Blues America

Series produced by Drew Verbis

Series image

Blues America is an hour-long weekly syndicated public radio series that features candid conversations with blues people who share their stories and music.

Blues America is heard around the country on over 50 public radio stations and the podcast has been downloaded over 2 million times. It is a featured “station” on the Living Blues Magazine radio-charts. Past guests have included B.B. King, Bobby Rush, Elvin Bishop, Cedric Burnside, Henry Gray, Kim Wilson, Billy Boy Arnold and more. The series is independently produced at the Chico Chism Memorial Studio in Phoenix by award winning host, Drew Verbis. The former Mississippi resident produced records for R.L. Burnside, Louisiana Red and the last album released by the great Robert Jr. Lockwood. He also contributed to the last album released by Mojo Buford. He earned his Master's degrees in Communication and Museum Science from the University of Oklahoma.

Host: Drew Verbis
Audio format: Stereophonic sound
Number of episodes: 120 (2017 – 37, 2016 – 44, 2015 – 34, 2014 – 05)
Original radio release: May 2, 2015 (KFNX, 1100 AM)
Recording studio: Chico Studio, Phoenix, Arizona

Each program presents a guest interview, special features and music packed into a one-hour (58:00 minutes) program. The music is arranged around the interview and is chosen to complement the guest or theme of the show

**There are no uploads twice per year: Thanksgiving and Christmas.

For more information about the program visit the Blues America website at http://www.bluesamerica.com
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Blues America is heard around the country on over 50 public radio stations and the podcast has been downloaded over 2 million times. It is a featured “station” on the Living Blues Magazine radio-charts. Past guests have included B.B. King, Bobby Rush, Elvin Bishop, Cedric Burnside, Henry Gray, Kim Wilson, Billy Boy Arnold and more. The series is independently produced at the Chico Chism Memorial Studio in Phoenix by award winning host, Drew Verbis. The former Mississippi resident produced records for R.L. Burnside, Louisiana Red and the last album released by the great Robert Jr. Lockwood. He also contributed to the last album released by Mojo Buford. He earned his Master's degrees in Communication and Museum Science from the University of Oklahoma. Host: Drew VerbisAudio format:... Show full description


Additional Files

98 Pieces

Order by: Newest First | Oldest First
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Bill “Howl-n-Madd” Perry is a living delta blues legend who’s incredible story finds him rubbing shoulders and playing behind Little Richard, J.J T...

Bought by WLPR , Public Radio East, Spokane Public Radio, KRPS, WTJU and more


  • Added: Jun 23, 2017
  • Length: 58:00
  • Purchases: 7
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Long recognized as one of the top blues harmonica players in the Houston area, Steve Krase shoots for big league prominence on his latest release "...

Bought by WLPR , WOUB, GCR (Global Community Radio), Public Radio East, Spokane Public Radio and more


  • Added: Jun 16, 2017
  • Length: 58:01
  • Purchases: 9
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Selwyn Birchwood is celebrating his highly anticipated second studio effort for Alligator Records, ‘Pick Your Poison’ which crafts authentic tradit...

Bought by GCR (Global Community Radio), Public Radio East, WLPR , GCR (Global Community Radio), KBBI Alaska and more


  • Added: Jun 02, 2017
  • Length: 01:56:05
  • Purchases: 12
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The Cedric Burnside Project is comprised of the exciting duo of Cedric Burnside and Trenton Ayers of Holly Springs, Mississippi. Their latest album...

Bought by WLPR , GCR (Global Community Radio), Public Radio East, WEAA, WTJU and more


  • Added: May 26, 2017
  • Length: 58:01
  • Purchases: 8
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92 year old multi Grammy-nominated blues piano master, Henry Gray, is a living legend and a national treasure whose recording career spans seven de...

Bought by KMUW, WLPR , GCR (Global Community Radio), Public Radio East, WEAA and more


  • Added: May 11, 2017
  • Length: 58:00
  • Purchases: 10
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Sharon Lewis is a Chicago blues diva who’s commanding vocals and strong song writing is celebrated on her second studio effort for Delmark Records,...

Bought by WLPR , Public Radio East, WART FM, WEAA, Spokane Public Radio and more


  • Added: May 05, 2017
  • Length: 58:00
  • Purchases: 9
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Stevie J Blues is a veteran blues guitarist from Jackson, Mississippi who cut his teeth on the scene with the likes of Denise LaSalle, Shirley Brow...

