Political assassinations, protests, riots, civil rights, the space race, war. Considered one of the most turbulent and traumatic years of the 20th century, 1968 was a year of triumph and tragedy.
Al Krockey's debut memoir,
Straight Outta Skokie: The Krockey Chronicles
: 1968 takes readers back to that pivotal year, chronicling his life as an 18-year-old self-proclaimed "go-getter" navigating Chicago's cultural landscape.
"It was such a great time," he said. "Growing up in Skokie, I thought the only restaurants that existed were delis and hot dog stands."
Set against the backdrop of working-class Jewish life in Skokie, the book evokes a vibrant era of rock music shadowed by the threat of the Vietnam War draft. Krockey's narrative begins on Thursday, April 4, 1968-the day of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination-embedding his coming-of-age story within a period of profound social change and national unrest. Raised in a family that struggled financially, Krockey learned the value of hard work early on.
The memoir traces his early ventures in "making a buck," including selling souvenirs outside Wrigley Field, which he describes as similar to "going to business school."
"Work was not an option for this 18-year-old kid," Krockey wrote in the first chapter. "My family was struggling as a result of my father's business partner leaving town with our family's savings. I was determined to hustle a buck any way I could, and maybe one day become a rich and successful entrepreneur."
The memoir also captures the energy of Chicago's live music scene with stories of Krockey crossing paths with emerging music legends--including Joni Mitchell--which would lead to him opening his record store, The Record Shack, when he was 20. His memorable year culminates with a cross-country road trip to the Miami Pop Festival, which involved bonfires on the levee in New Orleans, a few brushes with the law, and more.
Krockey, who went on to build a successful career in insurance consulting, recently embarked on his journey as an author in his 70s. He was originally inspired to revisit his early years back in March of 2020, as the world was shutting down due to COVID, while riding the elevator of his Chicago condo building high-rise with his neighbor, who just picked up a corned beef sandwich from Kaufman's Bagel and Delicatessen in Skokie.
"That's how I found myself driving up to Skokie, the town where I spent my childhood and came of age," Krockey wrote in his memoir's preface. "As I waited in the Kaufman's parking lot, I wasn't just hungry for corned beef. I was starving for connection to people, to places, to memories that felt safe, simple, and mine." Krockey advises aspiring writers to "just keep writing."
"Write from the heart," he said. "I treat it like a job when I get up in the morning, and write until I can't work anymore."
In his debut memoir, Krockey doesn't simply revisit a defining year of his childhood. He reclaims it as a celebration of grit, determination, and joy.
Straight Outta Skokie: The Krockey Chronicles: 1968
is available in paperback and ebook formats from Amazon, Ingram, and Apple Books. It is the first book in a trilogy that includes
Krockey Road Ahead: 1969, coming in 2026,
and
The Record Shack Years: 1970-1974,
coming in 2027.
