AMERICAN ROUTES
Blues and Jazz, African Roots and Branches with Shemekia Copeland & Balla Kouyaté Blues and Jazz, African Roots and Branches with Shemekia Copeland & Balla Kouyaté May 18th, 2022 (Hour 1)
Blues and Jazz, African Roots and Branches with Shemekia Copeland & Balla Kouyaté

It’s Blueswomen, Jazzmen, African roots and branches. Chicago blues singer Shemekia Copeland‘s father, the late blues guitarist Johnny Copeland, brought her into his music as a child. As an adult, she found new ways to use blues to express her perspective. We’ll hear from some of Shemekia’s heroes including Etta James, Ruth Brown, Alberta Hunter and Big Mama Thornton. Then a conversation and performance by Boston-based Mandinka balafon player Balla Kouyaté and music inspired by and from the continent of Africa from Randy Weston, Miriam Makeba and the Modern Jazz Quartet.

Shemekia Copeland photo by Mike White

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JULY 4TH: SOUL OF AMERICA

July 2nd, 2003

Who better to supply an all-American 4th of July soundtrack than our humble citizen selves? This year, we’ll meet two soulful gentlemen who could only have come from the good ol’ USA. Smokey Robinson talks about his voice and his timeless Motown singles with the Miracles, as well as the songs he wrote and produced for others, like “My Guy” for Mary Wells and the Temptations’ “My Girl”. And meet Mr. Wiggles, the king of Richmond VA’s “Fatback Sound.” Also, craftsman Charles Gillam, who carves blues history out of Mississippi River driftwood. It’s a red, white and blues Independence Day… may the Fourth be with you!

  • Listen to Hour One
  • Listen to Hour Two

HOUR ONE

  • Open Bed: Dancing in the Street Ramsey Lewis Trio
    In Person, Chess
  • Summer Days Bob Dylan
    Love & Theft, Sony
  • Guitar Town Steve Earle
    Best of alt Country, K-Tel
  • Dixie Skillet Lickers
    Freedom: Songs from the Heart of America, Columbia
  • Stars and Stripes Forever Kalima Brothers Featuring Jesse Kalima
    Legends of Ukulele, Rhino
  • Instrumental: Stars & Stripes Forever Van Dyke Parks
    Discovering America, Sundazed
  • In Crowd Ramsey Lewis
    In Person 1960-67, MCA
  • Going to a Go-Go Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
    Going to a Go-Go, Motown
  • INTERVIEW: Smokey Robinson

    Listen
  • Instrumental: You Keep Me Hangin' On The Funk Brothers
    Standing in the Shadows of Motown soundtrack, Hip-O
  • The House I Live In The Ravens
    Ol Man River, Savoy
  • The Freedom Train Paul Weston's Orchestra
    Freedom: Songs from the Heart of America, Columbia
  • Star Spangled Banner Duke Ellington
    Freedom: Songs from the Heart of America, Columbia
  • Go to the Mardi Gras Henry Butler
    Live at American Routes 5th Anniversary Concert at House of Blues,
  • Down by the Riverside Jimmy Smith & Wes Montgomery
    Masters of Jazz Vol.4, Rhino

HOUR two

  • Open Bed: Bugle Boy March Dr. Michael White
    A Song For George Lewis, Basin Street
  • You're a Grand Old Flag James Cagney
    Yankee Doodle Dandy, Rhino
  • Political Science Randy Newman
    Sail Away, Warner
  • We'll Meet Again Peggy Lee and Benny Goodman
    Freedom: Songs from the Heart of America, Columbia
  • America Chita Rivera & Company
    Star Spangled Rhythm: Voices of Hollywood and Broadway, Smithsonian Collection
  • Only in America The Drifters
    Rockin' and Driftin', Rhino
  • INTERVIEW: Mr. Wiggles

    Listen
  • Old Uncle Tom is Dead Mr. Wiggles
    Mr. Wiggles Again, Sound of Soul
  • Instrumental: Dixie-Doodle Link Wray & the Wraymen
    Slinky! The Epic Sessions '58-'61, Sundazed
  • Change is Gonna Come Terrence Trent D'Arby and Booker T & the MGs
    Freedom: Songs from the Heart of America, Columbia
  • INTERVIEW: Charles Gillam

    Listen
  • Down By the Riverside Papa Celestin
    Marie Laveau, GHB
  • Instrumental: America the Beautiful Star Spangled Band
    Red, White & Bluegrass, CMH
  • America the Beautiful Keb' Mo'
    Freedom: Songs from the Heart of America, Columbia
  • This Land is Your Land Ramblin' Jack Elliott
    Hard Travelin', Fantazy
  • No Depression Uncle Tupelo
    No Depression, Sony
  • Back in the USA Chuck Berry
    His Best, MCA
  • End Bed: Under the Double Eagle Bill Boyd
    Classic Country Music: A Smithsonian Collection, Smithsonian

THE LATEST STREAMS

  • May 18th, 2022

    BLUES AND JAZZ, AFRICAN ROOTS AND BRANCHES WITH SHEMEKIA COPELAND & BALLA KOUYATé

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  • May 11th, 2022

    BREAKING OUT: BRITISH BLUES TO NEW ORLEANS BOUNCE

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  • May 4th, 2022

    KINGPINS OF THE GULF COAST: RODNEY CROWELL & DR. JOHN

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