Echoes of Indiana Avenue

In May of 2025, the Indianapolis keyboardist DeMorris “DeGe” Smith passed away. Smith was a beloved figure in the Naptown funk scene, known for his soulful keyboard work and his dedication to the local music community.  Join us as we pay tribute to Smith with music featuring his work as a funk keyboardist.  Smith's career spanned generations. He worked extensively with Indianapolis bands, like Epoxy, Redd Hott, Klas, Below Zero, and The Downstroke Band. He also performed and recorded with national acts too, including The Bar-Kays, The Deele and R.J's Latest Arrival. Outside of his work in music, Smith was a successful radio producer, working for WIBC for two decades.  Smith came from a musical family. His father Sonny Smith was a drummer who performed on the Avenue for decades with his band The Original Chromatics. Over the years, Sonny played with legendary Naptown musicians like David Baker and Erroll Grandy. Sonny was also a professional athlete, who played basketball with the Harlem Globetrotters and played baseball in the Negro Leagues with the Chicago American Giants. Smith's mother Margaret Smith was a music teacher in the Indianapolis Public School system. His brother Sparky Smith achieved success as a flute player in the local jazz scene. Sparky played with many local jazz legends, including David Young, Pookie Johnson, and Billy Wooten.

Enjoy the final episode in our three-part series exploring the music of Phil Ranelin, a legendary Indianapolis jazz trombonist. Listen to classic music from Ranelin, along with a recent interview he recorded with WFYI's Kyle Long. On this edition, Ranelin will discuss his lifelong friendship with jazz star Freddie Hubbard. Ranelin and Hubbard both attended Indianapolis' Arsenal Tech High School during the 1950s. Two decades later, they recorded three albums together. Ranelin will also reflect on his time in Detroit, where he co-founded the Tribe Records label, and performed with Motown musicians like Stevie Wonder and The Temptations.

This is the second episode in our three-part series exploring the music of Phil Ranelin. Listen to classic music from Ranelin, along with a recent interview he recorded with WFYI's Kyle Long.  On this edition, Ranelin will reflect on his work with Wes Montgomery and performing on Indiana Avenue. Ranelin will also discuss how his work has been embraced by a new generation of musicians, including Madlib, Kamasi Washington, and Carlos Niño.

On May 25th, the legendary Indianapolis jazz trombonist Phil Ranelin will turn 86 years old. For the next three weeks on Echoes of Indiana, we'll celebrate the anniversary of Ranelin's birthday by exploring his work in music. Listen to a recent interview Ranelin recorded with WFYI's Kyle Long, along with classic recordings from his discography.  Phil Ranelin was born in Indianapolis in 1939. He grew up on the city's east side in the Martindale Brightwood neighborhood and attended Arsenal Tech High School, where jazz icon Freddie Hubbard was also a student. Nearly two decades later they would record three albums together. During the 1960s, Ranelin was active on the local jazz scene, performing with Indianapolis jazz greats like Wes Montgomery, Pookie Johnson, David Young, and Freddie Hubbard.  Around 1968, Ranelin left Indianapolis for Detroit, becoming deeply involved in the city's dynamic music scene. While in Detroit he worked as a session musician and touring performer for Motown Records, appearing with artists including Stevie Wonder and The Temptations. But it was his work with Tribe jazz collective that elevated his legacy in music.  Ranelin co-founded Tribe in the early 1970s with saxophonist Wendell Harrison. Tribe started as a musical ensemble, but soon expanded into a record label, magazine and artist collective. Their work was explicitly political, advocating for Black empowerment and self-determination. Ranelin's tenure with Tribe Records produced a number of seminal albums including “The Time Is Now” and “Vibes from the Tribe.” These recordings blended traditional jazz with funk, and avant-garde techniques, helping to redefine the boundaries of the genre. Ranelin spent much of the last 40 years, living in Los Angeles, California.  But he recently returned to his hometown Indianapolis after suffering a severe stroke in 2021.  On this week's episode, hear music from Ranelin's most recent releases, including "The Found Tapes: Live in Los Angeles,” and “Tribe 2000.”

