Working class, self-styled and always opinionated, the late King of Bluegrass Jimmy Martin talks guitar-picking, hunting dogs and the Opry. And singer of songs Percy Sledge recalls going from hospital orderly to Atlantic Records soul singer with “When a Man Loves a Woman.”

This American Routes takes a look at the two-way musical influence between the Caribbean and Latin America and the U.S. Plus we’ll examine the role of the violin and fiddle in jazz, blues, country and other genres. In hour one, Cuban vocalist and Buena Vista Social Club star Ibrahim Ferrer recalls his long life and career as a guarachero and bolerista. Jazz violinist Regina Carter joins us in hour two and talks about going from Detroit to the conservatory and back again. And there’s great music including Fats Domino, Celia Cruz, The Band and much more.

American Routes keeps you cool in the heat of the summer with help from guests Bo Diddley and Tony Joe White. Mississippi-born and Chicago-bred legend Bo Diddley talks about his rockin’ blues and freight train sound, and Tony Joe comes up from the swamps to play an acoustic version of “Polk Salad Annie”, among other tunes. Plus a refreshing summer visit to a New Orleans landmark: Hansen’s Sno-Bliz, servin’ up the best sno-cones you’ve ever tasted.