This summer we try to be and stay...cool. Leading our in-crowd is the late pianist and jazz radio host Ramsey Lewis in conversation about blending the blues he heard on the Chicago streets with gospel music from home to create a cool version of jazz. We'll also hear cool words and music from Tom Waits, Dr. John, Aretha Franklin, Albert Murray, and Oscar Brown, Jr. Plus a visit to North Carolina’s historic Black Seabreeze Beach.

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.

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. 

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. 

We celebrate our nation’s 250th year with a live concert in honor of the American Folklife Center’s 50-year legacy at the Library of Congress, sponsored by and hosted at the New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park in the French Quarter. We’ll hear New Orleans jazz from trumpeter Kermit Ruffins and his Barbeque Swingers, Afro-Creole Louisiana acapella Juré, a mix of French and Native American songs from the band Bogue Chitto, Creole fiddle tunes from Cedric Watson, Cajun music from accordionist and singer Bruce Daigrepont, Afro-French zydeco and blues from South Louisiana accordionist Jeffery Broussard, classic folk songs from Johnette Downing & Scott Billington, Bentonia, Mississippi blues from guitar slinger Jimmy “Duck” Holmes, and the latest Cajun French stylings of Louis Michot and Swamp Magic. May the Fourth be with you, on American Routes!