Family and friends will honor DJ Sam Chatman with an ‘ULTIMATE steppers’ celebration

Chicago has lost one of its prolific culture makers. Earlier this month, DJ Sam Chatman passed away at the age of 85. His family announced the sad news on Oct. 22. A West Side native, Chatman is known across the world as the Godfather of Steppin’. As a DJ in the 1960s, he gave the Chicago-bred dance its iconic name, “steppin’,” and the rest was history. Not only has the dance spread around the world, but it’s been popularized by music artists who’ve made R&B love songs for the steppin’ music genre. Originally from St. Louis, a teenaged Chatman moved to 15th and Avers with his family on Chicago’s West Side in the late 1950s. He attended Crane High School. In the ‘60s and ‘70s, he threw parties on Chicago’s South and West sides. As a DJ, Chatman would break records that were personally sent to him by record labels. He became known for pairing R&B songs with the best steppers in the city.

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