1. JAN
  2. FEB
  3. MAR
  4. APR
  5. MAY
  6. JUN
  7. JUL
  8. AUG
  9. SEP
  10. OCT
  11. NOV
  12. DEC

FALL - PHAROAH SANDERS

Is that a slight nip in the air I feel…? Wishful thinking for the first week of Fall, at least down South. So we have a “cool” conversation with jazz saxophone luminary Pharaoh Sanders—the man John Coltrane called “My right arm.” Plus, a birthday tribute to Gershwin.

LATIN TINGE

Legends of Latin music: Tito Puente and Nati Cano. We visit with these great bandleaders and musicians in New York and Los Angeles respectively to hear about the roots of tropical Latin jazz in Spanish Harlem and the Mexican mariachi scene of East L.A.

WILLIE NELSON

On the Road Again with… Willie! We visit with Willie Nelson on the tour bus and learn about his early gigs in Texas polka music, his teenage days as a radio host doing the early morning farm report, and the fact that even when in the driveway at home in Texas, he sleeps on the bus! Blues, country, soul, jazz,Western swing and Tejano music surround our conversation with one of America’s musical kings of the road.

DO YOU LIKE AMERICAN MUSIC?

American ethnic and regional “roots” music in the ears of the Bay Area’s Chris Strachwitz. Strachwitz is the founder of Arhoolie Records, a legendary collection of field recordings and re-issues of artists ranging from bluesman Lightning Hopkins and zydeco king Clifton Chenier, to Freddie Fender (in Spanish) and Western swingstress Rose Maddox. Popular artists from Dylan to the Rolling Stones drew extensively on Arhoolie recordings.

LABOR DAY WITH ARCHIE GREEN

Workers of the world unite as we celebrate with thoughts from hardworking shoeshiners young and old; and visit with San Francisco folklorist Archie Green who expains why recordings like Merle Haggard’s “Workingman’s Blues” have eclipsed the old labor song tradition. In addition to music for your weekend picnic and parties, hear one of host Nick Spitzer’s favorite segue sets: Paul Robeson, Randy Newman, and Ray Charles—where Joe Hill finds himself “Busted.”