Illinois (Kell, Muddy: live in, winter, landscape)

[Steve-o]

Originally Posted by Drover

This is one Illinoisan who wishes Chicago and Milwaukee could wholesale change places. Illinois has its strengths and attributes, but it just can't match the incomparable beauty of Wisconsin and the rest of the Northwoods. Plus I just love the Wisconsin culture.

Well, yes, most of Illinois isnt "beautiful" but areas of southern and NW Illinois are just as beautiful IMO. But Im glad the glaciers carved out most of the state and deposited super-rich soils, making us one of the highest producers of soy and wheat, which brings big $$$ to the state. But Id have to agree, overall WI has superior beauty. Maybe if we could move Chicago to the SW corner of WI, we'd actually have some natural scenery (other than the lake).

[doll lady]

ahhhhhhhhhh home sweet home....Illinois. Yes, don't we all complain about our location when it's bad weather, cold outside, high humidity, tax increase, crooked governor, the "other party" gets in, etc, etc.

But when we are gone, and are heading home, it's always good to get home, isn't it?

Land of Lincoln and home of the brave as I like to call it because we do have to suffer at times from some things like high taxes and corrupt government. Being a downstater, I am accused of having a southern accent, but I think Chicago people have an accent, so we are even in that respect. LOL And of course everyone here drives a pick-up truck. But we need one don't we? Because we are from Illinois.... the home of corn, soybeans, wheat, oats, cattle, horses and goats and the LARGEST Agricultural State Fair in the nation. And truck pulls, mud slinging, hill climbing, snow driving and such.

And don't forget New Salem where Abe Lincoln grew up and walked the land as a surveyor and learned to be a brilliant lawyer and a wonderful president.

And how could we forget that yet another president was born in Tampico.....President Ronald Reagon. A brilliant actor and greatly loved president.

And who says country singing is limited to people born in the south? Allison Krauss was born in Champagne.

Yes we have a lot going for us and some mighty famous people called it home just as I do. So, even though I might complain about it some, it is still home.

[Steve-o]

Nice post doll lady! Illinois is so diverse in many ways (people, landscapes, culture), I love it! Sometimes the weather sucks, but there isnt ONE place on earth that doesnt have bad weather in one form or another. Ill deal with the snow anyday over hurricanes, mudslides, earthquakes, tsunamis, 120 degree heat, etc... I can also handle a few weeks of high humidity, thats when I lay out by the pool and enjoy the heat.

Allison Krauss was born in IL? Didnt know that! Im not a big fan of country, but is she the girl who sings "redneck woman"? If not, the girl who sings that song is also from IL, or at least Ive heard.

Thats the one thing thats lacking in IL, is musical artists. We need more of em! Im surprised that the state hasnt sprouted more artists. Here are a few that I know that are from IL:

Smashing Pumpkins
Disturbed
Smoking Popes
Chevelle
Tom Morello from Rage Against the Machine

[mdz]

We are not lacking in musical artists.

Don't forget Rockford's finest, Cheap Trick

And REO Speedwagon from Champaign (I think?)

And Styx

And Chicago

And the Shadows of Knight

And The Cryan Shames

And The New Colony Six

And The Buckinghams

And The Ides of March

And Kanye West (although born in GA)

And Lupe Fiasco

And Koko Taylor, along with about a million other great blues/R&B singers

Anyway, we more than hold our own

[Drover]

Originally Posted by Steve-o

Im surprised that the state hasnt sprouted more artists. Here are a few that I know that are from IL:

Smashing Pumpkins
Disturbed
Smoking Popes
Chevelle
Tom Morello from Rage Against the Machine

Other music artists, for better or worse, that are from or got their start/break in Illinois:

Wilco
REO Speedwagon
Styx
Common
R. Kelley
Naked Raygun
Louis Armstrong
Ludacris
Fallout Boy
Lupe Fiasco
Buddy Guy
Muddy Waters
Ides of March/Survivor

[Steve-o]

I forgot Ludacris and Common, but theres reasons, I cant stand rap.

But seriously... we have 12 million people in this state, the countrys' 3rd largest city and we can only think of maybe 30? Yikes! And most of those bands dont even play together anymore. Heck, I bet Huntington Beach, CA has spawned more bands that that! LOL I do think we're lacking to be honest, and it doesnt make sense.

