Derrick “Suede” Stout

Our Spotlight Artist,​ Suede is a Chicago North Shore native who has become a legend on the Chicagoland music scene. He is the Founder of Darwin Records, located on Chicago's North Shore. Grammy-considered seven times, he has sold over 80,000 CDs.

Whether you’re looking for an engaging show, lovely background music, or a combination of both, he can provide you with exactly the right music for your needs with his wide-reaching network of professional, top-tier musicians.

Lyric & Lecture is proud to be the exclusive representative of Suede Stout.
Solo Piano or Guitar
Derrick "Suede" Stout built his career on the success of his first CD, entitled Deerpath. This solo piano album was pressed five times, which gave the foundation to Deerpath Music as its own record label, as well as Darwin Records recording studio and record label. The piano music was compared to Eric Satie & George Winston, and evoked a theme of the North Shore of Chicago where Derrick grew up. He can play his original music as well as jazz and pop standards for your group.

Vocal Acoustic Duo
The perfect solution for a more relaxed event, restaurant, bar, or private party setting, Suede's variety of Vocal Acoustic Duos can be a stand-alone engaging performance as well as a pleasant background musical experience. Suede performs with such varied artists as: Dave Steffen, David Lenef, Warren Beck, Lynette Foss, Scott Bennett, Suzanne Cross, Susie McMurray, Louie Zagoras, Bobby Remington, Dana Lawrence Gillis, Daniela Sloan, and many others...

Trio/Quartet
Suede encourages our clients to pick a wide variety of instrumentation to assemble his Trio or Quartet, depending on whether you want rock/pop, jazz/standards, or a mix. With the highest quality of musicianship and a wide-reaching network of professionals, we can guarantee that there will be something for everyone to enjoy.

Luciano Antonio

Luciano is a master of Brazilian, Mexican and Spanish guitar who can transform any event into a magical night in Rio or an adventure south of the border. Also a member of the Brazilian samba ensemble Maracujaz Maracujaz, Luciano is highly regarded in the music community for his virtuosity as well as his charming personality.  

Apasianado Duo/Trio

Combining two or three virtuoso string artists who can play anything from classical to Latin to Pop music is the perfect solution for upscale yet lively ambiance at your next event. Violinist Emi Tanabe is well known as a member of The CoverGirls Violin Show, Don Cagen Orchestra and Apollo’s Fire-Cleveland Orchestra. Guitarist Gabriel Datcu brings his intricate and sublime style to several Chicago area groups, including Lyric & Lecture's Nascent Jazz Project (below). They can work as a duo or add a cellist to round out their remarkable sound.

The Badass Librarians

Badass Librarians are an acoustic rock duo featuring musicians John Siegle and Erin Brush.  John’s masterful rock ‘n roll guitar riffs, and Erin’s steady rhythm guitar and percussion, back-up their vocal harmonies in an eclectic mix of classic and alternative rock tunes ranging from The Beatles and Kinks to Jack White and Cage the Elephant, with several of John’s own originals mixed in.  John Siegle has an impressive history in the Chicago music scene, starting with his band Screams in the 70’s, Insiders in the 80’s and 90’s, Mike Jordan and the Rockamatics, and various other Chicago bands throughout his musical career.  Erin is a classically trained pianist and singer turned rock bassist and acoustic guitarist. She plays regularly on the North Shore with John in the bands See Alice and Live Wires.  When they’re not rocking the band scene, they unplug as the Badass Librarians and together they’ve taken their acoustic interpretations of a wide and varied selection of rock songs and made them uniquely their own.

Michael Cohen

Michael Steven Cohen has been singing and entertaining audiences around the area since the mid-1980s. Michael has taken his musical experience and his love for melody and has put together a novel re-imagining of classic American Jazz and Pop Standards from late 1920s to 1950s. Most of these songs have been interpreted with Big Bands and Orchestras over the years, sung by the greats…from Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Tony Bennett, Nat King Cole, Michael Buble to name just a few. He peppers the set with found and amusing stories about the songwriters, the songs, the artists who have covered them, making for an extremely romantic evening.  ​Featuring the very best of Depression Era, WWII and Post-WWII Love Songs, Michael’s program has been described as “Michael Buble-meets-James Taylor” and “Big Band Music on a Little Guitar”. 

