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.


698 Pieces

Order by: Newest First | Oldest First
Episode #369 - Unsung Ladies of R&B
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" solutes the Unsung Ladies of R&B! We'll dig deep into a stack of shellac from some women you know, like Varetta D...

Bought by WHRV, 90.5 WSNC, Royalton Community Radio, Cove Mountain Educational Broadcasting, WOUB and more


  • Added: May 28, 2017
  • Length: 59:01
  • Purchases: 6
Episode #368 - Big Jay McNeely
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
Matt The Cat is joined by the greatest of all the West Coast Sax Honkers, Big Jay McNeely. You'll hear Big Jay tell his story in his own words as M...

Bought by KTRT RADIO INC, WHRV, 90.5 WSNC, Royalton Community Radio, WOUB and more


  • Added: May 21, 2017
  • Length: 59:00
  • Purchases: 7
Episode #367 - Etta James
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
Etta James was one of the grittiest and most influential R&B singer of all-time. This week, Matt The Cat focuses on Etta's early records from 1954-...

Bought by WHRV, 90.5 WSNC, Royalton Community Radio, WRNC-LP, WOUB and more


  • Added: May 14, 2017
  • Length: 59:00
  • Purchases: 7
Episode #366 - The Harptones
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 Harptones never had a national hit record, yet they are arguably the finest vocal group to come out of New York City during the 1950s. What set...

Bought by KTRT RADIO INC, Royalton Community Radio, WOUB, Cove Mountain Educational Broadcasting, and KSRQ


  • Added: May 07, 2017
  • Length: 59:01
  • Purchases: 5
Episode #365 - Johnny Otis
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
Johnny Otis was one of the most important figures in rhythm & blues and contributed greatly to the birth of rock n' roll. He passed away on Tuesda...

Bought by WRNC-LP, KTRT RADIO INC, Royalton Community Radio, WOUB, Cove Mountain Educational Broadcasting and more


  • Added: Apr 30, 2017
  • Length: 59:00
  • Purchases: 6
Episode #364 - Aladdin Records, Pt. 3
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" presents part 3 in our series on Aladdin Records, one of the most important independent labels of the pre-rock era. Part 3 f...

Bought by KTRT RADIO INC, Royalton Community Radio, Cove Mountain Educational Broadcasting, WOUB, and KSRQ


  • Added: Apr 23, 2017
  • Length: 59:00
  • Purchases: 5
Episode #363 - Aladdin Records, 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
This week, "Juke In The Back" features part 2 of Aladdin Records. Matt The Cat focusses on Aladdin's releases from 1950-54 and features hit record...

Bought by 90.5 WSNC, Royalton Community Radio, WOUB, Cove Mountain Educational Broadcasting, WHRV and more


  • Added: Apr 16, 2017
  • Length: 59:01
  • Purchases: 6
Episode #362 - Aladdin Records, Pt. 1
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" presents part 1 of a 2 part series on Aladdin Records. Aladdin was one of the independent LA record labels that launched in ...

Bought by KTRT RADIO INC, 90.5 WSNC, Royalton Community Radio, WHRV, Cove Mountain Educational Broadcasting and more


  • Added: Apr 09, 2017
  • Length: 59:01
  • Purchases: 7
Episode #361 - Jimmy Liggins
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
Jimmy Liggins may not have been as successful as his older brother Joe, but Jimmy's 1948 recording of "Cadillac Boogie" just might be the first roc...

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


  • Added: Apr 02, 2017
  • Length: 59:00
  • Purchases: 4
Episode #360 - Joe Liggins
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
Today's popular culture has left so many musical pioneers behind and this week the "Juke In The Back" features Joe Liggins, one such pioneer who's ...

Bought by KTRT RADIO INC, 90.5 WSNC, Royalton Community Radio, Cove Mountain Educational Broadcasting, WOUB and more


  • Added: Mar 26, 2017
  • Length: 59:01
  • Purchases: 6
Episode #359 - Influence of "Junker's Blues" & R&B Telephone 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
The "Juke In The Back" is jumpin' this week as we take a look at the history and influence of the Champion Jack Dupree classic, "Junker's Blues." W...