This week on Echoes of Indiana, we're joined by bassist and Ebony Rhythm Funk Campaign co-founder Lester Johnson to reflect on his early years in music. Lester got his start as a teenager playing on the Avenue with Harvey Cook and the Blue Tones.  We'll explore his time with groups like The Chordells and The Golden Soul Show Band, and talk about the deep musical roots in his family—including blues great Guitar Pete Franklin, jazz guitarist Johnny Shacklett, and his grandmother Flossie Franklin, who has been credited with writing lyrics for the Indianapolis blues legend Leroy Carr.

Listen to music from Herve Duerson and Turner Parrish, two important pianists who were active in the Indianapolis scene during the 1920s and '30s. Though they were not linked together professionally, they shared many common traits. Both men recorded blues and jazz music for Richmond, Indiana's Gennett Records, and both worked with the Naptown blues singer Teddy Moss.

During the 1960s and ‘70s, funk music flourished in Indianapolis. Local bands like The Highlighters, Amnesty, The Moonlighters, Billy Ball and The Upsetters, and The Presidents packed nightclubs clubs across the city, from Indiana Avenue to East 38th Street.  On March 16th, WFYI hosted a screening of the new PBS documentary WE WANT THE FUNK! at the Kan-Kan Cinema. The film explores the history of funk music, from its early jazz roots to its rise into popular culture. Before the screening, WFYI's Kyle Long moderated a panel discussion exploring the history of Indianapolis funk music. The panel featured four important pioneers of Naptown funk: Steve Weakley (Funk Incorporated), Lester Jonhson (Ebony Rhythm Funk Campaign), Reggie Griffin (Manchild), and Rodney Stepp (Rapture/The Spinners). Listen to excerpts from that conversation, along with music from legendary Indianapolis funk bands.

During the mid-20th Century, social clubs played a large role in the Black music scene of Indianapolis. Local social clubs, including the Defiants and Cosmo Knights, hosted major concerts and dances across the city. One of the earliest Indianapolis social clubs to make an impact on the city's music scene was The Bohemian Club. The Bohemian club was started in the early 1920s and included many prominent Indiana Avenue men, from civil servants, like the Indianapolis police officer Roy Kennedy, to William “Kid” Edwards, a boxing promoter, and owner of a radio and record shop, on the Avenue. During the 1920s and ‘30s, the Bohemian Club sponsored major concerts and dances, featuring national and local performers, including Earl Hines, Roy Eldridge, Cleo Brown, Speed Webb, Slim Green, and many others.  A 1947 article in the Indianapolis Recorder declared that “The Bohemian Club hosted the ritziest and most elegant affairs ever held along the Avenue.” The club also gave back to the community, as many of their events, were fundraisers for the Indianapolis Colored Orphans Home. This week on Echoes of Indiana Avenue, we'll celebrate the history of the Bohemian Club, by listening to music from artists who performed at their events.

The iconic jazz trumpet player Freddie Hubbard was born in Indianapolis on April 7th of 1938. During his extraordinary career, Hubbard made enormous contributions to hard bop and fusion music, performing on landmark albums by John Coltrane, Herbie Hancock, Quincy Jones, Sonny Rollins, Wayne Shorter and many others. Hubbard also issued many classic recordings as a bandleader. Nine of those albums appeared on the Billboard charts and his 1972 LP First Light earned a Grammy award for "Best Jazz Performance by a Group". Hubbard's technical mastery of the trumpet earned widespread critical acclaim and drew comparisons to legendary musicians like Miles Davis. Freddie  Hubbard passed away in 2008 at the age of 70, but his impact on music endures. His influence extends beyond jazz, shaping hip-hop as well. His recordings have been sampled by some of rap's most respected artists, including A Tribe Called Quest, Raekwon, Common, J Dilla, and MF DOOM. In this episode, we'll celebrate Hubbard's birthday by exploring the use of his music in hip-hop.

The legendary jazz musician Roy Ayers passed away earlier this year. Born in Los Angeles, California in 1940, Ayers is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in jazz, funk, and soul music.  Ayers released over 30 albums and performed with iconic jazz musicians including including Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter, Joe Henderson and many more. During his early career, Ayers worked extensively with Indiana musicians, including the Fort Wayne pianist Jack Wilson and the Indianapolis bassists Leroy Vinnegar and Monk Montgomery. On this episode, listen to music featuring Ayers' work with Naptown musicians.

