AMERICAN ROUTES
Earl Scruggs & Tom Rush Earl Scruggs & Tom Rush June 22nd, 2022 (Hour 1)
Earl Scruggs & Tom Rush

Earl Scruggs‘ legendary banjo playing, aptly named “Scruggs Style,” has left its mark on American pop culture and inspired generations of banjo players. In the late 1960s, Scruggs, along with his sons, bravely crossed musical boundaries, but his musical journey really started back at the beginnings of bluegrass, playing with Bill Monroe and later, Lester Flatt. In this American Routes encore, we talk to Earl and his sons, Randy and Gary, about performing on the stage of the Ryman Auditorium and why he doesn’t need to crack jokes about the banjo. New Hampshire-born folk singer songwriter Tom Rush may have gone to Harvard and studied with a ballad scholar, but he still knows how to sing the blues. We’ll visit with Rush to learn more about Boston’s folk scene in the 1960s, his time as a radio DJ and his inspired approach to songwriting.

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JULY 4TH: SOUL OF AMERICA

July 2nd, 2003

Who better to supply an all-American 4th of July soundtrack than our humble citizen selves? This year, we’ll meet two soulful gentlemen who could only have come from the good ol’ USA. Smokey Robinson talks about his voice and his timeless Motown singles with the Miracles, as well as the songs he wrote and produced for others, like “My Guy” for Mary Wells and the Temptations’ “My Girl”. And meet Mr. Wiggles, the king of Richmond VA’s “Fatback Sound.” Also, craftsman Charles Gillam, who carves blues history out of Mississippi River driftwood. It’s a red, white and blues Independence Day… may the Fourth be with you!

  • Listen to Hour One
  • Listen to Hour Two

HOUR ONE

  • Open Bed: Dancing in the Street Ramsey Lewis Trio
    In Person, Chess
  • Summer Days Bob Dylan
    Love & Theft, Sony
  • Guitar Town Steve Earle
    Best of alt Country, K-Tel
  • Dixie Skillet Lickers
    Freedom: Songs from the Heart of America, Columbia
  • Stars and Stripes Forever Kalima Brothers Featuring Jesse Kalima
    Legends of Ukulele, Rhino
  • Instrumental: Stars & Stripes Forever Van Dyke Parks
    Discovering America, Sundazed
  • In Crowd Ramsey Lewis
    In Person 1960-67, MCA
  • Going to a Go-Go Smokey Robinson & The Miracles
    Going to a Go-Go, Motown
  • INTERVIEW: Smokey Robinson

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  • Instrumental: You Keep Me Hangin' On The Funk Brothers
    Standing in the Shadows of Motown soundtrack, Hip-O
  • The House I Live In The Ravens
    Ol Man River, Savoy
  • The Freedom Train Paul Weston's Orchestra
    Freedom: Songs from the Heart of America, Columbia
  • Star Spangled Banner Duke Ellington
    Freedom: Songs from the Heart of America, Columbia
  • Go to the Mardi Gras Henry Butler
    Live at American Routes 5th Anniversary Concert at House of Blues,
  • Down by the Riverside Jimmy Smith & Wes Montgomery
    Masters of Jazz Vol.4, Rhino

HOUR two

  • Open Bed: Bugle Boy March Dr. Michael White
    A Song For George Lewis, Basin Street
  • You're a Grand Old Flag James Cagney
    Yankee Doodle Dandy, Rhino
  • Political Science Randy Newman
    Sail Away, Warner
  • We'll Meet Again Peggy Lee and Benny Goodman
    Freedom: Songs from the Heart of America, Columbia
  • America Chita Rivera & Company
    Star Spangled Rhythm: Voices of Hollywood and Broadway, Smithsonian Collection
  • Only in America The Drifters
    Rockin' and Driftin', Rhino
  • INTERVIEW: Mr. Wiggles

    Listen
  • Old Uncle Tom is Dead Mr. Wiggles
    Mr. Wiggles Again, Sound of Soul
  • Instrumental: Dixie-Doodle Link Wray & the Wraymen
    Slinky! The Epic Sessions '58-'61, Sundazed
  • Change is Gonna Come Terrence Trent D'Arby and Booker T & the MGs
    Freedom: Songs from the Heart of America, Columbia
  • INTERVIEW: Charles Gillam

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  • Down By the Riverside Papa Celestin
    Marie Laveau, GHB
  • Instrumental: America the Beautiful Star Spangled Band
    Red, White & Bluegrass, CMH
  • America the Beautiful Keb' Mo'
    Freedom: Songs from the Heart of America, Columbia
  • This Land is Your Land Ramblin' Jack Elliott
    Hard Travelin', Fantazy
  • No Depression Uncle Tupelo
    No Depression, Sony
  • Back in the USA Chuck Berry
    His Best, MCA
  • End Bed: Under the Double Eagle Bill Boyd
    Classic Country Music: A Smithsonian Collection, Smithsonian

THE LATEST STREAMS

  • June 22nd, 2022

    EARL SCRUGGS & TOM RUSH

    Listen
  • June 15th, 2022

    SOUNDS OF FREEDOM: FONTELLA BASS AND FREDDIE HUBBARD

    Listen
  • June 8th, 2022

    SHADES OF THE BLUES

    Listen
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