AMERICAN ROUTES
Blues and Jazz, African Roots and Branches with Shemekia Copeland & Balla Kouyaté Blues and Jazz, African Roots and Branches with Shemekia Copeland & Balla Kouyaté May 18th, 2022 (Hour 1)
Blues and Jazz, African Roots and Branches with Shemekia Copeland & Balla Kouyaté

It’s Blueswomen, Jazzmen, African roots and branches. Chicago blues singer Shemekia Copeland‘s father, the late blues guitarist Johnny Copeland, brought her into his music as a child. As an adult, she found new ways to use blues to express her perspective. We’ll hear from some of Shemekia’s heroes including Etta James, Ruth Brown, Alberta Hunter and Big Mama Thornton. Then a conversation and performance by Boston-based Mandinka balafon player Balla Kouyaté and music inspired by and from the continent of Africa from Randy Weston, Miriam Makeba and the Modern Jazz Quartet.

Shemekia Copeland photo by Mike White

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SINGING AND SWINGING THE ELECTION 2008

October 29th, 2008

American Routes gets out the vote with music by, for and of the people. Lend your ears to the democratic process as we bring you music to get you to the polls, from protest songs to patriotic anthems. Dr. John shares his views on the politics of music and the state of the nation while Tennessee Senator and piano man Lamar Alexander tells tales of the campaign trail. Plus, Virginia banjo legend Ralph Stanley reveals a surprising endorsement and presidential candidate El Vez, the Mexican Elvis, stops by to ask for our vote.

  • Listen to Hour One
  • Listen to Hour Two

HOUR ONE

  • Open Bed: Fireside Chat, Part 1 Franklin D. Roosevelt
    Moneyland, McCoury Music
  • Turn the Radio On Sen. Lamar Alexander
    American Routes original recording,
  • Enough is Enough Eugene Morgan
    Enough is Enough!, Bonedog
  • America First Merle Haggard
    Chicago Wind, Capitol
  • No More Blues Josh White
    Songs for Political Action, Bear Family
  • Breadline Blues 2008 Del McCoury, Mac Wiseman, Tim O'Brien, and Gillian Welch & David Rawlings
    Moneyland, McCoury Music
  • Be Careful How You Vote Sunnyland Slim
    Be Careful How You Vote, Earwig
  • Instrumental: Happy Days are Here Again Casa Loma Orchestra
    Songs of the Depression, Bear Family
  • SEGMENT: Senator Lamar Alexander

    Listen
  • A Few Words in Defense of Our Country Randy Newman
    Harps and Angels, Nonesuch
  • This Land is Your Land Woody Guthrie
    This Land is Your Land, Smithsonian Folkways
  • The Times they Are A-Changin' Bob Dylan
    Bob Dylan's Greatest Hits, CBS
  • Instrumental: Cripple Creek Ralph Stanley
    Old Time Pickin', Rebel
  • White House Blues Charlie Poole and the North Carolina Ramblers
    Anthology of American Folk Music, Smithsonian Folkways
  • Rank Stranger Ralph Stanley
    Classic Bluegrass, Rebel
  • SEGMENT: Ralph Stanley

    Listen
  • Long Walk to D.C. The Staple Singers
    Soul Folk in Action, Stax
  • Funky President (People It's Bad) James Brown
    Star Time: The Godfather Of Soul, Polydor
  • Yes We Can Can Allen Toussaint
    Our New Orleans: A Benefit Album 2005, Nonesuch

HOUR two

  • Open Bed: And the Preacher Said... El Vez
    Boxing with God, Sympathy for the Record Industry
  • SEGMENT: El Vez

    Listen
  • Immigration Time (live at BBC) El Vez
    Son of a Lad from Spain, Sympathy for the Record Industry
  • Only in America The Drifters
    Rockin' & Driftin': The Drifters Box, Rhino
  • One Time One Night Los Lobos
    Just Another Band from East L.A.: A Collection, Warner
  • Get Involved Freddie McGregor
    Darker than Blue: Soul from Jamdown 1973-1980, Blood and Fire
  • Dead Presidents James Blood Ulmer
    Bad Blood in the City, Hyena
  • Instrumental: Diego El Vez
    Boxing with God, Sympathy for the Record Industry
  • SEGMENT: Dr. John

    Listen
  • Promises, Promises Dr. John and the Lower 911 featuring Willie Nelson
    City That Care Forgot, 429
  • Compared to What Les McCann & Eddie Harris
    Swiss Movement, Rhino
  • Instrumental: The Beautiful American Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington
    The Great Summit, Blue Note
  • 50/50 Chance (spoken) Pete Seeger
    Seeds: The Songs of Pete Seeger, Vol.3, Appleseed
  • Which Side Are You On Natalie Merchant
    Seeds: The Songs of Pete Seeger, Vol.3, Appleseed
  • Day After Tomorrow Tom Waits
    Real Gone, Anti
  • A Change is Gonna Come Terrence Trent Darby with Booker T & the MG's
    Freedom: Songs from the Heart of America, Columbia
  • End Bed: "Ragtime" and "Avalon" Randy Newman
    The Randy Newman Songbook Vol.1, Nonesuch

THE LATEST STREAMS

  • May 18th, 2022

    BLUES AND JAZZ, AFRICAN ROOTS AND BRANCHES WITH SHEMEKIA COPELAND & BALLA KOUYATé

    Listen
  • May 11th, 2022

    BREAKING OUT: BRITISH BLUES TO NEW ORLEANS BOUNCE

    Listen
  • May 4th, 2022

    KINGPINS OF THE GULF COAST: RODNEY CROWELL & DR. JOHN

    Listen
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