Theo Huff

Theo started at the age of fourteen, when his music teacher Mr. Jimmy Tillman – a professional drummer – took him under his wing, winning local talent shows and preforming at open mic nights. He began his professional career, in 2008 at the age of eighteen, with the musical production That Sensuous Seductive Seventies working with actress/singer Jackie Taylor at the Black Ensemble Theatre. Theo received nominations for best Featured Actor in a Play or Musical and Promising Actor for his role in the musical. Theo returned to the theatrical stage once again in 2018 in another Jackie Taylor Production, “Rick Stone –The Blues Man”, which he once again received acclaim and a nomination for best featured Actor. Theo was also featured in the production of “Why I Don’t Go To Church No More” in 2018. In 2009 Theo was nominated by the Best of Chicago – Music for Best Blues Act.

Tom Marker of WXRT radio praised Theo saying “dynamic combination of talents establishes him as a blues artist on the rise.” It is clear that Theo loves what he does and his desire to be a motivation to the younger generation of artist, to help keep soul-blues music alive, drives him. Theo made his European debut in 2014 preforming at the prestigious Porretta Soul Festival in Porretta, Italy and returning in 2015 and 2016. David Whiteis applauded Theo saying “Theo Huff has yet to reach his 30th birthday, but he’s already garnering an international reputation as a purveyor of the contemporary soul –blues (or Southern Soul) style.”

Theo honed his craft by preforming on stage with and being mentored by such greats as Koko Taylor, Otis Clay, Marshall Thompson of the Chi-Lites, Bobby Rush, the late great Denise LaSalle, Stan Mosley and working with Benny Latimore and the late great Mel Waiters, who both also wrote and/or produced songs for Theo such as, It’s a Good Thing I Met You and Soul Swing.