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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VISIONS OF GENIUS: REMEMBERING RAY CHARLES

June 28th, 2006

Celebrate this 4th of July with a great American hero. Ray Charles’ unique vision blended the best of jazz and R&B, gospel and soul, country and pop into distinctive music that forever changed the American soundscape. This two hour American Routes special includes our exclusive interviews with Ray and those closest to him, tracing the radiant arc of his life and music. Voices include: Atlantic Records producer Jerry Wexler; saxophonist and bandleader, David “Fathead” Newman; singer and Raelette Mable John; Ray’s chauffeur and assistant of more than forty years Vernon Troupe; his ex-wife and confidante Della Bea Robinson; and producer-engineer Terry Howard. Hear Ray’s classics and the stories behind them, as well as his songs by Elvis, Percy Mayfield, Willie Nelson and others.

  • Listen to Hour One
  • Listen to Hour Two

HOUR ONE

  • Open Bed: Rockhouse Ray Charles
    Genius & Soul, Rhino
  • Hallelujah I Love Her So Ray Charles
    Genius & Soul, Rhino
  • SEGMENT: Early Experiences

    Listen
  • Let the Good Times Roll Ray Charles
    Genius & Soul, Rhino
  • I Got a Woman Elvis Presley
    The King of Rock 'N' Roll, RCA
  • SEGMENT: Gospel
  • This Little Girl of Mine Ray Charles
    Genius & Soul, Rhino
  • Hit the Road Jack Ray Charles
    Genius & Soul, Rhino
  • Instrumental: Hit the Road Jack David 'Fathead' Newman
    I Remember Brother Ray, Highnote
  • SEGMENT: Raelettes
  • Swanee River Rock Ray Charles
    Genius & Soul, Rhino
  • SEGMENT: What'd I Say

    Listen
  • SEGMENT: Live
  • I Got A Woman Ray Charles
    Live, Atlantic
  • SEGMENT: The Road/Ray the Man
  • Instrumental: Hallelujah I Love Her So Ray Charles & Milt Jackson
    Soul Meeting, Atlantic Jazz
  • SEGMENT: Della Bea and Ray
  • SEGMENT: Blindness
  • SEGMENT: America The Beautiful
  • America The Beautiful Ray Charles
    Genius & Soul, Rhino
  • Rockhouse Ray Charles
    Genius & Soul, Rhino

HOUR two

  • Open Bed: Blue Genius Ray Charles & Milt Jackson
    Soul Brothers/Soul Meeting, Atlantic Jazz
  • Side By Side Ray Charles & Betty Carter
    Dedicated to You, Rhino
  • Sinner's Prayer Ray Charles & B.B. King
    Genius Loves Company, Concord
  • SEGMENT: Ray in studio w/Blues Lab kids
  • Busted Johnny Cash
    Essential Johnny Cash, Columbia
  • You Are My Sunshine Ray Charles
    Genius & Soul, Rhino
  • Instrumental: Wagon Wheels Grant Green
    Goin' West, Blue Note
  • SEGMENT: Country
  • I'm Movin' On Ray Charles
    Genius & Soul, Rhino
  • It Makes No Difference Now Ray Charles
    Genius & Soul, Rhino
  • Georgia on My Mind Willie Nelson
    Stardust, Columbia Legacy
  • SEGMENT: Drugs
  • SEGMENT: Race
  • In The Heat of The Night Ray Charles
    Genius & Soul, Rhino
  • Instrumental: Georgia on My Mind Tuts Washington
    New Orleans Piano Professor, Rounder
  • SEGMENT: New Orleans
  • I Got a Woman Kermit Ruffins & Rebirth Brass Band
    Throwback, Basin St.
  • SEGMENT: Memories

    Listen
  • Drown In My Own Tears Ray Charles
    Genius & Soul, Rhino
  • Come Rain or Come Shine Modern Jazz Quartet & Branford Marsalis
    A Celebration, Atlantic Jazz

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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