AMERICAN ROUTES
Blues and Jazz, African Roots and Branches with Shemekia Copeland and Balla Kouyaté Blues and Jazz, African Roots and Branches with Shemekia Copeland and Balla Kouyaté June 7th, 2023 (Hour 1)
Blues and Jazz, African Roots and Branches with Shemekia Copeland and 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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AMERICAN ROUTES ON INSTAGRAM

SOUTHERN MEN OF SONG: JIMMY MARTIN AND PERCY SLEDGE

May 23rd, 2012

Working class, self-styled and always opinionated, the late King of Bluegrass Jimmy Martin talks guitar-picking, hunting dogs and the Opry. And singer of songs, Percy Sledge recalls going from hospital orderly to Atlantic Records soul singer with “When a Man Loves a Woman.”

  • Listen to Hour One
  • Listen to Hour Two

HOUR ONE

  • Open Bed: Freeborn Man Jimmy Martin
    The King of Bluegrass, Universal
  • Milwaukee Here I Come John Prine w/ Melba Montgomery
    In Spite of Ourselves, Oh Boy
  • What's Made Milwaukee Famous (Has Made a Loser Out of Me) Jerry Lee Lewis
    Killer Country, Mercury
  • In a Moment of Weakness Johnny Adams
    Absolutely the Best, Fuel 2000
  • Don't Touch Me Bettye Swan
    Soulful Divas: Bold Soul Sisters Vol.4, Hip-O
  • Instrumental: Pallet on The Floor Comer 'Moon' Mullins
    The Best of Comer 'Moon' Mullins, N/A
  • Jimmie's Mean Mama Blues Jimmie Rodgers
    The Singing Breakman, Bear Family
  • I Can't Help It (If I'm Still In Love With You) Chip Taylor and Carrie Rodriguez
    Red Dog Tracks, Back Porch
  • I'm Walkin' the Floor Over You Mando and the Chili Peppers
    On the Road with Rock n' Roll, Ace
  • Tennessee Flat Top Box Johnny Cash
    Columbia Country Classics Vol. 3, Columbia
  • Freeborn Man Junior Brown
    12 Shades of Brown, Curb
  • Instrumental: Misty Morning Tony Rice
    58957: The Bluegrass Guitar Collection, Rounder
  • SEGMENT: Jimmy Martin

    Listen
  • He Rambled Charlie Poole
    You Ain't Talking To Me: Charlie Poole and the Roots of Country Music , Columbia/ Legacy
  • Oh Didn't He Ramble Papa Celestin's New Orleans Band
    Marie Laveau, GHB

HOUR two

  • Open Bed: Put a Little Lovin' on Me Percy Sledge
    It Tears Me Up, Rhino
  • Six Days on the Road Taj Mahal
    Giant Step, Columbia
  • Streamline Train Jessie Mae Hemphill
    Feelin' Good, High Water/ HMG
  • Golden Rocket Alice Stuart and Snake
    Believing, Fantasy
  • T-Model Boogie Rosco Gordon
    I'm Gonna Shake It!, Varese
  • Rude Boy Train Desmond Dekker
    Rockin' Steady: The Best of Desmond Dekker, Rhino
  • Instrumental: The Sea of Love John Fahey
    Return of the Repressed: The John Fahey Anthology, Rhino
  • Paradise Isle Bill Tapia
    Tropical Swing, Moon Room
  • Sea of Love Phil Phillips with the Twilights
    Hot Rod Rock: Back Seat Movers, Right Stuff
  • SEGMENT: Percy Sledge

    Listen
  • Instrumental: Blues Walk Lou Donaldson
    Sweet and Dangerous Blues, Disky
  • Trumpet Mouthpiece Blues Clark Terry, featuring Paul Gonsalves
    Daylight Express, MCA
  • Baby Won't You Please Come Home Topsy Chapman and the Pros
    New Orleans, Putomayo
  • Just a Little While to Stay Here Dr. Michael White
    A Song for George Lewis, Basin Street
  • Will the Circle Be Unbroken Marion Williams
    The New Message, Collectables
  • End Bed: Just a Closer Walk with Thee Danny Barker & New Orleans Rhythm Kings
    American Griot, Boozan

THE LATEST STREAMS

  • June 7th, 2023

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

    Listen
  • May 31st, 2023

    PIANO PEOPLE AND MORE: JASON MORAN & HEATH ALLEN

    Listen
  • May 24th, 2023

    MEMORIAL DAY WITH THE 2022 NATIONAL HERITAGE FELLOWS

    Listen
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