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
True Believers and Hardworking Troubadours: Post-Punk Folksinger, Lee Bains, & Swamp Pop Hero, Tommy McLain
July 15, 2026
It’s true believers and hardworking troubadours. First, Lee Bains, Birmingham, Alabama’s post-punk folk singer whose songs seek social justice, inclusive humanity and protection of the environs as a sacred quest. Then, the late Louisiana Swamp Pop hero Tommy McLain, who brought his classic ‘60s songs and music mix of country, blues, rock, and gospel to clubs and casinos, recorded in his 80s with Elvis Costello and toured with Nick Lowe. Plus music from Nina Simone, Johnny Cash, Little Richard and Marcia Ball.
NEXT WEEK
Reimagining Kentucky Country Music & New Orleans Jazz with Kelsey Waldon and Aurora Nealand
Country singer Kelsey Waldon grew up in the Ohio River bottoms of Ballard County Kentucky– a place called “Monkey’s Eyebrow” where her family has farmed for generations. She tells us about her journey as a songwriter, and her friendship with another hero of Kentucky, John Prine. Then a live set of New Orleans jazz and its Caribbean cousins with the widely acclaimed multi-instrumentalist, Aurora Nealand and her quartet at Artisound Studios in New Orleans 9th Ward.
Black & White Crossover in Country Music and Beyond… Plus Blues from Baton Rouge
This week on American Routes, we dip into crossover currents of country music sung by Black American performers, including Ray Charles, Ike and Tina Turner, and Fats Domino. We’ll also hear white musicians influenced by Black music: Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys, Jimmie Rodgers and Bob Dylan. Then, it’s the Baton Rouge Blues legacy, with recordings from Buddy Guy, Slim Harpo, Silas Hogan, Tabby Thomas and the late harmonica man Raful Neal. Plus a live performance from Raful Neal’s son, Kenny Neal, a mouth harp and guitar player, now the senior statesman and artist from the Baton Rouge Blues scene.
Remembering Sonny Rollins
Saxophone colossus Sonny Rollins passed away Monday afternoon at his Woodstock, N.Y. home at the age of 95. We spoke with Rollins about his work with Miles and Monk among others, and his improvisatory explorations. You can find that interview here.