Bluesman Toronzo Cannon To Throw Out First Pitch At Wrigley Field On Sept. 13

Celebrated Chicago bluesman (and CTA bus driver) Toronzo Cannon will throw out the ceremonial first pitch at Wrigley Field on Wednesday, September 13. He will don a Cubs jersey and take the mound prior to the match-up between the World Champion Chicago Cubs and the New York Mets.

According to Cannon, "As a native Chicagoan, I'm excited and honored to be throwing out the first pitch and supporting the Cubs on their way to winning another World Series. That's the Chicago way."

Cannon has become one of Chicago's most recognized and most popular bluesmen through the sheer force of his music, his songs, and his live charisma. MOJO magazine declared his Alligator Records debut, THE CHICAGO WAY, the #1 Best Blues Album Of 2016. The album features all self-penned songs, inspired by Cannon's deep, homegrown Chicago roots and powered by his blistering guitar playing and soul-baring vocals.

CNN.com recently filmed Cannon leading a tour of Chicago blues clubs. Influential website The Daily Beast included Cannon among their 30 Most Intriguing Musicians Of 2017. Writer Ted Gioia says, "Toronzo Cannon is a bus driver for the Chicago Transit Authority by day. But by night, he is one of the hottest blues performers on the Chicago scene." And powerhouse local television station WGN won a local Emmy Award for their profile of the rising blues star.

Cannon’s battled his way to the top of the ultra-competitive Windy City blues scene, has played multiple tours of Europe and continues to deliver roof-raising performances around the U.S.A. Cannon, along with Alligator president Bruce Iglauer, won the 2016 Living Blues Award for Producer Of The Year—New Recording for THE CHICAGO WAY. Cannon was recently nominated for four Blues Music Awards, including Album Of The Year and Contemporary Blues Album Of The Year. He was also nominated for Song Of The Year (for Walk It Off) and Contemporary Blues Male Artist Of The Year.