Chicago Blues Legend Cicero Blake, Known for 'Dip My Dipper,' Dies at 90

Cicero Blake, the Chicago blues and soul singer celebrated for his risqué signature tune 'Dip My Dipper' and decades of performances across the city's storied club circuit, passed away on March 3 from natural causes at the age of 90.

Born on February 20, 1936, in Jackson, Mississippi, Blake relocated to Chicago as a teenager and attended Marshall High School on the West Side, where he first developed his musical identity singing doo-wop with a group called the Golden Tones. That ensemble later evolved into the Kool Gents, which featured soul artist Dee Clark. Following a stint in the U.S. Air Force, where he performed for military audiences, Blake launched a professional career that would span multiple decades, including an early touring role with the Sonny Thompson Revue.

A longtime resident of Maywood, Illinois, Blake became a fixture at the annual Chicago Blues Festival and regularly performed at Black-owned clubs throughout the Southern states. His discography included albums such as Too Hip To Be Happy (1988), Wives Night Out (1996), and Stand By Me (1998). Fellow musicians remembered him as a dynamic and uniquely soulful voice within the Chicago blues community. Blake is survived by seven children and 18 grandchildren. Visitation services are scheduled for March 19 at Neighborhood United Methodist Church in Maywood, with funeral services to follow on March 20.