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.


719 Pieces

Order by: Newest First | Oldest First
Episode #270 - Story of the Signifying Monkey & Listener Requests
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 loads the "Juke In The Back" with a musical history of the old African folktale about The Signifying Monkey. We'll trace th...

Bought by WLPR , 90.5 WSNC, WHRV, WRNC-LP, KSRQ and more


  • Added: Jul 05, 2015
  • Length: 59:01
  • Purchases: 6
Episode #269 - 4th Of July Special - R&B Songs About Food
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
What’s more American than celebrating America’s birthday with some good ol’ red, white and Rhythm & Blues about THE Fourth of July staple: food? Di...

Bought by KPIP-LP, RadioFreePalmer, 90.5 WSNC, WLPR , WHRV and more


  • Added: Jun 28, 2015
  • Length: 59:00
  • Purchases: 9
Episode #268 - Smiley Lewis
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" looks at the great Smiley Lewis, another influential force out of New Orleans that time has chosen to forget. He ...

Bought by WLPR , WHRV, WRNC-LP, KSRQ, and WOUB


  • Added: Jun 21, 2015
  • Length: 59:01
  • Purchases: 5
Episode #267 - The Treniers
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
There were so many influential Rhythm & Blues artists who had a great impact on the development of Rock n' Roll, but were never able to profit from...

Bought by 90.5 WSNC, WHRV, WLPR , WRNC-LP, KSRQ and more


  • Added: Jun 14, 2015
  • Length: 59:00
  • Purchases: 6
Episode #266 - B. B. King
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 its respects to a true musical icon, B.B. King. When he passed away at the age of 89 on May 14, 2015, we lost one of ou...

Bought by 90.5 WSNC, WHRV, WRNC-LP, WOUB, WLPR and more


  • Added: Jun 07, 2015
  • Length: 59:01
  • Purchases: 6
Episode #265 - Camille Howard
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 pre-Rock n' Roll era is full of unsung performers who's style directly impacted those who came after. This week's "Juke In The Back" spotlight ...

Bought by WRNC-LP, WLPR , WHRV, 90.5 WSNC, WOUB and more


  • Added: May 31, 2015
  • Length: 59:01
  • Purchases: 6
Episode #264 - Fats Domino, Pt. 2 - 1953-55
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
The "Juke In The Back" is proud to feature Fats Domino, one of the most influential and popular recording stars of both Rhythm & Blues and Rock n' ...

Bought by 90.5 WSNC, WHRV, WLPR , WOUB, WRNC-LP and more


  • Added: May 24, 2015
  • Length: 59:01
  • Purchases: 6
Episode #263 - Fats Domino, Pt. 1 - 1950-53
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 proud to feature Fats Domino, one of the most influential and popular recording stars of both Rhythm & Blues and Rock n' ...

Bought by 90.5 WSNC, WHRV, WRNC-LP, WOUB, and WLPR


  • Added: May 17, 2015
  • Length: 59:00
  • Purchases: 5
Episode #262 - 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 WLPR , WHRV, WOUB, and KSRQ


  • Added: May 11, 2015
  • Length: 59:01
  • Purchases: 4
Episode #261 - The Clovers, Pt. 3 - 1956-58
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 Clovers were the most successful rhythm & blues vocal group from 1951 to 1955, racking up 16 top 10 R&B singles during that time-frame. This we...

Bought by WLPR , WHRV, 90.5 WSNC, WOUB, and KSRQ


  • Added: May 03, 2015
  • Length: 59:00
  • Purchases: 5
Episode #260 - The Clovers, Pt. 2 - 1953-56
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
The Clovers were the most successful rhythm & blues vocal group from 1951 to 1955, racking up 16 top 10 R&B singles during that time-frame. This we...

Bought by WLPR , WHRV, 90.5 WSNC, WOUB, and KSRQ


  • Added: Apr 26, 2015
  • Length: 59:00
  • Purchases: 5
Episode #259 - The Clovers, Pt. 1 - 1950-53
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 Clovers were the most successful rhythm & blues vocal group from 1951 to 1955, racking up 16 top 10 R&B singles during that time-frame. This we...

Bought by WLPR , 90.5 WSNC, WHRV, WOUB, and KSRQ


  • Added: Apr 19, 2015
  • Length: 59:00
  • Purchases: 5
Episode #258 - The Cobra Records Story
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
Cobra Records left quite a bite, even thought this little West Side Chicago label was only in existence for three short years. They hit gold right ...

Bought by WRNC-LP, 90.5 WSNC, WLPR , WHRV, WOUB and more


  • Added: Apr 12, 2015
  • Length: 59:01
  • Purchases: 6
Episode #257 - Louis Jordan, Pt. 6 - 1950-56
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
The "Juke In The Back" presents Part 6, the final part of our mammoth, 6 part series, on the most important musical figure of the 1940s, Louis Jord...

Bought by WHRV, WLPR , WRNC-LP, WOUB, and KSRQ


  • Added: Apr 05, 2015
  • Length: 59:00
  • Purchases: 5
Episode #256 - Louis Jordan, Pt. 5 - 1948-50
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 5 of our mammoth, 6 part series, featuring the most important musical figure of the 1940s, Louis Jordan. He wa...

Bought by 90.5 WSNC, WLPR , WHRV, KSRQ, and WOUB


  • Added: Mar 29, 2015
  • Length: 59:01
  • Purchases: 5
Episode #255 - Louis Jordan, Pt. 4 - 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
The "Juke In The Back" presents Part 4 of our mammoth, 6 part series, featuring the most important musical figure of the 1940s, Louis Jordan. He wa...

Bought by WRNC-LP, 90.5 WSNC, WLPR , WOUB, and WHRV


  • Added: Mar 22, 2015
  • Length: 59:01
  • Purchases: 5
Episode #254 - Louis Jordan, Pt. 3 - 1946
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 of a mammoth, multi-part series, featuring the most important musical figure of the 1940s, Louis Jordan. He ...

Bought by KSRQ, WRNC-LP, 90.5 WSNC, WHRV, WLPR and more


  • Added: Mar 15, 2015
  • Length: 59:01
  • Purchases: 6
Episode #253 - Louis Jordan, Pt. 2 - 1942-45
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 2 of a mammoth, multi-part series, featuring the most important musical figure of the 1940s, Louis Jordan. Thi...

Bought by WLPR , KSRQ, WRNC-LP, WHRV, and WOUB


  • Added: Mar 08, 2015
  • Length: 59:02
  • Purchases: 5
Episode #252 - Louis Jordan, Pt. 1 - 1938-41
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" begins a mammoth, multi-part series, featuring the most important musical figure of the 1940s, Louis Jordan. Part 1 features...

Bought by WRNC-LP, WLPR , WHRV, 90.5 WSNC, WOUB and more


  • Added: Mar 01, 2015
  • Length: 59:01
  • Purchases: 6
Episode #251 - Wynonie Harris, 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
It's part 2 of our 2 part series on Wynonie "Mr. Blues" Harris, one of the greatest blues shouters of all time. Matt The Cat focuses on Harris' hit...

Bought by WLPR , 90.5 WSNC, WHRV, WRNC-LP, WOUB and more


  • Added: Feb 22, 2015
  • Length: 59:00
  • Purchases: 6

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