Cover Story

Andy and Lisa Dennen bring excellent musicianship and sweet harmonies to their charming program of soft rock, pop, and country music favorites from across the decades. They have played in many restaurants and bars, as well as at private parties, and are always invited back. Book this popular duo as far in advance as possible since their schedule fills quickly.

Al Day and Bob Long

 The sublime, original jazz of Al and Bob make them the perfect musical accompaniment to any truly artistic event. Bob’s inventive and inviting piano, combined with Al’s expressive, gravely vocals and emotional guitar musings, create an atmosphere that can be compared to the jazz clubs of the mid-20th century. They perform at several clubs in the city, including the famous Green Mill, whose poet-in-residence, Marc Smith, has performed spoken word with them. If you’re looking for a pure jazz experience, then this duo is exactly what you need. 

Dana Lawrence Gillis

Dana is a unique singer-songwriter in the acoustic folk-rock genre. She performs as a solo act at drinking and dining venues all over the North Shore, as well as outdoor festivals such as the Long Grove Art Fest and Chicago's Festa Italiana. She is known for her alternative style and catchy originals, as well as her dazzling smile!

Lauren Gottshall

Lauren Gottshall is a young singer-songwriter based in the Chicago area. She has a level of maturity in her songwriting that captivates and moves audiences of all ages. Featured many times as an up-and-coming artist to watch, she has grown from playing local festivals, local restaurants, and private parties to opening for major Country acts. Whether she is singing an original or a cover, Lauren has the talent and charm to win over any crowd.

Stephen Kohler

Stephen is a versatile performer who started his musical journey on on trumpet at the age of 12 when he began playing in classical orchestras, the marching band, and jazz ensembles, touring Europe along the way. Guitar, piano, vocals, and various other stringed instruments eventually joined his repertoire, igniting a life-long passion for rock and pop styles. Inspired by everything from Abba to Van Halen to Ben Folds, Stephen loves to blend melodic hooks with a rhythmic punch. For the next 30 years, Stephen went on to compose, record, and perform in numerous original pop/rock bands including Onyx, and the buzz-worthy Delusions of Grandeur with his good friend Steve Frisbie, playing the historic Metro, Lounge Ax, Double Door, SPACE and many others. Some of the well-loved musicians he has shared the stage with include Jason Narducy (Verbow, Bob Mould, Superchunk) Frisbie, Nora O’Connor (The Flat Five, The Decemberists, Mavis Staples) and Aaron Whisnant (Albert Hill, Dezeray’s Hammer).

Terry Moran

Terry brings an honesty and soulfulness to his music that is rooted in his rich life experience. A lyrical interpreter of folk and country covers, he also performs his original work, which is available on his CD titled, "Lost Coast, Safe Harbor". Terry is a founding member of the popular Americana-style band Hellhounds.

Prairie Station Acoustic

oe Anselmo and Jen Weeks have been fronting the band Prairie Station since 2012. Together their vocals and warm harmonies have helped contribute to their signature sound.

Prairie Station is a modern country band but the acoustic duo side allows Joe and Jen to stretch out and not only perform the songs the band is known for but also include some of their personal favorites and influences.

During their shows Joe and Jen have a warm and unmistakable chemistry treating their audiences to sing-alongs along with their humor and intimate harmonies.

Bill Uhler


​Bill is a fantastic performer with a positive and dynamic stage presence. He plays and sings a wide variety of pop, rock, and country music from across the decades, and mixes in a few instrumentals to highlight his virtuoso guitar skills.

Bill also has a deep reach into the music community and can play as part of a larger band if you want to expand your entertainment options.

Wilson Wallace


​Wilson has been performing live since he was 16 years old. Originally from South Carolina, he has recently moved to Chicago to develop his music career.

His music spans the acoustic decades, and includes covers and originals. His original music is currently available on several platforms.