Ok, so all my topics are not the most enlightened but there are a ton of fun pre-1935 tunes about SAMMY- From Lonnie Johnson to Sam Morgans' Jazz Band! - Which Sammy?..take your pick! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/american-grooves-hour/support
Jul 19, 2024•55 min•Season 3Ep. 71924
Weather AND music getting hot! - some remarkable recordings recently unearthed from the Louis Franklin collection. Franklin was a cornet player living , performing and collecting in the New York area from the 1930s-50s - his collection recently acquired by American Grooves! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/american-grooves-hour/support
Jul 08, 2024•55 min•Season 3Ep. 7724
First performed in Chicago nightclubs circa 1925 the tune was immortalized after Louis Armstrong's legendary 1926 version with his Hot Five - it is said he dropped the lyrics and went into an impromptu "scat" verse that se the ealry jazz hounds on fire~ here we talk about the tune and offer several versions of it through the pre-1940 years! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/american-grooves-hour/support...
Jul 01, 2024•55 min•Season 3Ep. 51324
All selection of all kinds of great pre-1940 Jazz , Blues, Country and more from the original shellac records! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/american-grooves-hour/support
Jul 01, 2024•55 min•Season 3Ep. 63024
This episode includes a segment exploring the legend of "Frankie & Johnny" and several of its musical manifestations on Blues, Country and Jazz recordings from the 1920s-30s --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/american-grooves-hour/support
Jun 10, 2024•55 min•Season 3Ep. 60924
When record companies began recording rural American music for the emerging market of record buying country folk . The birth of County or "Hillbilly" music as they labeled it also brought to the recording microphone some innovators of te guitar - this episode will focus on a few of them - from the raggy flat picking of Riley Puckett, the amazing bass note simplicity of Alfred Karnes to the now forgotten virtuosity of Perry Bectel - tune in for some of hillbilly guitars early masters --- Support ...
Jun 04, 2024•55 min•Season 3Ep. 6324
As an active collector new records arrival most every week. Joe shares some of these "new arrivals" on this episode, Like coming over for an old fashioned listening session! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/american-grooves-hour/support
May 28, 2024•55 min•Season 3Ep. 52624
Crockett-Ward & His Boys got it right! ( for me any thing past Jerry Garcia's death in 1995 fell into the "Sucker" category..but that's just ME!!) - Let's further explore the deep roots of tunes recorded by the institution known as THE GRATEFUL DEAD. Why? - because THEY were the first to introduce me to all things musical Americana - Of course, I went backwards from there but so did they! We Bid You Goodnight, Stealin', CC Rider - we will play the originals of tunes famously played by the De...
May 21, 2024•55 min•Season 3Ep. 51924
Across the pre-war genres songs of mother ranked as the number two topic ( love being number 1!) So, on this Mothers' Day we celebrate Moms, Mothers, Mammy's and Mamas! - From mother songs of Al Jolson to sentimental country songs by Jimmie Rodgers, spirituals by Elder Lonnie McIntorsh, Washington Phillips and many more! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/american-grooves-hour/support...
May 13, 2024•56 min•Season 3Ep. 51224
A mixture of many great recordings - from Valverts' Creole Band recorded in Paris circa 1930 to some hot Hawaiian sides and much more- the wonders of pre-1940 78s! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/american-grooves-hour/support
May 12, 2024•54 min•Season 3Ep. 42124
Lets have some fun! Besides a few versions of a fun lost tune from 1933 ( Yeah Man!) we bring you an assortment of select though unfocused pre-war Jazz, Blues, Country and who knows what else! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/american-grooves-hour/support
May 12, 2024•55 min•Season 3Ep. 32424
At the behest of older sister Blanche in 1930 Cab Calloway took over and fronted the hot Harlem band THE MISSOURIANS - from that point on his career rapidly moved to the stars and stayed there for some 60 years. On this episode we explore his earliest years at the Cotton Club, in the movies and play some of his earliest influences. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/american-grooves-hour/support...
May 12, 2024•55 min•Season 3Ep. 41424
We do not often focus an entire episode on one artist but LONNIE JOHNSON deserves this and additional episodes! A pioneering jazz guitarist, blues guitarist, fiddler, singer and piano player Johnson is one of the undisputed genius of pre-war music - This episode will present rare recordings of Johnson with his family string band ( on fiddle!), to sides waxed with the likes ouf LOUIS ARMSTRONG's HOT FIVE, DUKE ELLINGTON's COTTON CLUB ORCHESTRA, VICTORIA SPIVEY , EDDIE LNG as well as some amazing ...
May 12, 2024•55 min•Season 3Ep. 42124
James P. Johnson was one of the forefathers of the Harlem Stride piano style - a progress from ragtime to jazz. He also was one of the most influential pianists of his day. We will explore some of James P's early piano solos from his groundbreaking CAROLINA SHOUT in 1921 to some of his band sides. We also will hear early recordings by perhaps his greatest disciple Thomas "Fats" Waller who took the Harlem Stride style even a step further! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/p...
Apr 15, 2024•55 min•Season 3Ep. 41424
Born in Baltimore April 7, 1915 By the time she was 21 Billie Holiday became Jazz's GREATEST vocal stylist . We will dig into her earliest recordings from the landmark 1933 John Hammond session ( her 1st!) to her early 1940s records on commodore for Milt Gabler. We will also hear sione of her influences and imitators - Give BILLIE a listen on what would have her 109th birthday ( my birthday too!) --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/american-grooves-hour/support...
Apr 08, 2024•55 min•Season 3Ep. 4724
Ameericn Grooves goes to church! We will explore some of the deep American sacred and gospel music on this religious day. From Sacred Harp/Shaped Note quartets, to Sanctified preaching and Jubilee singing DENISON's SACRED HARP SINGERS OF ALABAMA, MIDDLE GEORGIA SINGING CONVENTION, BLIND ROOSEVELT GRAVES, PHIPPS FAMILY the old weird America for sure! ( not to be confused with the new weird America!) --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/american-grooves-hour/support...
