
Blues Routes Then & Now: with a Creole & Cajun Live Set from Cedric Watson & Chris Stafford
The blues carry us from back roads to city streets, with heartache and hope in jazz, country and folk music. We’ll hear old field recordings and new commentaries in blues from Cedell Davis, Guitar Slim, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, Irma Thomas and Lucinda Williams. Then, it’s Cajun, zydeco, waltzes and two-steps and swamp pop soul from Beau Jocque, Clifton Chenier, and Carol Fran. Plus an interview and live performance from younger traditionalists Cedric Watson and the late Chris Stafford on French Louisiana accordion and fiddle in Creole zydeco and Cajun music.

Juneteenth with the Gullah Geechee Ring Shouters
For Juneteenth, it’s music from the Staple Singers, Stevie Wonder, Nina Simone and Bob Dylan, plus classic jazz, reggae and a new generation of singers: the Carolina Chocolate Drops, Norah Jones and Questlove. Then, songs, rhythms and histories from the Georgia Sea Islands Gullah Geechee Ring Shouters.

Charley Pride and Charlie Musselwhite
This week we toe, walk and cross the blurry line between country and blues, as performed by both Black and white artists. Guests include white blues harmonica player Charlie Musselwhite, who tells us about his lifetime journey from Mississippi to Memphis to Chicago to California; and the late Charley Pride talks about his upbringing in Sledge, Mississippi, his baseball career, and being an African American country singer with 29 number one hits to his name. Plus bluesy-country and country blues from Hank Williams, Howlin’ Wolf, Aretha Franklin and more.

The Art of Music: Richie Havens, Peter Max & Hatch Show Print
American Routes delves into the colorful convergence of art and music… from artist-musicians to painterly album covers and audacious poster art. The late Richie Havens was one such artist turned musician. We’ll learn about his tenure as a Greenwich Village portraitist and his legendary opening act at Woodstock. Then, conversation with artist Peter Max, known for his pop-art colors, cosmic subjects and iconic album covers. And a visit to Nashville’s Hatch Show Print, who printed posters for musicians from Bessie Smith to Johnny Cash, for a primer on the art of letterpress.