Celebrate Women's History Month with music featuring the early blues women of Naptown. During the 1920s and ‘30s, Indiana Avenue was a Mecca for blues music, thanks in part, to the legendary Indianapolis blues duo of Leroy Carr and Scrapper Blackwell. Women also played a large role in the early Naptown blues scene, including Alura Mack, Bessie Brown, Laura Smith, and Nina Reeves, her 1923 single “Indiana Avenue Blues” was among the first wave of blues records released.

Celebrate Women's History Month with music from the soul women of Indiana Avenue. From the 1950s to the 1970s, R&B, soul, and funk music flourished in the nightclubs of Indiana Avenue. Women played a large role in the Naptown soul scene, from girl groups including The Indy's and The Pearls, to solo singers like Johnnie Mae and Lois Blaine. Hear music from Debbie Nelson, Pam Tanner, Elaine Livingston, Josephine Cheatham, Care Package, Charlotte Bailey and more.

Celebrate Women's History Month as we look back at Hazel Johnson's Women in Jazz festival. The festival ran from 1986 to 1991 at the Madam Walker Theatre and featured many important women from the Indianapolis jazz scene, including Flo Garvin, Aretta La Marre, Mary Moss, Cherryl Hayes, Vickie Daniels, Anita Walker, Brenda Walls, Margaret Floyd, Cyann Proffitt, Salathiel Latrell, and others. Listen to music from artists who performed at the festival, including never-before-heard live recordings of Hazel Johnson. Johnson started the Women in Jazz festival, to provide young and veteran women an opportunity to perform together. In a 1987 article published by the Indianapolis Star, Johnson said, “For many years men have dominated the jazz field. We feel the time is right for women to step out and receive the recognition we've been told we deserve.” The first Women in Jazz festival was held on October 12, 1986 and was hosted by the legendary Indianapolis broadcaster Barbara Boyd. Johnson was born in Indianapolis in 1944. She grew up in the Avenue neighborhood and attended Crispus Attucks High School. Johnson began singing as a child. By age 14, she was performing professionally with the Naptown bandleader Larry Liggett. During her long career, Johnson played at many Avenue venues and she performed with many significant Indianapolis musicians, including Pookie Johnson, Jimmy Coe, Mel Rhyne, Thurston Harris, Carl Bailey, Johnny Dial, Errol Grandy and many more.  During her final years, Johnson spent much of her time managing the Inner-City Music School, a program she co-founded in 1994 with her husband Mack Strong. The school provided free music education for Indianapolis youth. Johnson's contributions to jazz music were honored in 2007, when she was inducted into the Indianapolis Jazz Hall of Fame. Hazel Johnson died in 2011. She was 67 years old.

Celebrate Women's History Month with music from The Hampton Sisters, a legendary Indianapolis jazz quartet featuring Dawn, Virtue, Carmelita, and Aletra Hampton. They were born in Middletown, Ohio. Their birth dates spanned from 1915, when Aletra was born, to 1928, when Dawn, the youngest sister, was born. Their parents, Deacon and Laura Hampton, were both musicians. They had 12 children and together, they toured across the country as the Hampton Family Band. The experience they gained as children would serve them well later in life, as several members of the family pursued music as a professiom, including Slide Hampton, who became a world-renowned trombonist and arranger. In 1938, the Hampton Family settled in Indianapolis. During the 1940s and ‘50s the Hampton family band were stars on the Avenue. They appeared at local clubs including George's Bar, Walker Casino, Rum Boogie, Sky Club, Cotton Club, Paradise, Sunset Terrace, and the P&P Supper Club. The Hampton Family also performed at legendary venues outside of Indianapolis, including the Apollo, Carnegie Hall, and the Savoy Ballroom. The Hampton Sisters formed as an independent band during World War 2, when many male musicians were serving in the Armed Forces.

