AMERICAN ROUTES
May the Fourth Be With Us! American Routes Independence Day Then & Now May the Fourth Be With Us! American Routes Independence Day Then & Now June 29th, 2022 (Hour 1)
May the Fourth Be With Us! American Routes Independence Day Then & Now

This July 4th weekend, we dive into the record crates to bring you music of celebration, hope and critique from Nina Simone, Randy Newman, Sly Stone and Jon Batiste. Then, the July 4th roots of American Routes as we go back to the 1990s, deep in the archive, for highlights from The American Roots Independence Day concerts at the Washington Monument on the National Mall in Washington, DC. Join us for spectacular stage performances by the urbane blues hero Charles Brown, the Texas Playboys with Johnny Gimble playing Western swing, Mexican-American Mariachi Los Camperos de Nati Cano, Young Tuxedo Brass with New Orleans jazz, and Hawaiian music and song of slack-key guitar master Ledward Kaapana.

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MLK: SOUNDS AND SPIRITS

January 15th, 2003

Honoring the late Civil Rights leader with two hours of songs and stories in his spirit from inspiring leaders in music past and present. Harry Belafonte—a confidant of MLK— recalls his career in music and social activism, including the recently available “Anthology of African-American Music.” Plus tales of one of jazz’s great eccentrics — Sun Ra — remembered by band members Marshall Allen and Michael Ray, and biographer John Szwed.

  • Listen to Hour One
  • Listen to Hour Two

HOUR ONE

  • Open Bed: "Pop's Instrumental Staple Singers
    Soul Folk In Action, Stax
  • Address To Civil Rights Marchers in Washington D.C. Martin Luther King
    Great Speeches of the 20th Century, Rhino
  • Swing, Low Sweet Chariot / Every Time I Feel The Spirit Paul Robeson
    The Power And The Glory, Sony
  • Compared To What Les McCann
    Swiss Movement, Rhino
  • The Death of Dr. Martin Luther King Big Joe Williams
    Shake Your Boogie, Arhoolie
  • Everybody Will Be Happy The Staple Singers
    Great Day, Fantasy
  • We Shall Overcome Laurel Aitken
    The Pioneer of Jamaican Music, Reggae Retro
  • Instrumental: Freedom Sound The Skatalites
    Ball of Fire, Island
  • INTERVIEW: Harry Belafonte

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  • Instrumental: I Have a Dream Herbie Hancock
    Jazz Profile: Herbie Hancock, Blue Note
  • 34 Blues Charley Patton
    Screamin' and Hollerin' The Blues: The Worlds of Charley Patton, Revenant
  • Oxford Town Bob Dylan
    The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan, Sony
  • Mississippi Goddam Nina Simone
    In Concert / I Put A Spell On You, PolyGram
  • O, Day Bessie Jones
    Southern Journey Vol.12: Georgia Sea Islands, Rounder
  • Blackbird The Beatles
    The Beatles [White Album], Capitol
  • God Bless the Child Dave Van Ronk
    Two Sides of Dave Van Ronk, Fantasy

HOUR two

  • Watch My Step / Movin' On Up Keith Frank
    Movin' On Up!, Maison de Soul
  • We're A Winner Curtis Mayfield & Impressions
    People Get Ready: Curtis Mayfield Story, Rhino
  • Go Tell it on the Mountain Bob Marley & The Wailers
    Trenchtown Rock: The Anthology 1969-78, Trojan
  • Let Your Mind Be Free Soul Rebels
    Let Your Mind Be Free, Mardi Gras
  • Instrumental: Riot Miles Davis Quintet
    The Best of the Miles Davis Quintet, Columbia/Legacy
  • INTERVIEW: John Szwed, Marshall Allen and Michael Ray on Sun Ra

    Listen
  • Joe Louis Is a Fightin' Man The Dixieaires
    Joe Louis: An American Hero, Rounder
  • King Joe, Part 1 Count Basie and His Orchestra with Paul Robeson
    Joe Louis: An American Hero, Rounder
  • John Henry Big Bill Broonzy
    Sings Folk Songs, Folkways
  • Instrumental: John Henry Duane Eddy
    The Twang's the Thang/Songs of Our Heritage, Bear Family
  • What is Truth Johnny Cash
    The Essential Johnny Cash 1955-1983, Columbia/Legacy
  • Your Flag Decal Won't Get You into Heaven Anymore John Prine
    John Prine, Atlantic
  • Down By The Riverside Snooks Eaglin
    Country Boy In New Orleans, Arhoolie
  • Just a Little While to Stay Here Dr. Michael White
    A Song For George Lewis, Basin Street
  • End Bed: Goodbye, Everybody Joseph Armstrong
    Southern Journey Vol.12: Georgia Sea Islands, Rounder

THE LATEST STREAMS

  • June 29th, 2022

    MAY THE FOURTH BE WITH US! AMERICAN ROUTES INDEPENDENCE DAY THEN & NOW

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  • June 22nd, 2022

    EARL SCRUGGS & TOM RUSH

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  • June 15th, 2022

    SOUNDS OF FREEDOM: FONTELLA BASS AND FREDDIE HUBBARD

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