NICK SPITZER
EPISODES OF AMERICAN ROUTES WITH NICK SPITZER
FROM THE SHOW: MUSIC & HEALING: PART 2
From the show "Music & Healing: Part 2" originally aired on October 30th, 2019
FROM THE SHOW: MUSIC AND HEALING: PART 2
From the show "Music and Healing: Part 2 " originally aired on April 6th, 2022
FROM THE SHOW: CELEBRATING THE HOLIDAYS WITH THE 2023 NATIONAL HERITAGE FELLOWS
From the show "Celebrating the Holidays with the 2023 National Heritage Fellows" originally aired on December 20th, 2023
CELEBRATING THE HOLIDAYS WITH THE 2023 NATIONAL HERITAGE FELLOWS
This holiday season, we're celebrating the 2023 National Endowment for the Arts National Heritage Fellows. Each year since 1982, the program has recognized artistic excellence, lifetime achievement, and contributions to the nation's traditional arts heritage. This year's fellows include the late hill country blues musician, R.L. Boyce; Suquamish basketmaker, Ed Carriere; African American quilter, Michael Cummings; Tejano musician, Joe DeLeon "Little Joe" Hernandez; Hawaiian Kapa maker, Roen Hufford; wampum and fiber artist, Elizabeth James-Perry; New Mexican sculptor, Luis Tapia; pipa master, Wu Man; and our own American Routes host, Nick Spitzer. Plus a live set from New Orleans' Treme Brass Band, who received the award in 2006.
BOURBON STREET TO VEGAS WITH LOUIS PRIMA
"From Bourbon Street to Vegas": a look at New Orleans native and trumpeter Louis Prima, the originator of what's known as the Vegas lounge sound. Nick Spitzer interviews Prima band members--saxophonist Sam Butera and singer/ex-wife Keely Smith--and talks with Vegas gamblers and a pastor at a 24-hour wedding-chapel. Photo courtesy of the New Orleans Jazz Museum
LOS ANGELES: SOUNDTRACK FOR THE ANGELS
In this special program American Routes' host Nick Spitzer uncovers the music and cultural traditions of Los Angeles: from Hollywood to neighborhood. Join Nick as he travels across the City of Angels to hear from L.A. legends -- including Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys and songwriter Randy Newman -- and explores musical cultures with Cambodian-born rapper PraCh Ly in Long Beach, Louisiana Creole zydeco accordionist T-Lou in South Central, and East L.A.'s Ersi Arvizu. Plus conversations and music from Mexican-American rock band Los Lobos, R & B saxophonist Big Jay McNeely, and rockabilly guitarist Glen Glenn. Along the way we visit L.A. musical landmarks - including the famed Capitol Records recording studios.
LOS ANGELES: SOUNDTRACK FOR THE ANGELS
In this special program, American Routes' host Nick Spitzer uncovers the music and cultural traditions of Los Angeles: from Hollywood to neighborhood. Join Nick as he travels across the City of Angels to hear from L.A. legends -- including Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys and songwriter Randy Newman -- and explores musical cultures with Cambodian-born rapper PraCh Ly in Long Beach, Louisiana Creole zydeco accordionist T-Lou in South Central, and East L.A.'s Ersi Arvizu. Plus conversations and music from Mexican-American rock band Los Lobos, R & B saxophonist Big Jay McNeely, and rockabilly guitarist Glen Glenn. Along the way we visit L.A. musical landmarks - including the famed Capitol Records recording studios.
LOS ANGELES: SOUNDTRACK FOR THE ANGELS
In this special program American Routes host Nick Spitzer uncovers the music and cultural traditions of Los Angeles: from Hollywood to neighborhood. Join Nick as he travels across the City of Angels to hear from L.A. legends - including Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys and songwriter Randy Newman - and explores musical cultures with Cambodian-born rapper PraCh Ly in Long Beach, Louisiana Creole zydeco accordionist T-Lou in South Central, and East L.A.'s Ersi Arvizu. Plus conversations and music from Mexican-American rock band Los Lobos, R & B saxophonist Big Jay McNeely, and rockabilly guitarist Glen Glenn.
LOS ANGELES: SOUNDTRACK FOR THE ANGELS
American Routes' host Nick Spitzer uncovers the music and cultural traditions of Los Angeles: from Hollywood to neighborhood. Join Nick as he travels across the City of Angels to hear from legends -- including Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys and songwriter Randy Newman -- and explores musical cultures with Cambodian-born rapper PraCh Ly, Louisiana Creole zydeco accordionist T-Lou, and East L.A.'s Ersi Arvizu. Plus conversations and music from Mexican-American rock band Los Lobos, R & B saxophonist Big Jay McNeely, and rockabilly guitarist Glen Glenn. Along the way we visit L.A. musical landmarks -- including the famed Capitol Records recording studios.