Explore the music of Arthur “Montana” Taylor, an important blues and boogie-woogie pianist who performed on Indiana Avenue during the 1920s. Montana is best known for a series of recordings he made in 1929 with the Vocalion Record Company. Among those recordings was an instrumental composition titled “Indiana Avenue Stomp”. Very little is known about Montana Taylor's early life. Some sources say he was born in Indianapolis in 1903, others list his place of birth as Butte, Montana. In a 1947 interview with Jazz Record magazine, Montana recalled growing up in Indianapolis. He began playing piano at 16 and by the age of 20 he was performing on the Avenue. Montana worked in Avenue venues including the Golden West Cafe and the Hole in the Wall. Montana was discovered by Vocalion Records while performing on the Avenue, when the label's Indianapolis talent scout, John Guernsey, spotted Montana playing in a neighborhood bar.  During his career as a recording artist, Montana cut over a dozen tracks, including instrumental compositions and collaborations with blues singers Chippie Hill and Lil Johnson.

Listen to the final episode in a three-part series exploring the complete works of Alonzo "Pookie" Johnson, a legendary Indianapolis jazz saxophonist. Johnson was a veteran of the Avenue music scene and performed with many legendary Naptown jazz musicians, including Wes Montgomery and Freddie Hubbard. On this edition, we'll share music from Johnson's 1996 album “Legacy” and his 2003 recording with The Hampton Sisters.

Listen to the second episode of our three-part series exploring the complete works Alonzo "Pookie" Johnson, a legendary Indianapolis jazz saxophonist. On this edition, we'll share rare and unreleased recordings featuring Johnson's work with Uncle Funkenstein, Jimmy Coe, Billy Wooten, and Steve Allee.

Enjoy the first in our three-part series on the complete recordings of the late Alonzo “Pookie” Johnson, a legendary Indiana Avenue jazz saxophonist. This episode explores his early recordings.  Many local jazz fans consider Johnson to be one of the greatest saxophonists in Indianapolis history. During his six-decade career, Johnson performed with the greatest jazz players in Naptown, including Wes Montgomery, Slide Hampton, Jimmy Coe, Carl Perkins, Virgil Jones, David Baker, Errol Grandy, Freddie Hubbard, and many more.  Johnson was born in Indianapolis in October 1927. He studied music at Crispus Attucks High School, and the Jordan Conservatory. Johnson was a veteran of the Avenue club scene, performing at legendary venues such as the Sky Club, George's Bar, The P&P Club, Henri's, the Golden West, Sunset Terrace, and the British Lounge.

Join us for a remembrance of Rev. Dennis H. Freeman, an important figure in Indianapolis gospel music. Freeman passed away on January 15, 2025, at 84. Listen to a 2021 interview WFYI's Kyle long recorded with Freeman, along with rare recordings of his music.  Rev. Dennis H. Freeman was a keyboardist, composer, arranger, bandleader, and choir director. In a monumental career, that stretched over eight decades, Freeman performed alongside the greatest names in gospel music, including James Cleveland, Dorothy Love Coates and the Gospel Harmonettes, The Caravans, Raymond Raspberry, The Mighty Clouds of Joy, Dorothy Norwod, The Soul Stirrers, The O'Neill Twins, and many others.  Freeman began working professionally in music as a teenager in the 1950s, playing organ at churches around the Indiana Avenue neighborhood. In 1959, he formed the Freeman Singers, a talented ensemble of singers that included the Indianapolis jazz vocalist Everett Green.  By the 1960s, Freeman had become a fixture of gospel music in Indiana. Freeman took part in many historic events in Hoosier gospel music, including Mahalia Jackson's 1966 concert at Clowes Hall, and the first Indiana Black Expo in 1971.  Freeman's music was heard across the country, on the many albums, singles and tapes he released.

Celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day, with an hour of gospel music from artists who performed on the Avenue, as we explore the connection between gospel music and the struggle for civil rights.  Also hear an interview with the Indianapolis-based historic preservationist Claudia Polley, she attended King's 1959 speech in the Avenue neighborhood. Gospel music played a profound role in the civil rights movement, serving as both a source of spiritual nourishment and a rallying cry for social change. Enjoy music from local and national artists, including The Wandering Travelers, Staple Singers, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Mahalia Jackson, Dorothy Love Coates, and more.

