AMERICAN GROOVES RADIO HOUR hosted by JOE LAURO

As an active collector new records arrival most every week. Joe shares some of these "new arrivals" on this episode, Like coming over for an old fashioned listening session!

Crockett-Ward & His Boys got it right! ( for me any thing past Jerry Garcia's death in 1995 fell into the "Sucker" category..but that's just ME!!) - Let's further explore the deep roots of tunes recorded by the institution known as THE GRATEFUL DEAD. Why? - because THEY were the first to introduce me to all things musical Americana - Of course, I went backwards from there but so did they! We Bid You Goodnight, Stealin', CC Rider - we will play the originals of tunes famously played by the Dead as well as tunes they flirted with throughout their long career

Across the pre-war genres songs of mother ranked as the number two topic ( love being number 1!) So, on this Mothers' Day we celebrate Moms, Mothers, Mammy's and Mamas! - From mother songs of Al Jolson to sentimental country songs by Jimmie Rodgers, spirituals by Elder Lonnie McIntorsh, Washington Phillips and many more!

A mixture of many great recordings - from Valverts' Creole Band recorded in Paris circa 1930 to some hot Hawaiian sides and much more- the wonders of pre-1940 78s!

Lets have some fun! Besides a few versions of a fun lost tune from 1933 ( Yeah Man!) we bring you an assortment of select though unfocused pre-war Jazz, Blues, Country and who knows what else!

At the behest of older sister Blanche in 1930 Cab Calloway took over and fronted the hot Harlem band THE MISSOURIANS - from that point on his career rapidly moved to the stars and stayed there for some 60 years. On this episode we explore his earliest years at the Cotton Club, in the movies and play some of his earliest influences.

We do not often focus an entire episode on one artist but LONNIE JOHNSON deserves this and additional episodes!

A pioneering jazz guitarist, blues guitarist, fiddler, singer and piano player Johnson is one of the undisputed genius of pre-war music - This episode will present rare recordings of Johnson with his family string band ( on fiddle!), to sides waxed with the likes ouf LOUIS ARMSTRONG's HOT FIVE, DUKE ELLINGTON's COTTON CLUB ORCHESTRA, VICTORIA SPIVEY , EDDIE LNG as well as some amazing solo sides!

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!

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!)

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!)

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!

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!

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!

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!

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

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!

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.

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

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

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!

Let's make some end of the year WHOOPEE! fun stuff and a little bit of sentiment

This weeks' episode focus on some of the lady band leaders, and instrumentalists of pre-1940 Jazz, Blues and Country - INA RAY HUTTON, MEMPHIS MINNIE, KEECHIE WILEY, MARY LOU WILLIAMS, CLEO BROWN, THELMA TERRY among others will be featured

What a treat to have American Grooves actually broadcast on WLIW on Christmas Eve- my favorite holiday of them all - a special Christmas episode with Christmas tunes from the 1900s-40s From Mel Blanc to Sister Rosetta Tharpe!

Part 2 of the hottest of the hot records of the 1920s-mid 30s

Collectors from all over the planet sent in suggestions and we again play some of those hot platters! - from King Oliver to Ernie Schultz band on Gennett - Thanks all who sent in their requests!

We decide to ask an array of shellac collectors just what circa 1920s-30s 78 was the ( their) HOTTEST! - we were inundated with scores of opinions and suggestions - so much so that we will have three episode! - by COLLECTOR's CHOUCE of the hottest jazzer in the land - and what an array - Some of the ones you would suspect like Jelly Roll, Duke, Goldkette but some total left fielders like Benny Nawahi, Ina Ray Hutton, J.C. Johnson, and Bernie Schultz! So tune in to episode # 1 and you just might hear your suggestion!

The world of pre-war 78 collectors is not large! Most of us have been at it for years but fortunately there is always some new blookd in the hobby- and about 4 times a years a group of like minded collectors gather at the home of Rich Nevins and spend a day and night spinning some of the best of the best discs from that era...or, at the very least, ones we love...here's a selection of what was played at the last get-together!

