This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated.
CHICAGO — The founder of Chicago’s legendary Kingston Mines has died at 92.
Lenin “Doc” Pellegrino died Thursday, according to a Facebook post.
He opened the city’s oldest operating blues club in 1972.
Pellegrino was working as a physician on the West Side when he bought the former home of the Kingston Mines Theater Company. Pellegrino eventually moved the venue to Halsted Street, where it became the famous club.
As he aged, Pellegrino lived above the club and came down to visit guests and musicians.
The club offers blues seven nights a week and remains a popular spot for tourists and locals alike.
