AMERICAN ROUTES
Earl Scruggs & Tom Rush Earl Scruggs & Tom Rush June 22nd, 2022 (Hour 1)
Earl Scruggs & Tom Rush

Earl Scruggs‘ legendary banjo playing, aptly named “Scruggs Style,” has left its mark on American pop culture and inspired generations of banjo players. In the late 1960s, Scruggs, along with his sons, bravely crossed musical boundaries, but his musical journey really started back at the beginnings of bluegrass, playing with Bill Monroe and later, Lester Flatt. In this American Routes encore, we talk to Earl and his sons, Randy and Gary, about performing on the stage of the Ryman Auditorium and why he doesn’t need to crack jokes about the banjo. New Hampshire-born folk singer songwriter Tom Rush may have gone to Harvard and studied with a ballad scholar, but he still knows how to sing the blues. We’ll visit with Rush to learn more about Boston’s folk scene in the 1960s, his time as a radio DJ and his inspired approach to songwriting.

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VISIONS OF GENIUS: REMEMBERING RAY CHARLES

January 30th, 2019

Ray Charles’ unique vision blended the best of jazz and R&B, gospel and soul, country and pop into distinctive music that forever changed the American soundscape. This two hour American Routes special includes our exclusive interviews with Ray and those closest to him, tracing the radiant arc of his life and music. Voices include: Atlantic Records producer Jerry Wexler; saxophonist and bandleader, David “Fathead” Newman; singer and Raelette Mable John; Ray’s chauffeur and assistant of more than forty years Vernon Troupe; his ex-wife and confidante Della Bea Robinson; and producer-engineer Terry Howard. Hear Ray’s classics and the stories behind them, as well as his songs by Elvis, Percy Mayfield, Willie Nelson and others.

  • Listen to Hour One
  • Listen to Hour Two

HOUR ONE

  • Open Bed: Rockhouse Ray Charles
    Genius & Soul, Rhino
  • Hallelujah I Love Her So Ray Charles
    Genius & Soul, Rhino
  • SEGMENT: Early Experiences
  • I Got a Woman Ray Charles
    Live in Concert, ABC
  • Alone in this City Ray Charles
    Genius & Soul, Rhino
  • Let the Good Times Roll Ray Charles
    Genius & Soul, Rhino
  • I Got a Woman Ray Charles
    Genius & Soul, Rhino
  • I Got a Woman Elvis Presley
    The King of Rock 'N' Roll, RCA
  • SEGMENT: Gospel
  • Ain't That Love Ray Charles
    Genius & Soul, Rhino
  • Lonely Avenue Ray Charles
    Genius & Soul, Rhino
  • Nearer to Thee Sam Cooke
    The Complete Sam Cooke on Specialty, Specialty
  • This Little Light of Mine James Shorty & Viola Congregation
    Sounds of the South CD #4, Atlantic
  • This Little Girl of Mine Ray Charles
    Genius & Soul, Rhino
  • Hit the Road Jack Percy Mayfield
    Percy Mayfield, Vol 2: Memory Pain, Specialty
  • Hit the Road Jack Ray Charles
    Genius & Soul, Rhino
  • Instrumental: Hit the Road Jack David "Fathead" Newman
    I Remember Brother Ray, Highnote
  • SEGMENT: Raelettes
  • Night Time is the Right Time Ray Charles
    Live, Atlantic
  • Lonely Avenue Ray Charles
    Genius & Soul, Rhino
  • Swanee River Rock Ray Charles
    Genius & Soul, Rhino
  • Eleanor Rigby Ray Charles
    Genius & Soul, Rhino
  • SEGMENT: What'd I Say
  • What'd I Say Ray Charles
    Genius & Soul, Rhino
  • What'd I Say Ray Charles
    Live, Atlantic
  • SEGMENT: Live
  • I Got a Woman Ray Charles
    Live, Atlantic
  • SEGMENT: The Road/Ray the Man
  • It Should've Been Me Ray Charles
    The Birth of Soul, Atlantic
  • Instrumental: Hallelujah I Love Her So Ray Charles & Milt Jackson
    Soul Meeting, Atlantic Jazz
  • SEGMENT: Della Bea and Ray
  • Bed: How Long Blues Ray Charles & Milt Jackson
    Soul Brothers/Soul Meeting, Atlantic Jazz
  • SEGMENT: Blindness
  • Booty-Butt Ray Charles
    Genius + Soul = Jazz, Rhino
  • One Mint Julep Ray Charles
    Genius & Soul, Rhino
  • SEGMENT: America the Beautiful
  • America the Beautiful Ray Charles
    Genius & Soul, Rhino
  • End Bed: Rockhouse Ray Charles
    Genius & Soul, Rhino

HOUR two

  • Open Bed: Blue Genius Ray Charles & Milt Jackson
    Soul Brothers/Soul Meeting, Atlantic Jazz
  • Side By Side Ray Charles & Betty Carter
    Dedicated to You, Rhino
  • Sinner's Prayer Ray Charles & B.B. King
    Genius Loves Company, Concord
  • SEGMENT: Ray in studio w/ Blues Lab kids
  • Busted Johnny Cash
    Essential Johnny Cash, Columbia
  • You Are My Sunshine Ray Charles
    Genius & Soul, Rhino
  • Instrumental: Wagon Wheels Grant Green
    Goin' West, Blue Note
  • SEGMENT: Country
  • I Can't Stop Loving You Ray Charles
    Genius & Soul, Rhino
  • I'm Moving On Ray Charles
    Genius & Soul, Rhino
  • Georgia On My Mind Ray Charles
    The Complete Country & Western, Rhino
  • It Makes No Difference Now Ray Charles
    Genius & Soul, Rhino
  • Georgia on My Mind Willie Nelson
    Stardust, Columbia Legacy
  • SEGMENT: Drugs
  • Love On My Mind Ray Charles & Milt Jackson
    Soul Brothers, Atlantic Jazz
  • Drown in My Own Tears David "Fathead" Newman
    I Remember Brother Ray, High Note
  • SEGMENT: Race
  • In the Heat of the Night Ray Charles
    Genius & Soul, Rhino
  • Instrumental: Georgia on My Mind Tuts Washington
    New Orleans Piano Professor, Rounder
  • SEGMENT: New Orleans
  • Early in the Morning Ray Charles
    The Birth of Soul, Atlantic
  • I Got a Woman Kermit Ruffins & Rebirth Brass Band
    Throwback, Basin St.
  • SEGMENT: Memories
  • Georgia on My Mind David "Fathead" Newman
    I Remember Brother Ray, Highnote
  • Don't Let the Sun Catch You Crying Ray Charles
    Genius & Soul, Rhino
  • Come Rain or Come Shine Ray Charles
    Genius & Soul, Rhino
  • Drown in My Own Tears Ray Charles
    Genius & Soul, Rhino
  • End Bed: Come Rain or Come Shine Modern Jazz Quartet & Branford Marsalis
    A Celebration, Atlantic Jazz

THE LATEST STREAMS

  • June 22nd, 2022

    EARL SCRUGGS & TOM RUSH

    Listen
  • June 15th, 2022

    SOUNDS OF FREEDOM: FONTELLA BASS AND FREDDIE HUBBARD

    Listen
  • June 8th, 2022

    SHADES OF THE BLUES

    Listen
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