Last week it was Heaven..this week.......you guest it the devil down below! ROBERT JOHNSON, ART KASSAL & HIS KASSALS IN THE AIR, GID TANNER and some fun reefer songs!

Those pearly gates have been the subject to countless tunes in all genres and in all eras! - Here's some fun tunes from the pre-1940 era! From Washington Phillips to Al Jolson......with a bit of Cleo Brown and Monroe Brothers mixed in as well

Max Fleischer's Great Depression era cartoon characters were almost immediately intrenched into era's pop culture - This episode features a few tunes dedicated to and BY our "Out Of The Inkwell" heroes!

In St. Louis Missouri on Christmas day 1895 Billy Lyons and "Stag" Lee Sheldon got into a ruckus that turned into a murder that turned into one of the longest lasting folk songs in American's history! - This episode plays just a few of them!

Joe digs into a Jug Band standard and its various versions!

When Country music was first recorded in the 1920s and early 30s there were precious few women singers and stars. This episode presents some of the earliest commercial recordings by women singers of early Country music - Patsy Montana, "Moonshine " Kate, Girls Of The Golden West, Billie Maxwell and of course Sarah and Maybelle Carter. Saddle up and join us!

A largely African-American neighborhood in Dallas Texas going back to the 19th century "Deep Elum" was the home of many saloons and bawdy houses. A slew of songs were written about it or referenced it through the years - We will explore some of te earliest!

Besides the usual array of pre-1940 musical Americana Joe plays different version of the classic NOBODY's BUSINESS from Mississippi John Hurt to Bessie Smith - AND a shout-out to the legendary UNCLE FFLOYD!

Scott Joplin's "Classic" Rag has lived many lives since its first publication by John Stark in 1899. From Banjo, to Piano to Jazz Bands - the tune was a standard in the repertoire of musicians around the world. American Grooves will play several awesome versions including Vess Ossmans' 1907 banjo solo and Joplin himself, performing it off of a rare 1900 piano roll.

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!

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!

American Grooves celebrates the early career of the American Genius and Jazz icon LOUIS ARMSTRONG on what would have been his 122 birthday! - we will focus on Louis' early years up through 1933 plus a a surprising 1949 duet with Billy Holiday.

Like Chuck Berry influenced every guitar player from Keith Richards to George Harrison LOUIS ARMSTRONG was the most influential trumpet phis day. We will focus on five important trumpet players who owe quite a dept to old "Pops" : JABBO SMITH, HENRY ALLEN JR., JOE "WINGY" MANNONE, JACK PURVIS and LOUIS PRIMA.

The early Newport Folk Festivals ( 1963-66) were the stage for the re-discovery of some of Americans' deepest "roots" music...Folklorists and 78rpm Record Collectors such as Ralph Rinzler, Alan Lomax, Dick Spottswood and Dick Waterman resurrected the careers and music of MISSISSIPPI JOHN HURT, SON HOUSE, SKIP JAMEs, MAYBELLE CARTER, ROBERT WILKINS, ECK ROBERTSON, DORSEY DIXON and others - Most of these artists had been living in obscurity , many assumed deceased only having gained a bit of recognition in 1952 with the release of Harry Smith's ANTHOLOGY OF AMERICAN FOLK MUSIC record album set. At Newport they were seen by 1000s and careers were rebuilt- This episode of American Grooves plays the ORIGINAL 1920s-30s recordings of some of those artists RESURRECTED AT NEWPORT

With people's shoe's sticking to the pavement in Phoenix and Coney Island filled to capacity in Brooklyn here's some musical heat you can enjoy in the air conditioned comfort of your home or car! Joe plays some tunes of HEAT! - from Ethel Water's original cast recording of HEAT WAVE ( 1933, from Irving Berlins' show As Thousands Cheer backed by young Benny Goodmans' band!) and Gene Kardos and band playing their "hot" PLAY ME A FRIGID AIR! to EVA TAYLOR with the CHARLESTON CHASERS " Turn On The Heat " (1929) and much more!

