AMERICAN ROUTES
Blues and Jazz, African Roots and Branches with Shemekia Copeland & Balla Kouyaté Blues and Jazz, African Roots and Branches with Shemekia Copeland & Balla Kouyaté May 18th, 2022 (Hour 1)
Blues and Jazz, African Roots and Branches with Shemekia Copeland & Balla Kouyaté

It’s Blueswomen, Jazzmen, African roots and branches. Chicago blues singer Shemekia Copeland‘s father, the late blues guitarist Johnny Copeland, brought her into his music as a child. As an adult, she found new ways to use blues to express her perspective. We’ll hear from some of Shemekia’s heroes including Etta James, Ruth Brown, Alberta Hunter and Big Mama Thornton. Then a conversation and performance by Boston-based Mandinka balafon player Balla Kouyaté and music inspired by and from the continent of Africa from Randy Weston, Miriam Makeba and the Modern Jazz Quartet.

Shemekia Copeland photo by Mike White

  • Info
  • ABOUT
  • BEST OF
  • UPCOMING
  • ARCHIVE
  • SUPPORT
  • JOURNAL
  • STATIONS
  • MEDIA KIT
  • INDEX
  • STAFF
  • CONTACT
BROWSE BY DATE
  • 2022
  • 2021
  • 2020
  • 2019
  • 2018
  • 2017
  • 2016
  • 2015
  • 2014
  • 2013
  • 2012
  • 2011
  • 2010
  • 2009
  • 2008
  • 2007
  • 2006
  • 2005
  • 2004
  • 2003
  • 2002
  • 2001
  • 2000
  • 1999
  • 1998

SUPPORT GREAT STORYTELLING

We rely on your support to remain on air and online. Your contribution helps us bring you interviews with great American artists and the carefully curated music mix that you’ve enjoyed over the years.

Donate

 

AMERICAN ROUTES ON INSTAGRAM

MEMPHIS' HI RECORDS & HI RHYTHM--STORIES AND MUSIC FROM AL GREEN, WILLIE MITCHELL, DON BRYANT, REV. CHARLES HODGES AND ARCHIE "HUBBIE" TURNER

November 17th, 2021

We’ll go up the Mississippi to another great river city of music: Memphis. Known for rhythm & blues, gospel, soul and roots, rock n roll— and landmark record labels: Sun, Stax and Hi Records. On this visit, we’ll listen to the work of Hi Records producer/arranger/trumpeter Willie Mitchell and talk to members of the Hi Rhythm section: Rev. Charles Hodges and Archie “Hubbie” Turner, plus an archival conversation with the man with the most hits for Hi Records, Al Green. Then more memories of those days with old school singer and prolific songwriter Don Bryant, who got his start with Willie Mitchell and is now back in the studio cutting records with lots of soul.

  • Listen to Hour One
  • Listen to Hour Two

HOUR ONE

  • Open Bed: Willie-Wam Willie Mitchell
    Solid Soul, Hi Records
  • Tired of Being Alone Al Green
    Al Green Gets Next to You, Hi Records
  • What it Takes to Get a Good Woman Denise LaSalle
    On the Loose, Hi Records
  • Shelby County Blues Memphis Slim
    Memphis Slim--The Bluebird Recordings 1940-1941, BMG
  • Everybody Knows (The River Song) O.V. Wright
    The Soul of O.V. Wright, Geffen
  • SEGMENT: Rev. Charles Hodges and Archie "Hubbie" Turner

    Listen
  • Instrumental: Prayer Meetin' Willie Mitchell
    Solid Soul, Hi Records
  • SEGMENT: Rev. Charles Hodges and Archie "Hubbie" Turner Pt. 2

    Listen
  • Back for a Taste of Your Love Syl Johnson
    Back for a Taste of Your Love, Hi Records
  • Too Many Hands Otis Clay
    Trying to Live My Life Without You, Hi Records
  • Son of a Preacher Man Dusty Springfield
    Dusty in Memphis, Atlantic
  • Instrumental: Groovin' Willie Mitchell
    Solid Soul, Hi Records
  • SEGMENT: Rev. Charles Hodges and Archie "Hubbie" Turner Pt. 3

    Listen
  • One Ain't Enough, and Two's Too Many Don Bryant
    Don't Give Up on Love, Fat Possum
  • That's What Love Will Make You Do Little Milton
    Stax Profiles: Little Milton, Concord
  • End Bed: Soul Serenade Willie Mitchell
    Ooh Baby, You Turn Me On, Hi Records

HOUR two

  • Open Bed: Poppin' Willie Mitchell
    On Top--Willie Mitchell,
  • SEGMENT: Al Green

    Listen
  • Instrumental: Up-Hard Willie Mitchell
    Solid Soul, Hi Records
  • Living in the Last Days Elizabeth King
    Living in the Last Days, Bible and Tire
  • Father, Guide Me, Teach Me The Pilgrimairs
    The Last Shall Be First: The JCR Records Story, Vol. 1, Bible and Tire
  • Take Me to the River Al Green
    Al Green Explores Your Mind, Hi Records
  • SEGMENT: Al Green Pt. 2

    Listen
  • Slip Away Don Bryant
    Don Bryant--Precious Soul, Hi Records
  • Walk All Over God's Heaven Don Bryant
    You Make Me Feel, Fat Possum
  • Instrumental: Sunrise Serenade Willie Mitchell
    Solid Soul, Hi Records
  • SEGMENT: Don Bryant

    Listen
  • End Bed: Big Power House Willie Mitchell
    On Top, Hi Records

THE LATEST STREAMS

  • May 18th, 2022

    BLUES AND JAZZ, AFRICAN ROOTS AND BRANCHES WITH SHEMEKIA COPELAND & BALLA KOUYATé

    Listen
  • May 11th, 2022

    BREAKING OUT: BRITISH BLUES TO NEW ORLEANS BOUNCE

    Listen
  • May 4th, 2022

    KINGPINS OF THE GULF COAST: RODNEY CROWELL & DR. JOHN

    Listen
A|R

  • Donate
A|R AMERICAN ROUTES
  • ABOUT
  • BEST OF
  • ARCHIVE
  • UPCOMING
  • SUPPORT US
  • JOURNAL
  • STATIONS
  • STAFF
  • CONTACT
  • Tulane University
  • National Endowment for the Humanities
  • NEA
  • Louisiana Entertainment
  • PRX