends. We call ours Mama Ann.
#mamaannforever
4 months agosimplicake29
I miss her beautiful raspy laugh. She always had a positive word, when you left her presence you felt encouraged. My first year teaching she visited my preschool classroom for an in-house field trip. She brought a bag full of instruments and such along with her beautiful voice. A time was had by students and staff. 🎶🎶🥰
4 months agohankswoolfolk
Ann always carried the spirit of excellence. And she demanded from everyone else.
4 months agookrawaterrr
I had a horrible day at school I felt like everybody was against me. And as I was on my way to her room for Donia Dance for after school. She could just tell my spirit was so down and she gave me one of the most longest tightest hugs of my life. I’ll never forget that. It made me feel so much better. I miss her a lot❤️✨🎹🎶
4 months agodiscopoetry
This may sound crazy but it’s my most profound story out of hundreds I have with and about her. Once, I was down. Deep N a depression & anxiousness about my career and financial state 2 the point that I was damn near bawling. As I was hitting rock bottom her kalimba that I put on my altar 4 her began 2 play as clear as these words R typed. I was immediately pulled out of my pity party N shock, simply trying 2 C if I was tripping. I never saw anything move but sound was unquestionably coming from it and I could hear her N my head telling me 2 “get it 2gether!” She wasn’t gentle about it.😂 It was firm and corrective. I got myself 2gether. She let me know that even operating from another plane, she is always there looking after us as she always, unfailingly did on this 1. I miss her physical presence so much but I am comforted knowing she is still with me. 😢🖤✊🏾
4 months agosunshinemango212
We had a gig in Poznan and returning home we had a layover in Munich. Somehow I lost my passport while in the Munich airport and I could not get beyond passport control or the flight until I could prove my US citizenship. Ann stayed with me the whole time while all the other members boarded the plane. She told me if you stay, I stay too! Needless to say, I got on that plane and she was right there with me! My sistar Ann E Ward!
4 months agoasielhardison
Mama Ann was my first music teacher! Met her at alyo when she was getting us ready for a June show. In this video she explains the very thing that I remember the most about her teaching ! I remember having a vocal coaching session with her , I was singing ordinary people by John legend. Fatelikou precious memories with mama Ann!!!💐💐💐💐💐💐💐🕯️
4 months ago_desmoney
Mama Ann was truly a support system. I remember when I designed for first tee for Kwanzaa, maybe like 10 or years ago. She came to the table where were selling them, grabbed the t-shirt, looked at it for like 15 seconds with her big beautiful eyes and said, “Desmond, give me 20 of them” and started telling what sizes she needed….bought my whole inventory and had the rest of the people in line PISSED 🤣. Talk about , support !!!! 😭🙏🏿✨ I miss her dearly and can’t thank her enough for pushing me to be self-determined and know that my creativity has no limits. MISS YOU MAMA. REST IN PERFECT PEACE, WE GOT YOU 😘🕊️
4 months agoprod.10
I was joking around but saying it like I really do. I told her I could play a drum set and she actually took me to Chicago State and told me “Let’s see what you got”, knowing she already knew I didn’t b/c I was always telling stories 😂❤️
4 months agoproducerbenford
Today would’ve been Mama Ann’s 77th birthday. I’d love to hear your memories, whether she taught you, performed with you, encouraged you, or simply touched your life.
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