Juke In The Back With Matt The Cat

Series produced by Matt "The Cat" Baldassarri

Caption: Juke In The Back with Matt The Cat, Credit: Public Domain
Image by: Public Domain 
Juke In The Back with Matt The Cat 

Matt The Cat presents the soul that came before rock n' roll: 1950s rhythm and blues. Each week, this underrated and rollicking music plays on that old Rockola Jukebox in the back.

If you wanted to hear rhythm & blues during the 1950s, you couldn't get it from the juke box in the front. No, no! In order to hear that glorious, down and dirty R&B, you had to go to the low-lit, spit-shined "Juke In The Back." These songs are the building blocks of rock n' roll. These are the records that inspired Elvis and single-handedly led to the rock n' roll explosion of the mid-1950s. Big Joe Turner, Fats Domino, Little Richard, Ruth Brown, Ray Charles, Wynonie Harris, LaVern Baker, Roy Brown, Joe Liggins, Professor Longhair and many more take center stage on The Juke In The Back. Matt The Cat hosted a similar program on XM Satellite Radio called "Harlem" and now he brings this great music and information to PRX.


697 Pieces

Order by: Newest First | Oldest First
Episode #528 - King Records, Pt. 3: 1948-49
From: Matt "The Cat" Baldassarri
Series: Juke In The Back With Matt The Cat
Caption: Juke In The Back with Matt The Cat, Credit: Public Domain
This week, it's part 3 of a multi-part feature on the great King Record Label, out of Cincinnati. In part 3, we take a look at King's spectacular r...

Bought by KTRT RADIO INC, WHRV, WOUB, Cove Mountain Educational Broadcasting, and KMXT


  • Added: Jun 14, 2020
  • Length: 59:01
  • Purchases: 5
Episode #527 - King Records, Pt. 2: 1947-48
From: Matt "The Cat" Baldassarri
Series: Juke In The Back With Matt The Cat
Caption: Juke In The Back with Matt The Cat, Credit: Public Domain
This week, it's part 2 of a multi-part feature on the great King Record Label, out of Cincinnati. Syd Nathan, who began putting out records under t...

Bought by WHRV, KTRT RADIO INC, Cove Mountain Educational Broadcasting, WOUB, WYAP and more


  • Added: Jun 07, 2020
  • Length: 59:01
  • Purchases: 6
Episode #526 - King Records, Pt. 1: Queen Records
From: Matt "The Cat" Baldassarri
Series: Juke In The Back With Matt The Cat
Caption: Juke In The Back with Matt The Cat, Credit: Public Domain
This week, we begin a multi-part feature on the great King Record Label, out of Cincinnati. In part one, Matt The Cat will look at King's short-li...

Bought by WHRV, Cove Mountain Educational Broadcasting, WOUB, and KMXT


  • Added: May 31, 2020
  • Length: 59:01
  • Purchases: 4
Episode #525 - R.I.P. Little Richard, Pt. 2: 1955-57
From: Matt "The Cat" Baldassarri
Series: Juke In The Back With Matt The Cat
Caption: Juke In The Back with Matt The Cat, Credit: Public Domain
On May 9, 2020, we lost another one of Rock n' Roll's true founders: Little Richard. He stands alone in his uniqueness and his influence to all tha...

Bought by WHRV, WOUB, Cove Mountain Educational Broadcasting, and KMXT


  • Added: May 24, 2020
  • Length: 59:00
  • Purchases: 4
Episode #524 - R.I.P. Little Richard, Pt. 1: 1951-55
From: Matt "The Cat" Baldassarri
Series: Juke In The Back With Matt The Cat
Caption: Juke In The Back with Matt The Cat, Credit: Public Domain
On May 9, 2020, we lost another one of Rock n' Roll's true founders: Little Richard. He stands alone in his uniqueness and his influence to all tha...

Bought by WHRV, KTRT RADIO INC, Cove Mountain Educational Broadcasting, WOUB, and KMXT


  • Added: May 17, 2020
  • Length: 59:01
  • Purchases: 5
Episode #523 - R.I.P. Young Jessie
From: Matt "The Cat" Baldassarri
Series: Juke In The Back With Matt The Cat
Caption: Juke In The Back with Matt The Cat, Credit: Public Domain
On April 27th, we lost Young Jessie, one of the unsung heroes of the LA vocal group scene. He was 83 years old. Young Jessie never enjoyed a nation...