Bought by WLPR , Public Radio East, Spokane Public Radio, KRPS, WTJU and more


  • Added: Apr 28, 2017
  • Length: 58:00
  • Purchases: 7
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Coco Montoya is a California native who is one of the biggest names on the contemporary blues scene. After hanging up his drum sticks for a guitar ...

Bought by GCR (Global Community Radio), WLPR , Public Radio East, GCR (Global Community Radio), KDLG and more


  • Added: Apr 21, 2017
  • Length: 58:00
  • Purchases: 11
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Despite his legacy, Billy Preston is nearly forgotten in the mainstream and is not in the Rock-N-Roll Hall of Fame. Author Steve Bergsman discusses...

Bought by WLPR , Public Radio East, GCR (Global Community Radio), WART FM, WEAA and more


  • Added: Apr 14, 2017
  • Length: 57:59
  • Purchases: 10
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The Allmusic journalist, Alex Henderson, noted that "Lynn isn't one to hold back emotionally; like Koko Taylor and Etta James, she screams, shouts,...

Bought by Public Radio East, GCR (Global Community Radio), WART FM, WEAA, Spokane Public Radio and more


  • Added: Mar 31, 2017
  • Length: 58:00
  • Purchases: 8
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Mike Wheeler has been playing the blues for almost 30 years and has played with Koko Taylor, Buddy Guy, B.B. King, Shemekia Copeland, Jimmy Johnson...

Bought by Public Radio East, GCR (Global Community Radio), Spokane Public Radio, KRPS, KSRQ and more


  • Added: Mar 24, 2017
  • Length: 58:00
  • Purchases: 6
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Jerry Lawson is a singing legend who fronted the world famous Persuasions for 40 plus years. As their lead singer he produced and arranged 22 album...

Bought by Public Radio East, GCR (Global Community Radio), Spokane Public Radio, KRPS, KSRQ and more


  • Added: Mar 17, 2017
  • Length: 58:03
  • Purchases: 6
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Elvin Bishop is a living legend whose great contributions to American music have been solidified by his induction into the Rock And Roll Hall of Fa...

Bought by KDLG, Public Radio East, WART FM, KMUW, Prairie Public and more


  • Added: Feb 24, 2017
  • Length: 58:00
  • Purchases: 9
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Speaking backstage with the “King of the Chitlin’ Circuit”, the Living Legend, Bobby Rush. One of the last of his era, Rush estimates that he has c...

Bought by GCR (Global Community Radio), Public Radio East, KDLG, WEAA, Prairie Public and more


  • Added: Feb 17, 2017
  • Length: 58:01
  • Purchases: 11
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He is best known as the down home singer of the Cash Box Kings. The group’s latest album, Holding Court (Blind Pig Records) – has struck a favorabl...

Bought by Spokane Public Radio, KRPS, and KSRQ


  • Added: Feb 03, 2017
  • Length: 58:00
  • Purchases: 3
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92 year old multi Grammy-nominated blues piano master, Henry Gray is a living legend and a national treasure whose recording career spans seven dec...

Bought by Spokane Public Radio, KSRQ, and KRPS


  • Added: Jan 20, 2017
  • Length: 58:00
  • Purchases: 3
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The Cedric Burnside Project is comprised of the exciting duo of Cedric Burnside and Trenton Ayers of Holly Springs, Mississippi. Their latest album...

Bought by Spokane Public Radio, KRPS, and KSRQ


  • Added: Jan 13, 2017
  • Length: 58:01
  • Purchases: 3
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Biscuit Miller, who is only one a handful of bass players who leads a band, just released his third studio effort, the critically acclaimed Wishbon...

Bought by WLPR , WEAA, Spokane Public Radio, Prairie Public, KRPS and more


  • Added: Jan 06, 2017
  • Length: 58:00
  • Purchases: 7
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A look back at some of the best moments from 2016.

Bought by Spokane Public Radio, KRPS, and KSRQ


  • Added: Dec 30, 2016
  • Length: 58:00
  • Purchases: 3
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Blues America Christmas special featuring guests Biscuit Miller, Jerry Lawson and a live in-studio performance by the indie-blues band Sonorous of ...

Bought by WJAB, KMUW, KOJB 90.1 FM The eagle, WEAA, WSGE and more


  • Added: Dec 16, 2016
  • Length: 58:00
  • Purchases: 9