Tribute to the Beloved Jazz Great, Geraldine Bey de Haas

By Debra Hand

Presented by Omni-U Virtual University 

A Jazz giant lives on. Thank you for your work, Geraldine Bey de Haas.

Geraldine Bey de Haas was a tireless, life-long advocate, and activist who promoted, documented, and preserved America's National Treasure: the institution of Jazz. In 1981, she founded the non-for-profit organization, “Jazz Unites, Inc.” and, for more than thirty years -despite having lost her eye sight as the result of a stroke in 1999- she organized and produced the largest neighborhood jazz festival in Chicago's history; a show which often attracted more than twenty thousand visitors per weekend during its annual concerts at the South Shore Cultural Center. 

Known as the "Jazz Lady," Geraldine de Haas committed her life to preserving the cultural institution of jazz. Throughout the years, she donated countless thousands of hours of her own time and money to assure that the legacy of America's National Treasure was preserved and appreciated by this and succeeding generations- not just locally, but globally.  

For more than a quarter of a century, Geraldine de Haas' annual Jazz Festival brought together the Chicago community in celebration of its proud Jazz heritage.  Thousands of families representing a cross-section of cultures, creeds, nationalities -and sometimes  three or four generations- gathered on the South Side of Chicago in peaceful and sacred celebration of the Jazz art form. During these annual concerts, Geraldine deHaas treated the Chicago Community to some of the greatest artists in jazz history. 

The list of artists she presented included: Count Basie, Dizzie Gillespie, Oscar Brown, Jr., Ramsey Lewis, Jean Carne, Maggie Brown, James Moody, Diane Reeves, Kelan Phil Cohran, and many others. Those weekends were designed to instill pride of culture and to promulgate love and respect among Chicagoans through the art-form of Jazz. 

Like so many of her other efforts, Geraldine deHaas contributed her time and money, too; each activity was designed to inspire and educate. During her concert productions, the audiences watched spell-bound as they were treated to the finest artistry of the generation, interwoven with wonderful facts about the history of Jazz.

Geraldine de Haas was married to the Late Eddie deHaas, a renowned bass player who had performed with major jazz artists such as Dizzy Gilespie, Miles Davis, Benny Goodman, and other icons. Together, the couple created a rich legacy in music and Jazz advocacy.  

She was a consummate jazz singer in her own right who  had performed, worldwide, with her prominent family trio, “Andy Bey and the Bey Sisters.” The Trio consisted of Andy, Geraldine Bey de Haas, and Salome Bey. Sarah Vaughn, Count Bassie, Clark Terry, Redd Foxx, and Flip Wilson would come to see them perform. The Bey trio also appeared in the movie “Let’s Get Lost.”

Geraldine de Hass might have easily remained in the spotlight of her own career. Instead, she chose to advocate for other artists and for the longevity of Jazz itself.     

Geraldine de Haas not only started the South Shore Jazz Fest, but it was her Jazz tribute to Duke Ellington, in Chicago’s Grant Park, that paved the way for the creation of the world famous Chicago Jazz Fest. She followed her Duke Ellington tribute ,in 1974,  with tributes to other Icons such as Marian Anderson. Additionally, she created the “Jazz Unites” organization which continued to produce concerts and provide educational outreach.

Through “Jazz Unites,” Geraldine de Haas also produced an annual gala, the inaugural efforts of which were brought  to fruition by the media consultant, maven journalist, Delmarie Cobb. Cobb worked alongside Geraldine de Haas to organize it as well as to commission the creation of an annual award which I was selected to create. It was always such a humbling honor to see the name, “Sculptor Debra Hand,” on the same program with some of the greatest names in Jazz history. But, the greatest honor of all was to meet and get to know Geraldine de Haas who taught me our great Jazz history in the same way she helped millions of others learn as her work spread out through the many she educated about Jazz.

The signature “Jazz Unites” award was named in honor of the beloved Duke Ellington and his famous phrase, “We Love You Madly.” The award was bestowed upon pianist Billy Taylor, and other Jazz greats.

The legacy and tireless work of Geraldine de Haas will continue through the many she  mentored and influenced such as the well-respected Jazz advocate, Heather Ireland Robinson, Executive Director at the “Jazz Institute Chicago: who, before her own jazz advocacy began, had worked closely with Geraldine de Haas and helped her to construct grants for her Jazz productions, despite de Haas’ failing eyesight.

Geraldine de Hass had a longtime dream to establish a Jazz museum in Chicago which would combine the distinctive qualities of a museum with culture and provide a significant educational resource dedicated to the preservation and advancement of jazz. Whatever comes next, the work of Geraldine deHaas has surely already laid the cornerstones.

To the children of Geraldine, Darius and Aisha, who are both supremely talented singers and performers in their own right, we send our deepest condolences.

To Geraldine Bey deHaas we say Thank YOU for your artistry and legacy in Jazz, and Thank YOU for your great gifts and contributions to this earth. We Love You Madly!

To hear Geraldine deHaas in conversation with Dr.Gloria Latimore-Peace, Host and Producer of the H3o Art of Life Show, please click on the following Link:

  https://youtu.be/vCuVvq03iXQsi=OIBflJ1txglIe-Iv