AMERICAN ROUTES
San Antonio Sounds San Antonio Sounds September 20th, 2023 (Hour 1)
San Antonio Sounds

The great Texas river city is a mix of Mexican, German, Anglo and African American cultures, among others. Home to the Texas Conjunto Festival and the International Accordion Festival, San Antonio is best known for Tex-Mex or Tejano music played by squeeze box masters like Flaco Jimenez, Narciso Martinez and Mingo Saldivar among many. We’ll speak with Flaco, who in collaborations with Doug Sahm, Ry Cooder, and Los Super Seven, has carried the music worldwide. “Chicano brown-eyed soul” performers like Sunny and the Sunliners and other groups describe music that connected New Orleans and Louisiana Swamp Pop with San Antonio and East Los Angeles. We’ll also talk with Vox organ legend Augie Meyers who worked in the high hippie era with Doug Sahm as part of the Sir Douglas Quintet and later in the Texas Tornadoes. The conversation comes full circle with Max Baca, the leader and bajo sexto player of Los Texmaniacs who was influenced by both Flaco and Doug Sahm. The Grammy-winning family band sticks with tradition, but finds ways to include country, blues and rock. Plus music from Sam the Sham, Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys, Freddy Fender and Willie Nelson. ¡Vamos!

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EMPRESS OF THE BLUES: BESSIE SMITH

March 25th, 2020

Bessie Smith was called the “Empress of the Blues,” famed for her ability to be both regal and sensual in song and style. She was also the highest paid African American entertainer of her generation from her early days performing on Chattanooga street corners and her travels on the black vaudeville circuit to her decade as a top selling recording artist touring in her own railroad car. We hear about Bessie Smith from artists who knew her personally as well as an historian and anthropologist who has studied her life and performances. Also, Bessie Smith songs from Alberta Hunter, Dinah Washington, Nina Simone and Catherine Russell; and a conversation with Annika Chambers, a 21st century blueswoman.

Photo by Carl Van Vechten, restored by Adam Cuerden

  • Listen to Hour One
  • Listen to Hour Two

HOUR ONE

  • Open Bed: Baby Won't You Please Come Home Bessie Smith
    The Best of Bessie Smith, Sony
  • See See Rider Ma Rainey
    Ma Rainey, Fantasy
  • Clip: Archie Martin
  • Don't Fish in My Sea Ma Rainey
    Ma Rainey, Vol. 4: 1926-1927, Document
  • After You've Gone Bessie Smith
    The Complete Recordings, Vol. 3, Sony
  • Clip: Worthia "Showboy" Thomas
  • I Wanna Hot Dog for My Roll Butterbeans and Susie
    Stars of the Apollo, Columbia
  • There'll Be a Hot Time in the Old Town Tonight Bessie Smith
    The Essential Bessie Smith, Sony
  • Instrumental: State Street Rag Louie Bluie and Ted Bogan
    That Devlin’ Tune: A Jazz History: 1895-1950, West Hill Radio Archives
  • Put Me in the Alley Blues Albert Nicholas and Johnny St. Cyr
    Really the Blues?: A Blues History, Vol. 1: 1893-1929, West Hill Radio Archives
  • Clip: Albert Nicholas
  • Me and My Gin Bessie Smith
    The Complete Recordings, Vol. 4, Sony
  • Crazy Blues Mamie Smith and her Jazz Hounds
    Crazy Blues: The Best of Mamie Smith, Sony
  • Clip: Jerry Zolten
  • Clip: Lizzie Miles
  • Cotton Belt Blues Lizzie Miles
    Lizzie Miles, Vol. 2: 1923-1928, Document
  • Downhearted Blues Bessie Smith
    The Essential Bessie Smith, Sony
  • Clip: Maureen Mahon on Bessie Smith's Pinch Back Blues
  • Pinch Back Blues Bessie Smith
    The Complete Recordings, Vol. 1, Sony
  • Clip: Louis Armstrong talking about Bessie Smith for the Voice of America, 1956
  • St. Louis Blues Bessie Smith
    Louis Armstrong Voice of America radio program, 1956, University of North Texas Music Library Archive
  • Instrumental: St. Louis Blues Louis Armstrong
    Louis Armstrong Plays W. C. Handy, Sony
  • Clip: Maureen Mahon on Bessie Smith's Backwater Blues
  • Backwater Blues Bessie Smith
    The Complete Recordings, Vol. 3, Sony
  • Clip: Robert O'Meally on Ralph Ellison and Bessie Smith
  • Work House Blues Bessie Smith
    Ralph Ellison: Living with Music, Sony
  • Lock and Key Bessie Smith
    The Complete Recordings, Vol. 3, Sony
  • Clip: Maureen Mahon on the film "St. Louis Blues"
  • Gimme A Pig Foot and a Bottle of Beer Bessie Smith
    The Complete Recordings, Vol.5: The Final Chapter, Sony
  • Clip: Dave Oxley on Bessie Smith's death near Clarksdale, MS
  • My Last Affair Billie Holiday
    Lady Day: The Complete Billie Holiday on Columbia: 1933-1944, Sony
  • End Bed: St. Louis Blues Art Tatum
    Piano Starts Here, Sony

HOUR two

  • Open Bed: Do Your Duty Bessie Smith
    The Complete Recordings, Vol.5: The Final Chapter, Sony
  • Your Mother's Son in Law Billie Holiday
    Lady Day: The Complete Billie Holiday on Columbia, Vol. 1, Sony
  • Clip: Chris Albertson on Billie Holiday as a blues singer
  • Give Me a Pigfoot and a Bottle of Beer Billie Holiday
    The Complete Decca Recordings, GRP
  • Clip: Koko Taylor
  • I'm Mixed Up Koko Taylor
    What It Takes/The Chess Years, Chess
  • Preachin' the Blues LaVern Baker
    LaVern Baker Sings Bessie Smith, Atlantic
  • Instrumental: Backwater Blues BB King
    One Kind Favor, Geffen
  • Clip: Mahalia Jackson
  • In the Beautiful Tomorrow Mahalia Jackson
    The Original Apollo Sessions, Couch & Madison
  • On Revival Day (A Rhythmic Spiritual) Bessie Smith
    The Complete Recordings, Vol. 4 , Sony
  • Clip: Nina Simone
  • Sugar in My Bowl Nina Simone
    Essential Women in Blues, Platinum
  • After You've Gone Dinah Washington
    Dinah Washington Sings Bessie Smith, Verve
  • Clip: Catherine Russell
  • Kitchen Man Catherine Russell
    Sentimental Streak, World Village
  • Nobody Knows You When You’re Down and Out Alberta Hunter
    Amtrak Blues, Sony
  • Instrumental: I Just Wanna Make Love to You Annika Chambers
    American Routes original recording at the 2018 Montana Folk Festival ,
  • Segment: Annika Chambers

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  • Backwater Blues Irma Thomas
    Our New Orleans, Nonesuch
  • Closing Bed: Basin Street Blues Henry Butler
    American Routes original recording,

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