THE NEXT ELVIS: Mysteries of Rock and Soul
Classic interviews and music from Memphis’ Sun Records late founder Sam Phillips, Elvis Presley sidemen DJ Fontana and Scotty Moore, and Jerry Lee Lewis on the mysteries of rock n roll royalty. Sun Records memoirist Barbara Sims is our palace guide. The late Rufus Thomas talks funky and fried chicken. Then it’s on to a Muscle Shoals conversation with the downhome, soul siren Candi Staton.
Sacred Steel Brothers and a Jazz Master: Robert Randolph & Calvin Cooke, and Yusef Lateef
Sacred steel guitarist Robert Randolph has gathered together the leading players of the genre for a recent recording, paying tribute to the past, and covering tunes outside the cannon. We'll speak with him and one of his fellow Slide Brothers, Calvin Cooke. Then a conversation with jazz adventurist Yusef Lateef about his musical mentors and inspirations.
Sonic Travelers: Jerry Douglas and Guitar Shorty
It's a blues and country showdown on
American Routes
with two instrumental showmen. Jerry Douglas
is a master of the dobro, and a favorite session man and band member for so many musicians: from Allison Krauss to Elvis Costello. We'll talk to Jerry about his recent project, which leads him beyond bluegrass to New Orleans. Then, a visit with the acrobatic bluesman Guitar Shorty who shares some history on his times traveling the Chitlin Circuit.