For nearly 100 years, the term Naptown has been used as a nickname for the city of Indianapolis. The origin of the term Naptown has been a subject of debate for many decades. While the exact origins may never be known, the usage of Naptown was popularized on Indiana Avenue, and the name was spread nationally by local blues and boogie-woogie musicians.  This week on Echoes of Indiana Avenue, listen to music celebrating Naptown from local jazz, blues, and soul musicians.

Explore the life and music of saxophonist Eddie Chamblee, best known for his work in jazz and R&B music. Chamblee worked with many legendary performers, including Lionel Hampton, T-Bone Walker, Memphis Slim, and Dinah Washington. In fact, Chamblee was married to Dinah Washington in 1957. Eddie Chamblee was born, in Atlanta, Georgia in 1920. By 1928, he was living in Indianapolis. His father, Robert Chamblee, was president of the Citizens Life Insurance Company. Their offices were located at 229 Indiana Avenue. After spending several years in Indianapolis, Chamblee's family moved to Chicago. But Chamblee would eventually return to Indianapolis.  From 1953, to 1955, Chamblee held down a series of steady gigs at the Indiana Avenue club George's Bar, where he became famous for playing his sax while swinging from the club's rafters. During the 1950s, Chamblee performed at many Indiana Avenue venues, including Sunset Terrace, the Walker Theatre, and Ferguson Hotel.

In February of 2024, the legendary Avenue jazz drummer and entrepreneur Al Coleman passed away. This week on Echoes of Indiana Avenue, learn about Coleman's life. Hear interviews with his brother, organist Phil Coleman, and his friend and bandmate, guitarist Steve Weakley.  Al Coleman was born in Indianapolis in 1927. He graduated from Crispus Attucks High School and studied music at the Jordan Conservatory. During his career, Coleman played with legendary Naptown musicians, including Wes Montgomery, Leroy Vineggar, and Jimmy Coe. But he's best known for his work with the Three Souls, a jazz trio he co-founded during the late 1950s.  Coleman was also a celebrated entrepreneur. He owned a vending machine company, car wash, and the Cole-Smith Manor motel. But his best-known business venture was Al's British Lounge, an Indiana Avenue jazz club. The British Lounge has been called the last great jazz club on the Avenue.  Coleman also gave back to his community. In 1978, he opened the Jacer Inn Family Retreat in Rochdale, Indiana. The Jacer Inn offered a variety of health and social services to inner-city residents.

Learn about the history of Indianapolis Recorder's midnight Christmas benefit concerts at the Walker Theatre.  The concerts featured up to 60 acts and ran from midnight until 6 in the morning. Some of the greatest jazz, funk, and R&B musicians in Naptown performed at the midnight Christmas shows — including Wes Montgomery, Thurston Harris and Slide Hampton. But the entertainment wasn't limited to music alone — there were drag queens, burlesque dancers, fire-eaters, snake handlers, body builders and comedians. The concerts developed from the Indianapolis Recorder Cheer Fund. Established in 1929, the Cheer Fund was an annual holiday fundraiser that supported families in financial need. During the 1930s the Cheer Fund evolved into a benefit concert. These concerts attracted star performers, including the legendary tap dancer Bill “Bojangles” Robinson who performed at the Recorder's 1938 benefit show. The Recorder's midnight Christmas benefit concerts thrived until the 1980s. Listen to interviews with Indianapolis musicians and media personalities who performed at the Christmas benefit shows, including Henry Hinch, Josephine Cheatham, Rodney Stepp, Reggie Gammon, Debbie Nelson, Tyrone Caldwell, Richard Hamilton, Eunice Trotter, Geno Shelton and the late Joe Trotter.

On December 19 of 1970, the Indianapolis affiliate of the Southern Leadership Conference's Operation Breadbasket held a “Black Christmas Parade” on Indiana Avenue. The parade featured marching bands, floats, and local celebrities. The grand marshal of the parade was the Soul Saint, an Afrocentric version of Santa Claus.  The “Black Christmas Parade” was part of a full day of events, that also included a keynote speech from Reverend Jesse Jackson. The day ended with a ”Black Christmas Party” at Foster's Motor Lodge, featuring the greatest funk and soul bands in Indianapolis, including The Highlighters, The Moonlighters, The Turner Brothers, Indy 5, The Perfections, and others. The purpose of the “Black Christmas Parade” was bigger than spreading holiday cheer. A spokesperson for Operation Breadbasket said the parade was created to raise awareness of the services and products available through local Black business owners, and to develop a sense of Black pride in the Indianapolis community.  This week on Echoes of Indiana Avenue, listen to a tribute to the “Black Christmas Parade”, featuring music from Indianapolis bands that performed at the event.