Bought by WHRV, KTRT RADIO INC, Cove Mountain Educational Broadcasting, WOUB, and KMXT


  • Added: May 10, 2020
  • Length: 59:00
  • Purchases: 5
Episode #522 - The Checkers
From: Matt "The Cat" Baldassarri
Series: Juke In The Back With Matt The Cat
Caption: Juke In The Back with Matt The Cat, Credit: Public Domain
The "Juke In The Back" features another highly underrated R&B vocal group from the 1950s: The Checkers. They never scored a national hit, but they'...

Bought by WHRV, KTRT RADIO INC, WOUB, Cove Mountain Educational Broadcasting, and KMXT


  • Added: May 03, 2020
  • Length: 59:01
  • Purchases: 5
Episode #521 - Clyde McPhatter: 1955-59
From: Matt "The Cat" Baldassarri
Series: Juke In The Back With Matt The Cat
Caption: Juke In The Back with Matt The Cat, Credit: Public Domain
Clyde McPhatter had one of the sweetest and most powerful tenor voices in all of Rhythm & Blues and early Rock n' Roll. This week, Matt The Cat foc...

Bought by WHRV, WOUB, Cove Mountain Educational Broadcasting, KTRT RADIO INC, and KMXT


  • Added: Apr 26, 2020
  • Length: 59:01
  • Purchases: 5
Episode #520 - 10th Anniversary Show!
From: Matt "The Cat" Baldassarri
Series: Juke In The Back With Matt The Cat
Caption: Juke In The Back with Matt The Cat, Credit: Public Domain
The "Juke In The Back" celebrates 10 years on the air with this special 10th anniversary program, featuring records that have never been played on ...

Bought by KTRT RADIO INC, WHRV, WOUB, Cove Mountain Educational Broadcasting, and KMXT


  • Added: Apr 19, 2020
  • Length: 59:01
  • Purchases: 5
Episode #519 - Clyde McPhatter & The Drifters
From: Matt "The Cat" Baldassarri
Series: Juke In The Back With Matt The Cat
Caption: Juke In The Back with Matt The Cat, Credit: Public Domain
The Drifters would become the most successful vocal group in history, charting hit after hit for over 20 years, with no less than a dozen different...

Bought by WHRV, WOUB, KTRT RADIO INC, Cove Mountain Educational Broadcasting, and KMXT


  • Added: Apr 12, 2020
  • Length: 59:01
  • Purchases: 5
Episode #518 - Tommy Brown
From: Matt "The Cat" Baldassarri
Series: Juke In The Back With Matt The Cat
Caption: Juke In The Back with Matt The Cat, Credit: Public Domain
Tommy Brown is one of the unsung blues shouters of the Rhythm & Blues Era. His only two charting records were done with the Griffin Brothers on Dot...

Bought by KTRT RADIO INC, WHRV, WOUB, Cove Mountain Educational Broadcasting, and KMXT


  • Added: Apr 05, 2020
  • Length: 59:01
  • Purchases: 5
Episode #517 - Annie Songs: Prequels, Sequels & Answer Records
From: Matt "The Cat" Baldassarri
Series: Juke In The Back With Matt The Cat
Caption: Juke In The Back with Matt The Cat, Credit: Public Domain
This week, the "Juke In The Back" explores the rhythm and blues phenomenon of the "Annie" song. This is the giant wave of sequel songs and answer r...

Bought by WHRV, Cove Mountain Educational Broadcasting, WOUB, and KMXT


  • Added: Mar 29, 2020
  • Length: 59:01
  • Purchases: 4
Episode #516 - R&B Novelty Songs
From: Matt "The Cat" Baldassarri
Series: Juke In The Back With Matt The Cat
Caption: Juke In The Back with Matt The Cat, Credit: Public Domain
We are living in some strange times and we could all use a little laugh to brighten the mood. Matt The Cat has put together a solid program of tune...