NO SPECIAL THEME TO THIS EPISODE BUT JOE PLAYS SOME OF HIS FAVORITES INCLUDING JIMMIE RODGERS, JIM AND ANDREW BAXTER, CAB CALLOWAY WITH THE MISSOURIANS AND A FEW TUNES ABOUT DATES GONE WRONG! GOOD OLE' PRE-1940 MUSICAL MADCAP FUN!

WITH THE RECENT TRAGEDY OF THE TITAN IN THE DEEP HAUNTED WATERS OFF OF NEWFOUNDLAND WHERE THE TITANIC SLEEPS AMERICAN GROOVES OFFERS SEVERAL 1920S-50'S RECORDINGS RECALLING THE ORIGINAL TITANIC DISASTER - FROM JAMES" RABBIT" BROWN TO THE CARTER FAMILIES FINAL RECORDING..AS WELL AS THE USUAL ECLECTIC MISS OF OTHR PRE-1940 FOLK, BLUES, JAZZ AND COUNTRY GEMS!

This very special episode, in commemoration of PRIDE MONTH , will explore what scholars have called "The Pansy Craze" of the 1920s-30s a time when LGBTQ performers ruled the roost in clandestine nightclubs that catered to a gay and sophisticated clientele . Amazingly rare recordings by Jean Malin, Bruz Fletcher, Ray Bourbon and Gladys Bentley will be heard as well as silly tin pan alley ditties written to exploit that short lived largely underground moment

Written in 1910 by African American songwriter Sheldon Brooks, the SOME OF THESE DAYS took on a new life after being embraced by popular Vaudeville singer SOPHIE TUCKER who made it her theme song and sang it nonstop in her act until her death in 1966. By 1966 the song had long before become a jazz standard. Besides Sophie's three pre-1930 recordings of it the tune was recorded by numerous Jazz Bands, Torch Singers, Jazz Singers, Washboard Bands and it could b e heard in "nightclub scenes" in numerous pre-code Hollywood films! We play play just a few of those versions!

Since the 1920s Charlotte North Carolina was a destination for field recording by several of the major record labels. Victor and Bluebird specifically recorded a fabulous array of Country Singers, String Bands, Gospel Quartets and "territory" Jazz Bands. Among several others Bill Monroe and his Brother Charlie started their recording career in Charlotte. This episode re-visits some of the great variety of American Music recorded at those sessions in the 1920s-30s

Joe plays a mixture of 78s from his collection and of his friends! Perfect for a "Moldie Fig" barbecue soundtrack! You Will have swingin' tracks by Mart Britt & His Orchestra, Carl Webster's Yale Collegians, Carter Family and much more!

This episode, besides an array of rare Blues, Jazz and Country recordings focuses on a variety of different versions of the classic 1913 tune AFTER YOU'VE GONE from Fats to Sophie and then some!

Besides a fun selection of pre-war Blues. Jazz and Country in this episode Joe explores the origins and development of Jelly Roll Morton's classic KING PORTER STOMP - from piano solo to swing band standard

The ASHEVILLE SHELLAC BASH is by far the most eclectic gathering of pre-war Blues, Country and Jazz 78 rpm record collectors and musicians . This year's "Bash" - the first since a covid shut down of a few years, was one for the books. This show is dedication to Brody Hunt and Hunter Holmes, the event's organizers and the many collectors who traveled the world to attend. I will only play 78's acquired at that great event that now have a place in my collection.....Shellac by BLIND WILLIE, LOUIS' HOT 5, SISTER ROSETTA, WEST VIRGINIA OWLS, SAM COLLINS , CHARLIE POOLE and more will be featured!