Listen to a tribute to the legendary jazz drummer Roy Haynes. He passed away last November at the age of 99. Hear classic jazz music from Haynes, featuring his work with the jazz masters of Indiana Avenue.  Roy Haynes was among the greatest and most influential drummers in the history of jazz music. Though Haynes spent the majority of his life in New York, he performed with many legends of the Indiana Avenue jazz scene, including Freddie Hubbard, J.J. Johnson, Larry Ridley, Bill Jennings, James Spaulding and more. Haynes was born in Boston, Massachusetts in 1925. He began playing drums professionally, as a teenager during the early 1940s. His crisp and distinctive sound on the drums earned him the nickname “Snap Crackle”. By the end of the 1940s, Roy was playing with the greatest stars in jazz, including Lester Young, and Charlie Parker. In the following decades, Roy continued to be a dominating force in jazz, performing with Sarah Vaughan, John Coltrane, Thelonius Monk, Chick Correa, and dozens of other iconic jazz artists.

Listen to the final episode in our three-part series celebrating the 100th anniversary of the birth of trombonist J.J. Johnson, one of the greatest jazz icons to emerge from Indianapolis. On this edition, we'll focus on Johnson's work in third stream music––a term coined by the conductor and composer Gunther Schuller in 1957 as a blend of classical and jazz music. Johnson was involved in the early development of third stream music and the genre left a lasting influence on his work. Johnson composed several important third steam works, including “Perceptions”, a composition for solo trumpet and large jazz orchestra. The piece was commissioned by the jazz legend Dizzy Gillespie and recorded for Verve Records in 1961.  Hear excerpts from “Perceptions” and other third stream compositions by Johnson.

Listen to the second episode in our three-part series celebrating the 100th anniversary of the birth of trombonist J.J. Johnson, one of the greatest jazz icons to emerge from Indianapolis. On this edition, we'll focus on Johnson's work in bebop and hard bop music. Johnson worked with many of the greatest legends in bebop, including Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, Max Roach, and many others.

Listen to the first episode in our three-part series celebrating the 100th anniversary of the birth of trombonist J.J. Johnson, one of the greatest jazz icons to emerge from Indianapolis.  On this edition, listen to a discussion recorded live at the Jazz Kitchen, featuring an all-star panel of jazz musicians discussing Johnson's work. The event was moderated by WFYI's Kyle Long, and features commentary from musicians Phil Ranelin, Steve Turre, Rob Dixon, Steve Allee, and Pharez Whitted. Johnson's widow Carolyn Johnson also made a special appearance onstage.

Listen to the music of Quincy Jones and the masters of Indiana Avenue jazz. Quincy Jones was a legendary producer, musician, composer, and arranger. He died earlier this month at the age of 91.  Jones worked with many of the biggest stars in popular music, producing and arranging music for iconic performers, including Michael Jackson and Frank Sinatra. As a composer, Jones broke racial barriers in Hollywood, becoming one of the first Black musicians to score soundtracks for major films and television programs. During his historic career, Jones received many accolades, including 28 Grammys, an Emmy, a Tony, and seven Academy Award nominations. During his early years in music, Jones worked extensively, with musician from Indiana Avenue, including the Montgomery Brothers, Freddie Hubbard, David Baker, Pookie Johnson, Virgil Jones, J.J. Johnson, Carl Perkins, Leroy Vinnegar, and more. It's possible Jones himself played on the Avenue. From 1951 to 1953, Jones toured with the Lionel Hampton band as a trumpet player and arranger. During that time, the band played at Indiana Avenue's Sunset Terrace, on Thanksgiving Day of 1952. In the liner notes for the Wes Montgomery anthology “In the Beginning,” Jones recalled sleeping on Montgomery's floor when the Hampton band toured through Indianapolis.

