AMERICAN GROOVES RADIO HOUR hosted by JOE LAURO

This episode features sides by Harlems' MILLS BLUE RHYTHM BAND, Joe Venuti & His Orchestra a aa few versions of the old folk tune JESSE JAMES --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/american-grooves-hour/support

Our song of the week is the Maceo Pinkard 1925 standard SWEET GEORGIA BROWN - Some cool versions by the likes of Ethel Waters, Cab Calloway and Oliver Naylor'a Orchestra plus some fun jazz, blues and country pre-war gems! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/american-grooves-hour/support

American Grooves, explores the origins of at least TWO versions of the Easy Rider musical myth- and it didn't originate with a motorcycle! From Sam McGee and Barbecue Bob to Mae West, with a bit of Jelly Roll Morton thrown in to set you on year ear! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/american-grooves-hour/support

George Gershwin's RHAPSODY IN BLUES premiered at New York's Aeolian HALL on a program billed as "An Experiment in Modern Music," the much-anticipated concert held by Paul Whiteman and his Palais Royal Orchestra drew a packed audience. The excited audience included many top line vaudevillians, concert managers and Tin Pan Allevites who came to have a look at the new jazz novelty. Also at the happening were , composers young and old, , symphony and opera stars, flappers, cake-eaters, and a mixed up higgledy-piggledy of the 1924 "in-Crowd" . Who else would show up to a 2PM show! On this episode of AMERICAN GROOVES we recreate part of the program as well as offer, in it' 8 minute version , the first ever recording of the Rhapsody from 1924 featuring the composer, George Gershwin on piano! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/american-grooves-hour/support

A few cool versions of this tin-pan-alley turned early jazz standard alomg with the usual assortment of pre-war 78 rpm musical wonders. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/american-grooves-hour/support

With a new year we will explore the very meaning of NEW! ( musically that is) - some first recordings by "new" artists circa 1920-35! Hear the first ever recordings of BING CROSBY, ROBERT JOHNSON, BILL MONROE, BOB WILLS, and many more! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/american-grooves-hour/support

THE FIRST TRUE JAZZ BANDS TO RECORD WERE GENERALLY SMALL BANDS...THE CLASSIC LINEUP WAS TRUMPET OR CORNET, TROMBONE, CLARINET, PIANO AND DRUMS ( YOU CAN ADD A BASS HORN/BASS FIDDLE, AND OR GUITAR WITHOUT MISSING THE POINT/!) THIS EPISODE WILL EXPLORE SOME OF THE MOST FAMOUS OF THE RECORDED HOT JAZZ "FABULOUS FIVES": THE ORIGINAL MEMPHIS FIVE, THE ORIGINAL INDIANA FIVE, LOUISIANA FIVE, ORIGINAL DIXIELAND JAZZ BAND AND OTHERS - --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/american-grooves-hour/support

After the success of Ralph Peer's early 1920s recordings of rural musicians such as Henry Whitter and Fiddlin' Joh Carson most every major record label slowly began dabbling in the recording of rural country ( often labeled "Hillbilly" ) artists. A new record selling market was awoken! By 1928, with the success of the first "Bristol Sessions" Victor was all in. They established their 40,000 numerical --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/american-grooves-hour/support

After the success of Ralph Peer's early 1920s recordings of rural musicians such as Henry Whitter and Fiddlin' Joh Carson most every major record label slowly began dabbling in the recording of rural country ( often labeled "Hillbilly" ) artists. A new record selling market was awoken! By 1928, with the success of the first "Bristol Sessions" Victor was all in. They established their 40,000 numerical series dedicated to all ealry country recordings and then in 1930 rtheir 23,500 series which wnet on until late 1933 when the Freat Depression cribbled the record industry. American Grooves, in two programs, will dig into Victors catalog of 1928-33 Country recordings - Stringbands, Cowboy Singers, Blue Yodelers, and sacred vocal groups - they tried it all! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/american-grooves-hour/support

From Maybelle and Sarah Carter, "Moonshine Kate", Fiddler Hattie Stoneman, Patsy Montana to The Girls Of The Golden West women's contributions to pre-war country music are often overlooked. American Grooves celebrates some of those early voices in this episode - part 3 of our 2023 celbaration of Women's History Month 2023 --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/american-grooves-hour/support

