Geraldine de Haas, the beloved singer and producer known as the 'Queen of Chicago Jazz,' died of natural causes on July 28, 2026, at Englewood Health Hospital, her son, actor Darius de Haas, announced. She was 91.
De Haas first gained international acclaim as a member of the sibling group Andy and the Bey Sisters in the 1950s and 1960s, blending jazz, gospel, and soul in a style that foreshadowed later vocal groups like The Manhattan Transfer and Take 6. The trio recorded three albums for RCA Victor and Prestige, toured Europe for 16 months, and performed with jazz legends such as Dizzy Gillespie and Kenny Clarke.
After the group disbanded in 1967, de Haas married bassist Edgar de Haas and moved to Chicago in 1968. There, she transitioned from performer to producer and advocate, becoming one of the most influential figures in the city's jazz scene. In 1974, following Duke Ellington's death, she organized a tribute concert in Grant Park that united the jazz community and eventually evolved into the renowned Chicago Jazz Festival.
Howard Reich, former Chicago Tribune jazz critic, said, 'Geraldine de Haas was one of the most inspired and influential impresarios that Chicago – and jazz itself – has ever had. The Duke Ellington tribute concert she created in Chicago's Grant Park in 1974 made possible the now-famous Chicago Jazz Festival.' He added that her world-class singing and tireless efforts made her a 'Chicago treasure.'
De Haas also founded Jazz Unites, Inc., a nonprofit dedicated to bringing jazz to the public, and served as Director of Performing Arts for the Illinois Arts Council. She mentored numerous artists, including Grammy-winning vocalist Kurt Elling, who said, '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.'
Throughout her career, de Haas received numerous honors, 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. Her impact extended to young artists like Chicago vocalist Tammy McCann, who noted, 'She saw something in me and other young artists and elevated the level of our performance in such a thoughtful way.'
De Haas's work was driven by a mission to make jazz accessible to all. 'The key for me was to bring the best of the world to our community,' she once said. 'People need to see what we have given to this world. That's the only reason why I work.'
She is survived by her son Darius, daughter Aisha, and son-in-law Kyle Rudy. Her husband Edgar, brother Andy Bey, and sister Salome Bey predeceased her. A celebration of her life will be announced later.