Explore the music of the Indianapolis trumpet player Joe Mitchell. He performed with many legendary bandleaders including Ray Charles, Count Basie, Jimmy Coe, and Earl Bostic. Mitchell was born in Youngstown, Ohio in 1929. By the 1940s, he was living in Indianapolis. Mitchell attended Crispus Attucks High School and by the age of 19 he was playing with the greatest jazz musicians in Indianapolis, including Pookie Johnson, Willis Kirk, Reginald Duvalle, Monk Montgomery,  Carl Perkins and others.

Celebrate Halloween with a spooky playlist of music featuring artists who performed on the Avenue. From the Sunset Terrace to the Walker Theatre, Halloween was a big part of the Avenue nightlife scene. Every year, clubs across the neighborhood featured concerts, dances, and costume contests to celebrate the occasion. Join us for music featuring Ella Fitzgerald, Duke Ellington, Bessie Smith, Louis Armstrong, Cab Calloway, and more.

Listen to music from the trombonist, disc jockey, and bandleader Doc Wheeler Morin. Doc was a star of the Avenue music scene during the early 1930s. He was born in Franklin, Indiana in 1910, and grew up in Muncie. By age 18, Doc was living in Indianapolis, performing in the pit orchestra at the newly opened Madame Walker Theatre. In 1935, Doc started his own orchestra. The band was a hit on the Avenue, playing at neighborhood venues including the Walker Casino, Dee's Paradise, and the Trianon Ballroom. During the late 1930s, Doc left Naptown for New York. He found success as bandleader for the Sunset Royal Serenaders, later known as the Sunset Orchestra. In 1941 they cut a series of recordings for RCA's Bluebird label. Doc's music influenced some of the biggest stars of big band music, including Tommy Dorsey.

We're looking back at the life and music of vocalist Jerry Daniels, a founding member of the world-famous Ink Spots.  The Ink Spots were founded around 1933 by four young Indianapolis singers, Deek Watson, Orville Jones, Charlie Fuqua, and Jerry Daniels. They would go on to become one of the most influential acts in American music, inspiring an entire generation of doo-wop, R&B, and rock and roll musicians. In 1989 the Ink Spots were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the only Indianapolis act to receive this honor. Jerry Daniels left the Ink Spots in 1936, though his time with the group was short, he played a large role in establishing their unique sound. Join us for music from Daniels, featuring his early work with the Ink Spots, and his last recordings during the 1980s.

This week we explore the music of the Naptown trumpet player Michael Ridley. Michael played with some of the biggest stars in American music, including Stevie Wonder, James Brown, Wilson Pickett, and Otis Redding. But he's best known for his work in jazz. Michael performed with many jazz greats, from Archie Shepp to Jimmy McGriff.  Michael Ridley was born in Indianapolis in 1939. At that time, his family lived in Lockefield Gardens — a federal housing project located on the Avenue. Ridley attended Shortridge High School. He performed with the school band and studied music at the MacArthur Conservatory on Indiana Avenue. There was music in Ridley's home too. His older brother, Larry Ridley, is a legendary jazz bassist known for his work with Thelonius Monk, Freddie Hubbard, Chet Baker, and others.

Listen to a tribute to the Philadelphia saxophonist and composer Benny Golson. He passed away on September 21st at the age of 95.  Throughout his career, Golson performed with legends of the Indiana Avenue jazz scene, including Freddie Hubbard and J.J. Johnson.  Hear music featuring Golson's collaborations with Indianapolis jazz musicians, along with recordings of Golson's music from notable Avenue jazz stars, like Wes Montgomery and Slide Hampton.

Listen to music from Paul Parker, an important Indianapolis jazz drummer. Parker was among the most respected drummers on the Avenue jazz scene. He was best known for his work with Wes Montgomery, but also performed with Freddie Hubbard, Larry Ridley, James Spaulding, Melvin Rhyne and many others.

Listen to the final episode in our two-part series exploring the music of Earl “Fox” Walker, a legendary Indianapolis jazz drummer.  On this week's show, we'll focus on Walker's recordings with the Indianapolis music legend Jimmy Coe. During the 1950s, Walker performed regularly with Coe on Indiana Avenue. They were also featured on many recordings together, including The Students' doo-wop ballad “I'm So Young,” a top 40 Billboard R&B hit in 1961.

