This Week in Blues History
Series produced by Steve c/o Ernest Franz
Our distinctive logo comes from a rare poster for the 1977 Beale Street Music Festival.
“This Week in Blues History” aims the spotlight on important recordings, artists, and events from the golden era of the blues.
From producer Steve Franz (Blues Unlimited) comes a new series, “This Week in Blues History,” spotlighting important recordings, artists, and events from the golden era of the blues. Each evergreen segment will be three and a half minutes in length, and is designed as an engaging and informative “drop in” to your existing programming. Keyed to a specific week of the year, “This Week in Blues History” will grab the listener’s attention, and leave them wanting a little more!
53 Pieces
Order by:
Newest First |
Oldest First
This time we profile The Howlin’ Wolf, who made his debut on the Billboard R&B charts in 1951.
- Added: Apr 17, 2018
- Length: 03:29
This time we profile Sister Rosetta Tharpe, who first recorded with an electric guitar, this week in 1941.
- Added: Apr 15, 2018
- Length: 03:29
This time we profile Professor Longhair, who first recorded a beloved Mardi Gras classic, this week in 1949.
- Added: Apr 14, 2018
- Length: 03:29
This time we profile James “Beale Street” Clark — barely a footnote in blues history — who recorded an enduring classic, this week in 1945.
- Added: Apr 12, 2018
- Length: 03:29
This time we profile Big Maceo, who recorded his “magnum opus” — the barnstorming instrumental “Chicago Breakdown” — this week in 1945.
- Added: Apr 11, 2018
- Length: 03:29
This time, we profile Henry Thomas, whose two dozen recordings for Vocalion, made in the late 1920s, hark back to a time before the blues.
- Added: Apr 10, 2018
- Length: 03:29
This time, we profile the Memphis Jug Band, whose 1929 recording, “K.C. Moan,” was one of the 84 selections on the “Anthology of American Folk Music.”
- Added: Apr 09, 2018
- Length: 03:29
This time, we profile harmonica ace Junior Wells — who was in the studio laying down some classic tracks for Delmark Records, this week in 1965.
- Added: Apr 08, 2018
- Length: 03:29
This time, we profile Windy City keyboard legend Little Johnny Jones, who was in the studio with Muddy Waters and Leroy Foster in 1949.
- Added: Apr 07, 2018
- Length: 03:29
This time, we profile Little Richard and Specialty Records owner Art Rupe, who, at first anyway, wasn’t too impressed by Little Richard.
- Added: Apr 06, 2018
- Length: 03:29
This time, we profile Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup, who recorded an iconic slice of down home blues, "That's All Right," this week in 1946.
- Added: Apr 04, 2018
- Length: 03:29
This time, we profile Mississippi guitarist Tommy Johnson, who cut one of the prophetic masterpieces of the blues, this week in 1928.
- Added: Apr 03, 2018
- Length: 03:29
This time, we profile blues piano mystery man, Black Bob — who was in the studio this week with Memphis Minnie, in 1935.
- Added: Apr 02, 2018
- Length: 03:29
This time, we profile Sid Hemphill, who was recorded by Alan Lomax for the Library of Congress, this week in 1942.
- Added: Mar 31, 2018
- Length: 03:29
This time, we profile Chris Strachwitz and Mance Lipscomb, whose paths crossed in Navasota, Texas, this week in August 1960.
- Added: Mar 30, 2018
- Length: 03:29
This time, we profile Magic Sam, who appeared this week in 1969 at the legendary Ann Arbor Blues Festival.
- Added: Mar 29, 2018
- Length: 03:29
This time, we profile Skip James, whose re-emergence at the 1964 Newport Folk Festival marked the advent of a new chapter in his career.
- Added: Mar 28, 2018
- Length: 03:29
This time, we take a look at the American Record Corporation's 1939 field trip to Memphis. For the Bluff City, it marked the end of an era.
- Added: Mar 26, 2018
- Length: 03:29
This time, we profile guitarist Blue Smitty, who cut his only session for Chess Records, this week in 1952.
- Added: Mar 25, 2018
- Length: 03:29
This time, we profile Muddy Waters, who made an historic appearance at the Newport Jazz Festival, this week in 1960.
- Added: Mar 23, 2018
- Length: 03:29
