Bill Text: IL HR1069 | 2025-2026 | 104th General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Mourns the passing of DJ Sam Chatman of Chicago.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2026-11-02 - Filed with the Clerk by Rep. La Shawn K. Ford [HR1069 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2025-HR1069-Introduced.html

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HOUSE RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of DJ Sam
Chatman of Chicago; and
WHEREAS, Sam Chatman, the son of Bessie Chatman, was born
in Money, Mississippi; he moved with his family to St. Louis,
Missouri before settling in Chicago in the 1950s, escaping the
harsh realities of the Jim Crow South; while attending Crane
High School, he discovered his passion for music and began to
develop his skills as a DJ; and
WHEREAS, Sam Chatman built a career with the Chicago
Transit Authority (CTA), proudly serving as a bus operator for
more than two decades while working as a DJ by night; he
eventually retired from the CTA in order to fully devote
himself to his DJ career; and
WHEREAS, Sam Chatman gave the name "Steppin'" to a dance
move in which one partner breaks away from the other before
gracefully returning, which he had observed while working as a
DJ at Keyman's Club in Chicago in the 1970s; he helped to
popularize not only the name but also the experience of
soulful music, fellowship, and sophisticated attire,
encouraging dancers to arrive looking their best with the

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expression "Steppers Sharp" at numerous venues, including the
50 Yard Line, East of the Ryan, and Mr. G's; he became one of
the City's most recognizable and beloved DJs, known to
generations of dancers, other DJs, and music lovers as the
Godfather of Steppin', and he proudly declared Chicago the
Steppin' Capital of the World; and
WHEREAS, In addition to entertaining crowds, Sam Chatman
used music as an instrument of peace at a time when
neighborhood rivalries and gang violence divided Chicago's
South and West Sides; he believed music could transform lives
and used his DJ booth as a platform for mentorship,
philanthropy, opportunity, and community building; he
organized gatherings for young people and supported those in
need; and
WHEREAS, Sam Chatman's vision reached beyond neighborhood
dance floors to radio audiences, celebrities, and entertainers
as Steppin' became a defining expression of Chicago's Black
cultural identity, eventually finding new audiences in cities
and countries around the world; in his later years, he
continued to share his love for music through radio and found
his final broadcasting home at Omni Channel FM; and
WHEREAS, Sam Chatman's contributions earned recognition
from the communities he served and the City whose cultural

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history he helped to shape, including the dedication of a
street in his honor in the West Pullman neighborhood in 2025;
and
WHEREAS, Sam Chatman was a man of personality, purpose,
and unmistakable presence who believed in extending a helping
hand and creating opportunities for others; his love for
Chicago was matched only by the love he inspired in the people
who knew him, who will always remember his signature line,
"Let's go to work, steppers. Let's go to work!"; and
WHEREAS, Sam Chatman was preceded in death by his son,
Keith; and
WHEREAS, Sam Chatman is survived by his wife, Eva; his
children, Cynthia, Rita, Donna, Marlon, Kevin, Kyra, and
Samantha; and many grandchildren, great-grandchildren,
extended family members, and friends; therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
HUNDRED FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
we mourn the passing of DJ Sam Chatman and extend our sincere
condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved
him; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be

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presented to the family of Sam Chatman as an expression of our
deepest sympathy.