Maurice White, founder and former leader of Earth, Wind & Fire, traveled to Chicago in the 1960s to study at the Chicago Conservatory of Music. While working under the legendary Chess Records label, he had the opportunity to play with Etta James, Fontella Bass and Ramsey Lewis.

White joined the Ramsey Lewis Trio and traveled the country, returning to Chicago after three years and forming the Salty Peppers group with friends Wade Flemons and Don Whitehead. The group composed several songs, including “La La Time,” and starred in commercials that aired in Chicagoland.

White, Flemons and Whitehead relocated to California after a few years and changed the name of their group to Earth, Wind & Fire.

The rest, as they say, is history.

Learn more:
Read more about the life and accomplishments of Maurice White and Earth, Wind & Fire
Watch Stevie Wonder’s Emotional Maurice White Tribute at Grammys (Rolling Stone)

Abraham Lincoln, one of the most recognizable Presidents in U.S. history, migrated to Illinois with his family in his early twenties, living several places before settling in New Salem. Lincoln was elected to the Illinois state legislature in 1834 and moved to Springfield a short time later to begin practicing law.

Ulysses S. Grant, America’s 18^th President, served after President Johnson during Reconstruction after the Civil War. A well-known Union Army hero, Grant was living in Galena when the war broke out, leaving to command the Union army.

Ronald Reagan was the only president born in Illinois. Reagan was raised in Dixon and attended Eureka College before leaving Illinois. Reagan spent most of his adult life in California, however, and considered that state home.

President Obama moved to Chicago in his mid-twenties, working as a community organizer on the South Side before entering law school in 1988. Obama taught law at the University of Chicago and was elected to the Illinois Senate in 1996. The rest, as they say, is history.

Learn more:

Abraham Lincoln’s Biography

http://www.biography.com/people/abraham-lincoln-9382540#law-career

Ulysses S. Grant Biography

http://www.whitehouse.gov/1600/presidents/ulyssessgrant

Ronald Reagan Biography

http://www.whitehouse.gov/1600/presidents/ronaldreagan

President Obama

http://www.biography.com/people/barack-obama-12782369#law-career

Illinois is considered the home state to the 44th President of the United States. President Barack Obama was elected to the Illinois Senate in 1996. He succeeded State Senator Alice Palmer as senator from Illinois’ 13th District.

Obama represented a number of Chicago South Side neighborhoods. At the time, the 13th District spanned from Hyde Park-Kenwood south to South Shore and west to Chicago Lawn. He represented this area until 2004.

Obama went on to serve as U.S. Senator from Illinois beginning in 2005. He resigned from his U.S. Senate seat after being elected President of the United States in 2008.

Today, the President returned to the place his legislative career began: Springfield, Illinois. Nine years ago, he announced his candidacy for President of the United States in front of the Old State Capitol. The announcement was made at the same place Abraham Lincoln delivered his historic “House Divided” speech in 1858.

Joan Mitchell was an important abstract expressionist painter and print maker. She graduated from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. A fellowship took her to France in 1948, where she began work in abstraction. 

Mitchell is one of few women who are recognized as prominent figures in the abstract expressionist movement. Her work saw many changes over the years, work influenced by Vincent Van Gogh and Matisse. 

She spent much of her life living and working in France; however she was monumental in shaping the New York art scene of her time. Mitchell provided generous support, to young artists, and created a foundation to recognize individual artists.

Learn more:
View some of her work and learn more about her here (The Joan Mitchell Foundation)

“Diff’rent Strokes” actor Gary Coleman was born February 8, 1968, in Zion. He was famous for his role as an African-American orphan who was taken care of by a wealthy white father and his daughter. Coleman was known the world over for his phrase, “What’choo talkin’ bout, Willis?”

Coleman, who is best known for the popular NBC show, started his acting career at the age of 8 on a show called “Medical Center.” Coleman would also make appearances on “The Jeffersons,” “Married with Children,” “The Simpsons,” and “My Wife and Kids.”

In 2003, Gary Coleman was a candidate for governor of California during the recall election. His campaign was supported by an outside group, and Coleman supported Arnold Schwarzenegger for governor. Coleman, though, would come in eighth place in a field of 135 candidates receiving more than 14,000 votes.

Coleman also owned his own company, Gary Coleman Productions.

Learn more:

Read more about the life of Gary Coleman on IMDb (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0171041/)

http://www.tv.com/shows/diffrent-strokes/

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0287217/