LOS ANGELES: SOUNDTRACK FOR THE ANGELS
In this special program Nick Spitzer uncovers the music and cultural traditions of Los Angeles: from Hollywood to neighborhood. Nick travels across the City of Angels to hear from L.A. legends -- including Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys and songwriter Randy Newman -- and explores musical cultures with Cambodian-born rapper praCh Ly, Louisiana Creole zydeco accordionist T-Lou, and East L.A.'s Ersi Arvizu. Plus conversations and music from Mexican-American rock band Los Lobos, R & B saxophonist Big Jay McNeely, and rockabilly guitarist Glen Glenn. And along the way we visit L.A. musical landmarks -- including the famed Capitol Records recording studios.
AFTER THE STORM
American Routes host Nick Spitzer takes you in story and song to New Orleans and the Gulf Coast in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Nick blends music and commentary that describes the place of storms and floods in the history and culture of the city and region. Featured are classic blues about broken levees and broken hearts, celebratory jazz funerals and memories of the city in song. Artists include Louis Armstrong, Mahalia Jackson, Fats Domino and Randy Newman, among others. Also tales of hurricanes past in Cajun music and a visit with the leader of a Cajun rescue flotilla, Lafayette, LA public radio station manager Dave Spizale.
EASTER/PASSOVER WITH AL GREEN
Our Easter/Passover show, as Nick Spitzer talks to the one and only Rev. Al Green about growing up in rural Arkansas and how soul music leads to saving souls--including his own. Plus nouveau klezmer musician Steven Bernstein on jazz and Jewish tradition swinging together. Also we explore Pagan, Deep South, cowboy and cartoon versions of the Easter bunny and kin. Plus seasonal music from Irving Berlin, Fats Domino, Gene Autry and Cassandra Wilson.
EASTER/PASSOVER WITH AL GREEN
Our Easter/Passover show, as Nick Spitzer talks to the one and only Rev. Al Green about growing up in rural Arkansas and how soul music leads to saving souls--including his own. Plus nouveau klezmer musician Steven Bernstein on jazz and Jewish tradition swinging together. Also we explore Pagan, Deep South, cowboy and cartoon versions of the Easter bunny and kin. Seasonal music from Irving Berlin, Fats Domino, Gene Autry, and Cassandra Wilson.
LAS VEGAS
We'll visit Las Vegas, the last stop on our tour of musical cities. The star of the show is Louis Prima, a New Orleans native and originator of the Vegas lounge sound. Nick Spitzer interviews Prima band members -- saxophonist Sam Butera and singer/ex-wife Keely Smith -- talks with Vegas gamblers and makes a stop at a 24-hour wedding-chapel.
EASTER/PASSOVER WITH AL GREEN
Our Easter/Passover show, as Nick Spitzer talks to the one-and-only Rev. Al Green about growing up in rural Arkansas and how soul music leads to saving souls--including his own. Plus Passover music from downtown trumpeter Steven Bernstein.
APRIL FOOL'S WITH HARRY SHEARER
Tomfoolery and trickery for April Fool's! Host Nick Spitzer's chair is grabbed by pretenders seeking to impose their own music mix. Spitzer reclaims power in time to revisit several hoaxes in the history of American music and radio.
LAS VEGAS
From Bourbon Street to Vegas: a look at New Orleans native and trumpeter Louis Prima, the originator of what's known as the Vegas lounge sound. Nick Spitzer interviews Prima band members---saxophonist Sam Butera and singer/ex-wife Keely Smith--and talks with Vegas gamblers and a pastor at a 24-hour wedding-chapel.
LABOR DAY WITH ARCHIE GREEN
Workers of the world unite as we celebrate with thoughts from hardworking shoeshiners young and old; and visit with San Francisco folklorist Archie Green who expains why recordings like Merle Haggard's "Workingman's Blues" have eclipsed the old labor song tradition. In addition to music for your weekend picnic and parties, hear one of host Nick Spitzer's favorite segue sets: Paul Robeson, Randy Newman, and Ray Charles--where Joe Hill finds himself "Busted."
FROM THE SHOW: EASTER / PASSOVER WITH MAVIS STAPLES
From the show "Easter / Passover with Mavis Staples" originally aired on April 8th, 1998
FROM THE SHOW: EASTER/PASSOVER WITH MAVIS STAPLES
From the show "Easter/Passover with Mavis Staples" originally aired on March 31st, 1999
FROM THE SHOW: CARNIVAL
From the show "Carnival" originally aired on February 26th, 2003
FROM THE SHOW: CARNIVAL
From the show "Carnival" originally aired on February 18th, 2004
