American Routes is blues and jazz, gospel and soul, rockabilly and country, Cajun and swamp pop, Tejano, Latin… and beyond. Songs and stories from musicians describe a deep and diverse nation with sounds and styles shared by all Americans. From the bayous to the beltways, from crossroads to crosstown, on interstates and city streets, turn up your radio for the sonic journey!
American Routes—produced in New Orleans since 1998
Songs of Rivers and Mountains: Joan Shelley & Jeff Little
December 17, 2025
This week, we visit with two Southern crafters of music and song. Kentucky native and guitarist Joan Shelley takes her ethereal songwriting and voicing of life’s emotional flow from observations on the banks of the Ohio River near Louisville. Then, the virtuosic Blue Ridge pianist Jeff Little shares his stories of growing up playing alongside the legendary flat-pick guitarist Doc Watson at the family’s music store in Boone, North Carolina. It led to a singular career of playing high-speed fiddle tunes on the piano. Also music of love, loss, and fast trains with Bill Frisell, Johnny Cash, James Brown, Tom Waits and Elizabeth Cotton.
NEXT WEEK
Winter Holiday: Solstice, Hanukkah, Xmas & Kwanzaa
It’s that time of year when the days are shorter and the nights are colder. Warm up to our sounds for the season. Classic songs to celebrate the winter holidays, plus a visit to South Louisiana’s Christmas Eve bonfires, lighting the way for Papa Noel along the Mississippi River.
Country, Cuban and Cajun: Raul Malo & The Mavericks; The Pine Leaf Boys
We remember the late Raul Malo, who passed away on December 8, 2025. The Miami-born and Cuban-descended singer and leader of The Mavericks was known for country, pop and roots rock. We’ll talk about that and Latin music, all behind the band’s huge success in country music and their all-Spanish language recording. Then a live concert and conversation with the Pine Leaf Boys as Louisiana French two-steps meet rock n roll. Plus music from Celia Cruz, Patsy Cline, Los Lobos and Professor Longhair.
Remembering Joe Ely & Raul Malo
Joe Ely, the West Texas songmaker and seminal figure of the Austin Cosmic Cowboy scene, passed away on December 15, 2025.
Raul Malo, the Miami-born and Cuban-descended singer and leader of The Mavericks, known for country, pop and roots rock, passed away on December 8, 2025.