James P. Johnson was one of the forefathers of the Harlem Stride piano style - a progress from ragtime to jazz. He also was one of the most influential pianists of his day. We will explore some of James P's early piano solos from his groundbreaking CAROLINA SHOUT in 1921 to some of his band sides. We also will hear early recordings by perhaps his greatest disciple Thomas "Fats" Waller who took the Harlem Stride style even a step further! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/american-grooves-hour/support

Born in Baltimore April 7, 1915 By the time she was 21 Billie Holiday became Jazz's GREATEST vocal stylist . We will dig into her earliest recordings from the landmark 1933 John Hammond session ( her 1st!) to her early 1940s records on commodore for Milt Gabler. We will also hear sione of her influences and imitators - Give BILLIE a listen on what would have her 109th birthday ( my birthday too!) --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/american-grooves-hour/support

Ameericn Grooves goes to church! We will explore some of the deep American sacred and gospel music on this religious day. From Sacred Harp/Shaped Note quartets, to Sanctified preaching and Jubilee singing DENISON's SACRED HARP SINGERS OF ALABAMA, MIDDLE GEORGIA SINGING CONVENTION, BLIND ROOSEVELT GRAVES, PHIPPS FAMILY the old weird America for sure! ( not to be confused with the new weird America!) --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/american-grooves-hour/support

In the 1920s and early 1930s "headin' uptown" meant a night of clubbing in HARLEM. And when you went you might have been entertained by any number of fabulous bands who lived and played "up-town". This episode , the second of two is dedicated to all of those Harem based bands - from LOUIS ARMSTRONG & HIS ORCHESTRA, MILLS BLUE RHYTHM BAND , JIMMY LUNCEFORD's ORCHESTRA, JOE STEELE ORCHESTRA, CAB CALLOWAY and THE MISSOURIANS before him to name just a few...and how can we forget CHICK WEBB and DUKE ELLINGTON'S mighty COTTON CLUB ORCHESTRA...we won't! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/american-grooves-hour/support

A celebration of St. Pat's day featuring hte music of some of the talented Irish Immigrants who recorded their folk and dance music in that great "melting pot" called America . From PACKIE DOLAN & HIS BOYS to tenor JOHN McCORMACK. We also will play some of the today seldom heard comic "Character songs" of the early 20th Century sung by the likes of ADA JONES and "RAGTIME" BOB ROBERTS ....We'll be wearing the green! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/american-grooves-hour/support

In the 1920s and early 1930s "headin' uptown" meant a night of clubbing in HARLEM. And when you went you might have been entertained by any number of fabulous bands who lived and played "up-town". This episode , the first of two is dedicated to all of those Harem based bands - from LUIS RUSSELL'S ORCHESTRA, SAVOY BEARCATS, JIMMY LUNCEFORD's ORCHESTRA, CAB CALLOWAY and THE MISSOURIANS before him to name just a few...and how can we forget CHICK WEBB and DUKE ELLINGTON'S mighty COTTON CLUB ORCHESTRA...we won't! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/american-grooves-hour/support

This episode explores the blues to rock tune KEEP A KNOCKIN' From it's origins as MY BUCKET's GOT A HOLE IN IT on . Tom Gates & His Orchestra on Gennett, Lizzie Miles on Vocalion and Boodle It Wiggins on Paramount are some of the versions heard! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/american-grooves-hour/support

Charles Lindbergh's 1927 trans-atlantic flight was the news of the world. It spawned dance crazes and MANY tin-pan-alley songs. This episode explores some of them and more --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/american-grooves-hour/support

This show, the last of three, is a request only show! - The HOTTEST 1920s-30s performances of all time as per my listeners and fellow collectors! Get out the fire extinguisher! THE CREEPER by Duke Ellington, JOE TURNER BLUES Johnny Dodds Black Bottom Stompers , LUIS RUSSELL ORCH Saratoga Shout, TED LEWIS BAND Rhythm and many more --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/american-grooves-hour/support

Let's make some end of the year WHOOPEE! fun stuff and a little bit of sentiment --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/american-grooves-hour/support