AMERICAN ROUTES
Earl Scruggs & Tom Rush Earl Scruggs & Tom Rush June 22nd, 2022 (Hour 1)
Earl Scruggs & Tom Rush

Earl Scruggs‘ legendary banjo playing, aptly named “Scruggs Style,” has left its mark on American pop culture and inspired generations of banjo players. In the late 1960s, Scruggs, along with his sons, bravely crossed musical boundaries, but his musical journey really started back at the beginnings of bluegrass, playing with Bill Monroe and later, Lester Flatt. In this American Routes encore, we talk to Earl and his sons, Randy and Gary, about performing on the stage of the Ryman Auditorium and why he doesn’t need to crack jokes about the banjo. New Hampshire-born folk singer songwriter Tom Rush may have gone to Harvard and studied with a ballad scholar, but he still knows how to sing the blues. We’ll visit with Rush to learn more about Boston’s folk scene in the 1960s, his time as a radio DJ and his inspired approach to songwriting.

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A CHANGE IS GONNA COME: WORDS AND MUSIC IN THE SPIRIT OF MARTIN LUTHER KING

January 13th, 2010

American Routes reflects on the legacy of Martin Luther King in both words and music. We’ll talk music with Civil Rights activist and college professor Julian Bond. Jazz trumpet legend Freddie Hubbard stops by to share stories of his life in the jazz world during those tumultuous times. All this, plus songs and voices to commemorate our past and look to our future.

  • Listen to Hour One
  • Listen to Hour Two

HOUR ONE

  • Open Bed: We Shall Overcome Charlie Haden and Hank Jones
    Steal Away, Verve
  • Beautiful Tomorrow Mahalia Jackson
    How I Got Over: The Apollo Sessions, West Side
  • Clip: McCoy Tyner
  • Alabama John Coltrane
    Live At Birdland, Impulse
  • Freedom for the Stallion Elvis Costello and Allen Toussaint
    The River In Reverse, Verve
  • Yes We Can Lee Dorsey
    Lee Dorsey: The Masters, Eagle
  • Lord, Don't Move the Mountain Inez Andrews
    Testify: The Gospel Box, Rhino
  • Instrumental: Keep the Faith Donald Harrison
    Real Life Stories, Nagel Heyer
  • SEGMENT: Julian Bond

    Listen
  • Instrumental: Compositional Theme Story: Medleys, Anthems and Folklore Charles Mingus
    Mingus Plays Piano, Impulse
  • I'm Tired, I'm Tired (Things Better Change Before It's Too Late) Marva Whitney
    James Brown's Original Funky Divas, Polydor
  • When He Spoke Ruth Davis
    The Great Gospel Women, Vol. 2, Shanachie
  • SEGMENT: Isaac Hayes

    Listen
  • Paths of Victory Odetta
    Odetta Sings Dylan, Camden
  • Redemption Song Johnny Cash with Joe Strummer
    Redemption Songs, American
  • Darkest Hour Is Just Before Dawn Emmylou Harris
    Roses in the Snow, Warner

HOUR two

  • Open Bed: Backlash Freddie Hubbard
    Backlash, Koch
  • Buck's Going To Frenchtown Buckwheat Zydeco
    Jackpot!, Tomorrow
  • It's Been A Change Solomon Burke
    Home In Your Heart: The Best of Solomon Burke, Atlantic
  • Calypso Freedom Willie Peacock
    Voices of the Civil Rights Movement, Smithsonian Folkways
  • Clip: Cyril Neville
  • Meet the Boys on the Battlefront The Wild Tchoupitoulas
    The Wild Tchoupitoulas, Mango
  • Clip: Hugh Masekela
  • MaCongo Letta Mbulu
    Hugh Masekela Presents the Chisa Years 1965-1975 , BBE
  • Instrumental: Marcus Garvey Monty Alexander with Ernest Ranglin
    Rocksteady, Telarc
  • SEGMENT: Freddie Hubbard

    Listen
  • Instrumental: Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing Jason Moran
    Artist in Residence, EMI
  • Wade in the Water Mavis Staples
    Live Hope at the Hideout, anti
  • Wide River to Cross Levon Helm
    Dirt Farmer, Vanguard
  • I Shall Be Released Nina Simone
    The Very Best of Nina Simone, RCA
  • Knockin' on Heavens Door Bob Dylan
    The Best of Bob Dylan, Columbia
  • Blowin' in the Wind Stevie Wonder
    Greatest Hits, Motown
  • End Bed: The Prayer Oliver Sain
    St. Louis Breakdown: The Best of Oliver Sain, Excello

THE LATEST STREAMS

  • June 22nd, 2022

    EARL SCRUGGS & TOM RUSH

    Listen
  • June 15th, 2022

    SOUNDS OF FREEDOM: FONTELLA BASS AND FREDDIE HUBBARD

    Listen
  • June 8th, 2022

    SHADES OF THE BLUES

    Listen
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