Apr 01, 2024•55 min•Season 3Ep. 33124
In the 1920s and early 1930s "headin' uptown" meant a night of clubbing in HARLEM. And when you went you might have been entertained by any number of fabulous bands who lived and played "up-town". This episode , the second of two is dedicated to all of those Harem based bands - from LOUIS ARMSTRONG & HIS ORCHESTRA, MILLS BLUE RHYTHM BAND , JIMMY LUNCEFORD's ORCHESTRA, JOE STEELE ORCHESTRA, CAB CALLOWAY and THE MISSOURIANS before him to name just a few...and how can we forget CHICK WEBB and D...
Mar 25, 2024•55 min•Season 3Ep. 32424
A celebration of St. Pat's day featuring hte music of some of the talented Irish Immigrants who recorded their folk and dance music in that great "melting pot" called America . From PACKIE DOLAN & HIS BOYS to tenor JOHN McCORMACK. We also will play some of the today seldom heard comic "Character songs" of the early 20th Century sung by the likes of ADA JONES and "RAGTIME" BOB ROBERTS ....We'll be wearing the green! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/american-gr...
Mar 18, 2024•55 min•Season 3Ep. 31724
In the 1920s and early 1930s "headin' uptown" meant a night of clubbing in HARLEM. And when you went you might have been entertained by any number of fabulous bands who lived and played "up-town". This episode , the first of two is dedicated to all of those Harem based bands - from LUIS RUSSELL'S ORCHESTRA, SAVOY BEARCATS, JIMMY LUNCEFORD's ORCHESTRA, CAB CALLOWAY and THE MISSOURIANS before him to name just a few...and how can we forget CHICK WEBB and DUKE ELLINGTON'S mighty COTTON CLUB ORCHESTR...
Mar 11, 2024•55 min•Season 3Ep. 31024
This episode explores the blues to rock tune KEEP A KNOCKIN' From it's origins as MY BUCKET's GOT A HOLE IN IT on . Tom Gates & His Orchestra on Gennett, Lizzie Miles on Vocalion and Boodle It Wiggins on Paramount are some of the versions heard! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/american-grooves-hour/support
Mar 05, 2024•55 min•Season 3Ep. 22524
Charles Lindbergh's 1927 trans-atlantic flight was the news of the world. It spawned dance crazes and MANY tin-pan-alley songs. This episode explores some of them and more --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/american-grooves-hour/support
Mar 05, 2024•55 min•Season 3Ep. 21824
George Gershwin's RHAPSODY IN BLUES premiered at New York's Aeolian HALL on a program billed as "An Experiment in Modern Music," the much-anticipated concert held by Paul Whiteman and his Palais Royal Orchestra drew a packed audience. The excited audience included many top line vaudevillians, concert managers and Tin Pan Allevites who came to have a look at the new jazz novelty. Also at the happening were , composers young and old, , symphony and opera stars, flappers, cake-eaters, and a mixed u...
Feb 12, 2024•55 min•Season 4Ep. 21224
A few cool versions of this tin-pan-alley turned early jazz standard alomg with the usual assortment of pre-war 78 rpm musical wonders. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/american-grooves-hour/support
Feb 08, 2024•55 min•Season 4Ep. 12124
This episode features sides by Harlems' MILLS BLUE RHYTHM BAND, Joe Venuti & His Orchestra a aa few versions of the old folk tune JESSE JAMES --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/american-grooves-hour/support
Jan 31, 2024•55 min•Season 2024Ep. 12124
This show, the last of three, is a request only show! - The HOTTEST 1920s-30s performances of all time as per my listeners and fellow collectors! Get out the fire extinguisher! THE CREEPER by Duke Ellington, JOE TURNER BLUES Johnny Dodds Black Bottom Stompers , LUIS RUSSELL ORCH Saratoga Shout, TED LEWIS BAND Rhythm and many more --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/american-grooves-hour/support...
Jan 17, 2024•55 min•Season 3Ep. 11424
With a new year we will explore the very meaning of NEW! ( musically that is) - some first recordings by "new" artists circa 1920-35! Hear the first ever recordings of BING CROSBY, ROBERT JOHNSON, BILL MONROE, BOB WILLS, and many more! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/american-grooves-hour/support
Jan 11, 2024•55 min•Season 4Ep. 1724
Let's make some end of the year WHOOPEE! fun stuff and a little bit of sentiment --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/american-grooves-hour/support
Jan 11, 2024•55 min•Season 3Ep. 123123
This weeks' episode focus on some of the lady band leaders, and instrumentalists of pre-1940 Jazz, Blues and Country - INA RAY HUTTON, MEMPHIS MINNIE, KEECHIE WILEY, MARY LOU WILLIAMS, CLEO BROWN, THELMA TERRY among others will be featured --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/american-grooves-hour/support
Jan 11, 2024•55 min•Season 3Ep. 121723
What a treat to have American Grooves actually broadcast on WLIW on Christmas Eve- my favorite holiday of them all - a special Christmas episode with Christmas tunes from the 1900s-40s From Mel Blanc to Sister Rosetta Tharpe! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/american-grooves-hour/support
Dec 25, 2023•55 min•Season 3Ep. 122423
Part 2 of the hottest of the hot records of the 1920s-mid 30s Collectors from all over the planet sent in suggestions and we again play some of those hot platters! - from King Oliver to Ernie Schultz band on Gennett - Thanks all who sent in their requests! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/american-grooves-hour/support
Dec 04, 2023•55 min•Season 3Ep. 12323