Geraldine de Haas, the vivacious vocalist and pioneering jazz impresario known as the 'Queen of Chicago Jazz,' died of natural causes on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, at Englewood Health Hospital, her son, actor/singer Darius de Haas, announced. She was 91.
De Haas, born Geraldine Wideman on January 16, 1935, in Newark, NJ, first gained fame as a founding member of the sibling group Andy and the Bey Sisters, which blended jazz, gospel, and soul. The group, which included her sister Salome and brother Andy, recorded three albums for RCA Victor and Prestige and toured Europe extensively, performing at the Paris Blue Note and appearing in a jam session with Dizzy Gillespie and Kenny Clarke, filmed by Roger Vadim. But it was her work as a producer and advocate in Chicago that cemented her legacy.
After moving to Chicago in 1968 with her husband, bassist Edgar de Haas, she became deeply involved in the city's jazz scene. In 1974, following Duke Ellington's death, she produced a tribute concert in Grant Park that united the jazz community and evolved into the now-famous Chicago Jazz Festival. 'The Duke Ellington tribute concert she created in Chicago's Grant Park in 1974 made possible the now-famous Chicago Jazz Festival,' said Howard Reich, Emmy Award-winning author and former Chicago Tribune jazz critic. 'That de Haas also was a world-class singer who could spin and stretch a melody line a la Sarah Vaughan made her a Chicago treasure wherever she performed.'
De Haas's influence extended beyond performance. In 1981, she founded Jazz Unites, Inc., a not-for-profit organization dedicated to bringing jazz to the public. She served as its CEO and President, and also worked as Director of Performing Arts and Access Programs for the Illinois Arts Council from 1983 to 1993. Her efforts helped pave the way for other music festivals in the city, as she explained to PBS's Chicago Tonight: 'they saw where many people from every corner of this city gathered to hear this wonderful music.'
Her mentorship touched many artists. Two-time Grammy-winning vocalist Kurt Elling said, 'I am deeply saddened by the loss of my dear friend and mentor, Geraldine de Haas. As much as anyone of stature on the Chicago scene, she welcomed and encouraged me in my early years. In her gracious way, and by the example of her own performances, she showed me how to carry myself on stage, how to work with instrumentalists, how to connect with audiences, and how to sing 'the real thing.'' Chicago vocalist Tammy McCann echoed that sentiment: 'She saw something in me and other young artists and elevated the level of our performance in such a thoughtful way. Her outstanding talents soared without an ounce of ego or competition, only collaboration and excellence.'
De Haas received numerous awards, including the Mary Lou Williams Women in Jazz Award, a Lifetime Achievement Award from Chicago Jazz Magazine, and a 2010 Jazz Hero Award from the Jazz Journalists Association. She also earned a B.A. in music education from Chicago State University in 1980.
In 2013, de Haas and her husband moved to Lambertville, NJ, to be closer to family. She is survived by her son Darius, daughter Aisha, and son-in-law Kyle Rudy, as well as numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband Edgar, brother Andy, and sister Salome.
For de Haas, the mission was always to share jazz with everyone. 'The key for me was to bring the best of the world to our community,' she said on The H30 Art of Life TV show. 'People need to see what we have given to this world. That's the only reason why I work.' A celebration of her life will be announced later.