Bought by KTRT RADIO INC, WHRV, WOUB, Cove Mountain Educational Broadcasting, and KMXT


  • Added: Mar 22, 2020
  • Length: 59:01
  • Purchases: 5
Episode #515 - Jesse Belvin
From: Matt "The Cat" Baldassarri
Series: Juke In The Back With Matt The Cat
Caption: Juke In The Back with Matt The Cat, Credit: Public Domain
"Juke In The Back" is proud to dedicate an entire show to Jesse Belvin, one of greatest talents to come out of LA in the 1950s. After meeting Marvi...

Bought by KTRT RADIO INC, WHRV, WOUB, Cove Mountain Educational Broadcasting, and KMXT


  • Added: Mar 15, 2020
  • Length: 59:00
  • Purchases: 5
Episode #514 - Lowell Fulson
From: Matt "The Cat" Baldassarri
Series: Juke In The Back With Matt The Cat
Caption: Juke In The Back with Matt The Cat, Credit: Public Domain
The "Juke In The Back" spotlights a true blues legend, Lowell Fulson. From his 1948 breakthrough, "Three O'Clock Blues" to his 1954 legendary smash...

Bought by WHRV, WOUB, Cove Mountain Educational Broadcasting, and KMXT


  • Added: Mar 08, 2020
  • Length: 59:00
  • Purchases: 4
Episode #513 - Rudy Toombs: R&B Songwriter
From: Matt "The Cat" Baldassarri
Series: Juke In The Back With Matt The Cat
Caption: Juke In The Back with Matt The Cat, Credit: Public Domain
This week, The "Juke In The Back" features the songs of one of R&B's greatest songwriters: Rudy Toombs. This underrated cat wrote some of the most ...

Bought by WHRV, WOUB, Cove Mountain Educational Broadcasting, and KMXT


  • Added: Mar 01, 2020
  • Length: 59:01
  • Purchases: 4
Episode #512 - Memphis Slim
From: Matt "The Cat" Baldassarri
Series: Juke In The Back With Matt The Cat
Caption: Juke In The Back with Matt The Cat, Credit: Public Domain
Memphis Slim dubbed himself the "Ambassador Of The Blues" and for good reason. He spread the gospel of America's music around the world during his ...

Bought by KCSM, KMUW, WHRV, WOUB, Cove Mountain Educational Broadcasting and more


  • Added: Feb 23, 2020
  • Length: 59:01
  • Purchases: 6
Episode #511 - Groove Records
From: Matt "The Cat" Baldassarri
Series: Juke In The Back With Matt The Cat
Caption: Juke In The Back with Matt The Cat, Credit: Public Domain
In late 1953, RCA Victor launched a new subsidiary to focus on the Rhythm & Blues market, called Groove Records. It's hard to imagine, but Piano Re...

Bought by KCSM, WHRV, WOUB, Cove Mountain Educational Broadcasting, and KMXT


  • Added: Feb 15, 2020
  • Length: 59:01
  • Purchases: 5
Episode #510 - Lil Greenwood
From: Matt "The Cat" Baldassarri
Series: Juke In The Back With Matt The Cat
Caption: Juke In The Back with Matt The Cat, Credit: Public Domain
The "Juke In The Back" pays tribute to the great R&B vocalist, Lil Greenwood. You'll hear her greatest early recordings from 1950-1954, before she ...

Bought by KCSM, WHRV, WOUB, KTRT RADIO INC, Cove Mountain Educational Broadcasting and more


  • Added: Feb 09, 2020
  • Length: 59:01
  • Purchases: 6
Episode #509 - 1950: Jukebox Rhythm Review, Pt. 2
From: Matt "The Cat" Baldassarri
Series: Juke In The Back With Matt The Cat
Caption: Juke In The Back with Matt The Cat, Credit: Public Domain
The "Juke In The Back" takes you back 70 years to the biggest jukebox hits of 1950 as we feature another Jukebox Rhythm Review. This week, in part ...

Bought by KCSM, KTRT RADIO INC, WHRV, WOUB, KMXT and more


  • Added: Feb 02, 2020
  • Length: 59:01
  • Purchases: 6

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