the Club McKenzie: Your 1920s Jazz Speakeasy

Series produced by Guy Rathbun

Caption: Joe "King" Oliver
Joe "King" Oliver 

A weekly program of Music and Stories for "The Jazz Age."

Across the spectrum of pop and jazz from the late teens to the early 1930s, this weekly series from the Club McKenzie invites you the share in the talents and tales of the musicians and performers that created an unforgettable era.


620 Pieces

Order by: Newest First | Oldest First
Piece image
Lee Morse and her Bluegrass Boys (not related to today's music known as bluegrass!)

Bought by Red River Radio Network (E. Texas/Louisiana/Arkansas/Mississippi)


  • Added: Nov 21, 2011
  • Length: 58:59
  • Purchases: 1
Piece image
Lee Morse & her Blue Grass Boys (All Jazz!)

  • Added: Nov 23, 2011
  • Length: 58:57
Caption: Hoagy Carmichael
One of America's most creative and prolific composers and lyricists, Hoagy Carmichael.

Bought by Prairie Public


  • Added: Dec 01, 2011
  • Length: 58:53
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Joseph Kekuku
The masters of the Hawaiian steel guitar

Bought by KUGS Bellingham, Wash., KMUW, KMUD, and KVMR


  • Added: Dec 08, 2011
  • Length: 58:58
  • Purchases: 4
Caption: George Gershwin
In recognition of Hanukkah, this show is dedicated to the Jews who catapulted popular music to stage and radio from the 1900 to the early 1930s.

Bought by Troy Public Radio, KWIT, and WNMU-FM


  • Added: Dec 12, 2011
  • Length: 59:00
  • Purchases: 3
Caption: Fletcher Henderson
Bandleader, pianist, composer and arranger Fletcher Henderson is little remembered today in spite of the fact he set the foundation for the corners...

  • Added: Dec 18, 2011
  • Length: 58:58
Caption: Sheet Music Cover
Walter Donaldson should be one of the most recognizable composers of the 20th century with songs like "Yes, Sir, That's My Baby," and "Love Me, Or ...

  • Added: Dec 27, 2011
  • Length: 59:00
Caption: Red Allen
New Orleans musician who's work had a profound effect on the early development of jazz.

  • Added: Jan 05, 2012
  • Length: 58:59
Caption: Edythe Turnham & her Band
The early history of  jazz often leaves out some very talented musicians simply because they didn’t move to Chicago or New York.

  • Added: Jan 11, 2012
  • Length: 58:59
Caption: Cannon Jug Stompers
With the closure of Storyville in New Orleans, many talented musicians landed in Memphis before making their way to Chicago and New York.

  • Added: Jan 18, 2012
  • Length: 58:59
Caption: Bert Ambrose
The music Ambrose performed and recorded through the late 1920s and early 1930s was meant for dancing. Although he didn't experiment with his arran...

  • Added: Jan 29, 2012
  • Length: 59:00
Caption: Josephine Baker
Sidney Bechet and Josephine Baker were the most recognizable expatriates on the Parisian seen in the 1920s. If you've seen the movie "Midnight in P...

  • Added: Feb 02, 2012
  • Length: 58:59
Caption: James P. Johnson
Frequently known as the "Father of Stride Piano," and "Grandfather of Hot Piano," James P. Johnson is probably better remembered as Thomas "Fats" W...

  • Added: Feb 08, 2012
  • Length: 58:57
Caption: Lonnie Johnson 1920s
Blues, jazz and folk music of the 1920s and '30s featuring the guitar, piano, violin and more.

  • Added: Feb 14, 2012
  • Length: 59:00
Caption: Noble Sissle
Bandleader, vocalist, pianist and composer Noble Sissle began his career in 1915 when he joined ragtime-vaudevillian Eubie Blake. Together they wr...

  • Added: Feb 22, 2012
  • Length: 58:59
Caption: Istock Photo
Two legendary figures in early jazz: Johnny Dodds and Tiny Parham. They were at the center of the evolving new music of the 1920s, and contributed ...

  • Added: Mar 03, 2012
  • Length: 59:00
Caption: Coconut Grove nightclub, Credit: soulsafari wordpress
In 1921, the Coconut Grove nightclub was the place to see and be seen. Hollywood stars frequently the club located in a peaceful rural setting sur...

  • Added: Mar 09, 2012
  • Length: 58:57
Caption: The Mound City Blue Blowers
This segment on the early years of jazz is devoted to the small group session between 1924 and 1930. Oh, yes, we also drift over to 1945.

  • Added: Mar 14, 2012
  • Length: 58:58
Caption: Ted Lewis & his ubiquitous silk hat
He has one foot in vaudeville and one foot in jazz, and he was a show unto himself. Ted Lewis was the only popular bandleader who could show up wit...

  • Added: Mar 22, 2012
  • Length: 59:01