Rosa's Lounge in Logan Square Unveils Record Label, Signs Blues Icon Billy Branch

Rosa's Lounge, a cornerstone of Chicago's blues scene for over four decades, is stepping into the music industry with the launch of its own record label.

With a mission to spread the joy of soulful music, the lounge has signed its first artist, a figure deeply intertwined with its history.

"When you got a good crowd and you're reaching the crowd, and you can tell when they're with you, it's a wonderful feeling," remarked Billy Branch, the celebrated musician who has graced the stage of Rosa's Lounge numerous times. "It's a connection between you and the audience."

Branch's connection to Rosa's is historic; he was the inaugural act on the very first day the venue opened its doors more than 40 years ago.

Now, he takes on the role of the first artist signed to the new label, debuting with his single "Begging for Change."

"It's a metaphor. Literally, you can't go outside without someone begging for money, but people are also begging for change because they're not happy with their current situation," Branch explained, highlighting the song's deeper meaning.

Owner Tony Mangiullo, who founded Rosa's in 1984 in honor of his mother, has long cherished the blues. His passion for the genre began in his youth in Italy.

"We always kept some sort of record of what we've done through the years because we believed we had something valuable," Mangiullo stated, reflecting on the lounge's rich history.

These records encompass photographs, videos, and even live streams during the pandemic. The establishment of a record label feels like a natural progression for Mangiullo, with Branch being an ideal choice to spearhead this venture.

"It's definitely the most natural because of our long partnership," he noted. "He represented the new generation of Chicago blues and I wanted him to put us on that path."

Branch echoed this sentiment: "It's new, it's united, it's unproven, but every label has to start somewhere and given the long history that I have with Rosa's, it seemed to make sense."

The single "Begging for Change" is set to release on vinyl on August 1, coinciding with launch parties at Rosa's Lounge on August 1 and 2. The track is already available for streaming, while Branch's full album is scheduled for release on November 7.