Do a search on 'musical artists from CA' or Florida or NY and youll see what Im talking about.

[Drover]

Almost forgot, Rachael Yamagata got her start here as frontwoman for Bumpus.

Then of course there's my namesake, The Drovers

[doll lady]

Oh durn...how could I forget the popular county singer Gretchen Wilson, born in Pocahontas Illinois. Thanks Steve-o for reminding me.

Here's another list of famous people from Illinois.

Famous Illinoisans
Franklin Pierce Adams author, Chicago
Jane Addams social worker, Cedarville
Gillian Anderson actress, Chicago
Mary Astor actress, Quincy
Arnold O. Beckman inventor, Cullom
Jack Benny comedian, Chicago
Black Hawk Sauk Indian chief
Harry A. Blackmun jurist, Nashville
William E. Borah public official, Fairfield
Ray Bradbury author, Waukegan
William Jennings Bryan orator, politician, Salem
Edgar Rice Burroughs author, Chicago
Marvin Camras inventor, Chicago
Jennie Garth actress, Urbana
Gower Champion choreographer, Geneva
John Chancellor TV commentator, Chicago
Raymond Chandler writer, Chicago
Jimmy Connors tennis champion, East St. Louis
James Gould Cozzens author, Chicago
Cindy Crawford model, DeKalb
Richard J. Daley mayor, Chicago
Miles Davis musician, Alton
Walt Disney film animator, producer, Chicago
John Dos Passos author, Chicago
James T. Farrell author, Chicago
Harrison Ford actor, Chicago
Betty Friedan feminist, Peoria
Benny Goodman musician, Chicago
John Gunther author, Chicago
George E. Hale astronomer, Chicago
Dorothy Hamill ice skater, Chicago
Ernest Hemingway author, Oak Park
John M. Harlan jurist, Chicago
Charlton Heston actor, Evanston
Wild Bill Hickok scout, Troy Grove
William Holden actor, O'Fallon
Rock Hudson actor, Winnetka
Burl Ives singer, Hunt City
James Jones author, Robinson
Quincy Jones composer, Chicago
Walter Kerr drama critic, Evanston
Archibald MacLeish poet, Glencoe
David Mamet playwright, Chicago
Homer Z. Martin inventor, Chicago
Stanley Mazor inventor, Chicago
Robert A. Millikan physicist, Morrison
Sherrill Milnes baritone, Downers Grove
Bill Murray actor, Wilmette
John G. Neihardt poet, Sharpsburg
Bob Newhart actor, comedian, Chicago
Frank Norris author, Chicago
William S. Paley broadcasting executive, Chicago
Drew Pearson columnist, Evanston
Richard Pryor comedian, actor, Peoria
Ronald Reagan U.S. president, actor, Tampico
Carl Sandburg poet, Galesburg
Lewis Hastings Sarett inventor, Champaign
Sam Shepard playwright, Fort Sheridan
William L. Shirer author, historian, Chicago
McLean Stevenson actor, Bloomington
Preston Sturges director, Chicago
Clyde W. Tombaugh astronomer, Streator
Gloria Swanson actress, Chicago
Carl Van Doren writer, educator, Hope
Melvin Van Peebles playwright, Chicago
Irving Wallace author, Chicago
Alfred Wallenstein conductor, Chicago
Raquel Welch actress, Chicago
Florenz Ziegfield theatrical producer, Chicago

[ILguy]

Just wanted to say I love Illinois as well - ALL OF IT. Proud to be from here and to live here. Lived in Utah for 4 years and have traveled throughout all of US, several countries in Europe and Asia- nice place but the people in Illinois are special - real. I never understand why people move for the weather - there is so much more to life than the weather. Home and family/friends are more important than anything and most of mine are right here in Illinois. Remembered reading part of Betty Friedan's book an aging - a famous Illinoisan and Peorian - where she mentioned that some of her friends moved away from Peoria to Florida (I think) - and quickly realized that they although the weather was better, their quality of life suffered because everything that was really important to them was where they came from. They moved back. Also when living in Utah, a friend of mine who was also relocated there from South Dakota had a great reply to when people said there was no view in Illinois - no mountains. She said that mountains only blocked the view!! Thought this was a great repsonse!!

[nanannie]

If one doesnt like ones view,,look up,,,the sky is always a work of art