For the next two weeks, explore the music of Earl “Fox” Walker, a legendary Indianapolis jazz drummer.  Walker worked with many local, and national bandleaders, including Tiny Bradshaw, Gene Pope, Buddy Bryant, and Jimmy Williams. But he's best known for his recordings with the Jimmy Coe and Lionel Hampton bands.  Walker performed extensively on the Avenue, appearing at venues including Dee's Paradise, Club Ebony, George's Bar, the Defense Club, the Walker Theatre, Sky Club, Royal Roost, the P&P Club, and more.  Walker was born in 1921, and by the age of 19 he was known as one of the greatest jazz drummers in Indianapolis. Sadly, Walker's life was cut short. He died at the age of 38. But he accomplished so much during his brief career.  On this week's show, we'll focus on Walker's recordings with the Lionel Hampton band. He played with Hampton from 1946 to 1949. During that time, Hampton's band also featured the Indianapolis jazz great Wes Montgomery on guitar.

Explore the music of “Mr. Trumpet” Roger Jones, a legendary Indianapolis jazz musician who performed with artists including Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Cab Calloway, Wes Montgomery, Sarah Vaughan and others. During the mid-20th century, Jones was considered the top trumpet player in Indianapolis. Jones was born in Carbondale, Illinois in 1913. By the time he was a teenager, Jones was living in Indianapolis, studying music with Harold Brown at Crispus Attucks High School. Jones began perfprming professionally as a teenager with the Brown Buddies band, and he played some of his first gigs on the Avenue. During the late 1930s, Jones left Indianapolis with the Don Redman Orchestra, for the next decade, he worked regularly with the greatest icons of jazz.

Hear a tribute to the famed Indianapolis soul singer Jimmy Guilford, he passed away earlier this month. Jimmy Guilford started his career singing doo-wop on the streets of Indiana Avenue. His talents would eventually carry him to the Apollo Theater in New York, the nightclubs of Las Vegas, and the recording studios of Detroit, where Jimmy cut a series of classic soul singles. Guilford's career in Indianapolis spanned over six decades of music making. He worked with some of the greatest music legends in Indianapolis, from the jazz icon Wes Montgomery to the rock and roll star Thurston Harris.  We'll share a 2019 interview Guilford recorded with WFYI's Kyle Long, along with rare singles he recorded with the Lamplighters and Four Sounds.

Listen to the final episode in a three-part series exploring the music of Little Bill Gaither, a legendary Indianapolis blues singer and guitarist. On this week's edition, hear a selection of music from Gaither's final recordings.  Gaither had a prolific career as a recording artist, cutting over 100 songs from 1935 to 1941. His music career was interrupted by the outbreak of World War II. Gaither was drafted in 1942, serving in the African American 1st Battalion of the 24th Infantry Regiment. Gaither spent his final years, working as a maintenance man for MCL Cafeteria. He died in Indianapolis on October 30th, of 1970.

The second episode in a three-part series exploring the music of Little Bill Gaither, a legendary Indianapolis blues singer and guitarist. Gaither's music was heavily influenced by the famous Indianapolis blues duo of Leroy Carr and Scrapper Blackwell. Gaither performed many of Carr's songs and imitated the unique guitar style of Blackwell. When Carr died in 1935, Gaither began performing under the name “Leroy's Buddy”, as a tribute to his friend. On this week's edition, we'll focus on Gaither's interpretations of Carr's music.

For the next three weeks we'll explore the music of Little Bill Gaither, a legendary Indianapolis blues singer and guitarist. Gaither was born in Kentucky in 1910. He spent his childhood in Louisville and moved to Indianapolis in the early 1930s. Gaither quickly found his place in the early Naptown blues scene, partnering with a local piano player named George “Honey” Hill”. They would go on to record dozens of classic blues records together. Gaither left behind a large catalog of music. From 1935 to 1941, he recorded over 100 songs for labels including Decca and Okeh. Gaither's music documented his life in Indianapolis, from the good times he had on the Avenue, to serious themes, like the outbreak of World War II, and the tuberculosis epidemic.  On this edition, listen to the early recordings of Little Bill Gaither.