Bought by WRNC-LP, 90.5 WSNC, Royalton Community Radio, WHRV, WOUB and more


  • Added: Mar 19, 2017
  • Length: 59:01
  • Purchases: 6
Episode #358 - Chuck Berry, Pt. 3 - 1958
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" presents the final part of a 3 part feature on Chuck Berry's early career. This week, Matt The Cat focuses on Berry's record...

Bought by KTRT RADIO INC, WRNC-LP, WOUB, Cove Mountain Educational Broadcasting, and KSRQ


  • Added: Mar 12, 2017
  • Length: 59:00
  • Purchases: 5
Episode #357 - Chuck Berry, Pt. 2 - 1956-57
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
This week, the "Juke In The Back" presents part 2 of 3 as we examine the early recordings of Chuck Berry, the "Father Of Rock n' Roll." In part 2,...

Bought by KTRT RADIO INC, Royalton Community Radio, WOUB, Cove Mountain Educational Broadcasting, and KSRQ


  • Added: Mar 05, 2017
  • Length: 59:00
  • Purchases: 5
Episode #356 - Chuck Berry, Pt. 1 - 1955-56
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, Matt The Cat looks at Chuck Berry's very first year of recording, featuring everything he recorded between May, 1955 and April, 1956. Yo...

Bought by KCMJ Community Radio, WOUB, 90.5 WSNC, Royalton Community Radio, Cove Mountain Educational Broadcasting and more


  • Added: Feb 26, 2017
  • Length: 59:00
  • Purchases: 6
Episode #355 - Jimmy Reed: 1953-59
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
Jimmy Reed was a hit-making blues machine back in the 1950s, yet he isn't as well remembered today as some of his contemporaries. Almost anyone cou...

Bought by KCMJ Community Radio, Royalton Community Radio, WOUB, WRNC-LP, Cove Mountain Educational Broadcasting and more


  • Added: Feb 19, 2017
  • Length: 59:00
  • Purchases: 6
Episode #354 - Rhythm & Blues Car 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
The juke is jumpin' with records focusing on classic R&B songs about cars. Musicologists Billy Vera and Steve Propes drop by the "Juke In The Back"...

Bought by KTRT RADIO INC, KCMJ Community Radio, 90.5 WSNC, Royalton Community Radio, WOUB and more


  • Added: Feb 12, 2017
  • Length: 59:00
  • Purchases: 7
Episode #353 - The Swallows
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
Eddie Rich, the original lead tenor of The Swallows, one of the greatest and most underrated R&B vocal groups of the 1950s joins Matt The Cat for a...

Bought by KCMJ Community Radio, 90.5 WSNC, Royalton Community Radio, WOUB, Cove Mountain Educational Broadcasting and more


  • Added: Feb 06, 2017
  • Length: 59:00
  • Purchases: 6
Episode #352 - 1947: 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
This week, we travel back 70 years with our ol' Rockola Jukebox to spotlight the biggest Rhythm & Blues jukebox hits from 1947. In part two of two,...

Bought by 90.5 WSNC, KCMJ Community Radio, WOUB, Cove Mountain Educational Broadcasting, and KSRQ


  • Added: Jan 29, 2017
  • Length: 59:00
  • Purchases: 5
Episode #351 - 1947: Jukebox Rhythm Review, Pt. 1
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 travel back 70 years with our ol' Rockola Jukebox to spotlight the biggest Rhythm & Blues jukebox hits from 1947. In part one, we'll ...

Bought by 90.5 WSNC, Royalton Community Radio, WOUB, Cove Mountain Educational Broadcasting, and KSRQ


  • Added: Jan 22, 2017
  • Length: 59:01
  • Purchases: 5
Episode #350 - Bobby Mitchell & The Toppers
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" digs deep into New Orleans R&B this week for the highly underrated 1950s vocal group, Bobby Mitchell & The Toppers. Best known f...

Bought by 90.5 WSNC, Royalton Community Radio, WHRV, Cove Mountain Educational Broadcasting, WOUB and more


  • Added: Jan 15, 2017
  • Length: 59:01
  • Purchases: 6

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