AMERICAN ROUTES
Blues and Jazz, African Roots and Branches with Shemekia Copeland and Balla Koutaté Blues and Jazz, African Roots and Branches with Shemekia Copeland and Balla Koutaté June 7th, 2023 (Hour 1)
Blues and Jazz, African Roots and Branches with Shemekia Copeland and Balla Koutaté

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
  • 2023
  • 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

PRISON SONGS: MERLE HAGGARD AND AARON NEVILLE

December 13th, 2000

American Routes explores the music associated with outlaws and life behind bars, from “Ball and Chain” to “Jailhouse Rock,” from Johnny Cash’s San Quentin show to Leadbelly’s “Midnight Special.” Metaphorical chains of love are also rattled in story and song. Our guests include famous former inmates whose music reflects their own life struggles and triumphs, Plus a visit to the “Wildest Show in the South”—the Angola Louisiana Prison Rodeo.

  • Listen to Hour One
  • Listen to Hour Two

HOUR ONE

  • Open Bed: "Po Lazarus James Carter & The Prisoners
    O Brother, Where Art Thou? Soundtrack, Lost Highway/Mercury
  • Folsom Prison Blues Johnny Cash
    Live at Folsom Prison, Sony
  • Riot In Cell Block #9 Wanda Jackson
    Vintage Collections, Capitol
  • He's in the Jailhouse Now Memphis Sheiks
    From Where I Stand, Warner
  • Prison Bound Robert Nighthawk
    The Aristocrat of The Blues, Chess/MCA
  • INTERVIEW: Merle Haggard
  • Instrumental: If I Could Only Fly Merle Haggard
    If I Could Only Fly, Anti
  • INTERVIEW: Merle Haggard
  • Cole Younger Edward L. Crain
    Harry Smith Collection,
  • Outlaw Blues Bob Dylan
    Bringing It All Back Home, Columbia
  • 21 days in Jail Magic Sam
    Magic Sam 1957-1966, West Side Guitar, Cobra
  • Instrumental: Aurora En Pekin Marc Ribot Y Los Cubanos Postizos
    Marc Ribot Y Los Cubanos Postizos, Atlantic
  • El Mojado Los Hermanos Barrón y Conjunto
    The Chicano Experience, Folklyric Records
  • The Tijuana Jail Johnny Bond
    The Best of Johnny Bond, Varese Vintage
  • Jailhouse Blues Dinah Washington
    Sings Bessie Smith, Verve
  • Jailhouse Rock Albert King
    King Does The King's Things, Stax
  • The Things I Used To Do James Brown
    James Brown: Messing with the Blues, Polydor
  • Have Mercy Judge Chuck Berry
    The Chess Box, Chess/MCA

HOUR two

  • Angola Bound Aaron Neville
    The Very Best of Aaron Neville, A&M
  • Parchman Farm Johnny Rivers
    Anthology 1964-1977, Rhino
  • SEGMENT: Angola Prison Farm Rodeo
  • Stewball Ed Lewis and Prisoners
    Southern Journey Vol. 3: 61 Highway Mississippi, Folkways
  • Chain Gang Sam Cooke
    Greatest Hits, RCA
  • Back On The Chain Gang Pretenders
    The Singles, Sire
  • Instrumental: Work Song Grant Green
    2 by 5 Guitar Jazz, 32 Jazz
  • INTERVIEW: Aaron Neville

    Listen
  • How Blue Can You Get BB King
    Live In Cook County Jail, MCA
  • Instrumental: Midnight Special Tiny Grimes
    Atlantic Rhythm and Blues 1947-1974, Atlantic
  • Midnight Special Leadbelly
    From Where I Stand: The Black Experience In Country Music, Warner Bros
  • Midnight Special Creedence Clearwater Revival
    Hot Stuff, Fantasy
  • I Shall Be Released Heptones
    Sea of Love, Rounder
  • I'm Goin Home Ervin Webb with Prisoners
    Ervin Webb with Prisoners, Folkways

THE LATEST STREAMS

  • June 7th, 2023

    BLUES AND JAZZ, AFRICAN ROOTS AND BRANCHES WITH SHEMEKIA COPELAND AND BALLA KOUTATé

    Listen
  • May 31st, 2023

    PIANO PEOPLE AND MORE: JASON MORAN & HEATH ALLEN

    Listen
  • May 24th, 2023

    MEMORIAL DAY WITH THE 2022 NATIONAL HERITAGE FELLOWS

    Listen
A|R

  • Donate
A|R AMERICAN ROUTES
  • ABOUT
  • BEST OF
  • ARCHIVE
  • UPCOMING
  • SUPPORT US
  • JOURNAL
  • STATIONS
  • STAFF
  • CONTACT
  • Tulane University
  • NEA
  • PRX
  • New Orleans Tourism and Cultural Fund
  • Jim Hart