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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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,

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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