American blues singer
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"Bye bye blackbird" (de l'
TABLE READ: My Lady's SongWritten by Dan LauriaNew York. Late-night Eighth Avenue. Strip clubs, limos, politicians, porn stars, and ghosts of the old neighborhood.My Lady's Song drops you straight into the smoky, blood-soaked underbelly of a city that doesn't forgive and never forgets.Sal “The Barber” Marino is an aging ex-soldier of the streets — a limo driver who once did twelve years without talking. Now he drives high-end clients and keeps his head down. But when a powerful senator, a pair of porn stars, and a blackmail tape collide during sensitive union negotiations, Sal is pulled back into a world he thought he left behind.This is not a nostalgia piece.This is loyalty versus survival.Old code versus new money.Family versus leverage.Set against a soundtrack style of Billie Holiday, Etta James, Dinah Washington, and Bessie Smith, My Lady's Song moves like Goodfellas at midnight and feels like The Sopranos when the jokes stop being funny.What starts as a simple drive to Los Angeles turns into a reckoning — with betrayal, with memory, and with the cost of keeping your mouth shut.Nobody in podcasting is bringing this level of writing, performance, and cinematic scope.This is prestige drama.Performed. Not narrated.Hollywood caliber. Start to finish.___________________________________
"Luminate is a company that tracks the Entertainment Industry pointing out data analytics and trends. Their 2025 report has come out and it points to overall listenership being up. Listening to new music is way down. There are also some interesting data points regarding AI."
"The internet loves lists. The click bait ones often choose to list the worst of something and choose the best of it just to upset the audience for engagement. I can usually ignore these but this one really bugged me for some reason. I'll tell you the list and debunk it and offer some of mine."
Today's show features music performed by Bessie Smith
"The Rockin 1000 is a project that started in Italy as gag to create a video of 1000 musicians playing Learn to Fly in order to get the Foo Fighters to come and put on a concert. It has since grown into full scale concerts across Europe. On January 31 the Rockin 1000 played their first concert in America, in New Orleans, and I was part of the band. Let me tell you the story."
"Every year I hear people complaining that the NFL makes lousy picks for the Super Bowl halftime show. If the picks are lousy then ratings must tank. But they do not. In fact the halftime show has never been better watched. We have a long list of ratings and demographics to show that the NFL seems to know what they are doing."
"We are coming into tax season so Tammy and will talk about paying the government. The HITS Act is now in full swing. Foreign governments are changing their tax codes for musicians and we also have a list of what you might not have known was tax deductible."
"In our New Year show we related an article that suggested that 3D spatial audio was going to be popular in 2026. Tammy asked for an explanation of 3D audio so here it is. We have examples of both new songs and classic music that has been remixed into a spatial audio format."
"A report from Spikerz, an Israeli company that tracks hacking, suggests that in 2025, music hacks were a sizeable number of methods bad actors were using to extract money from unsuspecting persons and companies. We have the numbers and multiple examples."
"This is our second of two year opening shows. We will cover new Public Domain availability, anniversaries for this new year and some predictions for 2026."
Songs include Valencia by Paul Whiteman, Black Bottom Stomp by Jelly Roll Morton, White House Blues by Charlie Poole, Hebbie Jebbies by Louis Armstrong, Lost Your Head Blues by Bessie Smith and I'm Sitting On Top Of the World by Al Jolson.
Send us a textIntro: The Prisoner's Song by Vernon Dalhart (1924)10. Down Hearted Blues by Bessie Smith (1923)9. It Had to Be You by Isham Jones Orchestra (1924)8. Blue Yodel No. 1 (T for Texas) by Jimmie Rodgers (1928)7. West End Blues by Louis Armstrong and His Hot Five (1928)6. Dardenella by Ben Selvin and His Novelty Orchestra (1920)Outro: I Can't Give You Anything But Love by Cliff Edwards (1928)
Participants: John Steppling, Hiroyuki Hamada, Ray Hosseini, John Bower and Dennis Riches. Topics covered: Aging and dead celebrities, working for the man, covert and overt funding of the arts during the cold war and post-cold war period, self-censoring artists, celebrities shilling for Zionism, Seymour Hersh, Blackrock losing its bet in Ukraine, why do China and Russia do so little for Palestine? does the “ceasefire” deflate support for Palestine? the impossible energy demands of data processing centers, the nightmare that is Elon Musk's vision for the future. Music track: “Thinking Blues” by Bessie Smith (public domain).
"This is our first of two year opening shows. We will cover new Public Domain availability, anniversaries for this new year and some predictions for 2026."
"This is our second Christmas show of 2025. We are giving more trivia and history for many of your favorite songs. It is quite a list."
"NOTE. This show is being posted a week early due to our Holiday travel. Enjoy two shows this week. This is our traditional end-of-year show were we give one last tip of the hat to the musicians who passed in 2025. "
Ed Ward and host Nate Wilcox fill in a gap in our discussion of his epic History of Rock & Roll Part 1, 1920-1963 with a look at how African-American pop music transformed itself thru the swing era, the rise & fall of the blues queens, the thin line between jazz and blues, the first guitar heroes and the greatest American musical superstar you've probably barely heard of, Louis Jordan. GO TO THE LET IT ROLL SUBSTACK TO HEAR THE FULL EPISODE -- The final 15 minutes of this episode are exclusively for paying subscribers to the Let It Roll Substack. Also subscribe to the LET IT ROLL EXTRA feed on Apple, Spotify or your preferred podcast service to access the full episodes via your preferred podcast outlet. We've got all 350+ episodes listed, organized by mini-series, genre, era, co-host, guest and more. Please consider becoming a paid subscriber to support the show. Thanks! Email letitrollpodcast@gmail.com Follow us on Twitter. Let It Roll is proud to be part of Pantheon Podcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
"This is the first show of our annual Christmas double header. We did a show years back that looked at the history and trivia of classic Christmas Carols. For these shows we chose a whole bunch of songs we did not cover in that previous show. Get ready for a lot of information about your favorite songs of the season."
Sleigh rides in July, swinging Santas, holidays in Harlem, ca. 1920s-1940s. Music: Swingin' Them Jingle Bells (1936) - Fats Waller & His Rhythm; Santa Claus Came in the Spring (1935) - Benny Goodman & His Orchestra; Santa Claus Blues (1924) - Eva Taylor, Clarence Williams' Blue Five; I Told Santa Claus to Bring Me You (1937) - Bernie Cummins, Holiday in Harlem (1937) - Ella Fitzgerald, Chick Webb; Snowy Morning Blues (V-disc 1943) - James P. Johnson; Winter Weather (1941) - Fats Waller & His Rhythm; Snowfall (1941) - Claude Thornhill & His Orchestra; I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm (1937) - Billie Holiday; Christmas Morning Blues (1926) - Victoria Spivey, Lonnie Johnson; Santa Claus Crave (1927) - Elzadie Robinson; Santa Claus, Bring My Man Back (1928) - Ozie Ware, Duke Ellington Hot Five; At the Christmas Ball (1925) - Bessie Smith; Christmas Night in Harlem (1934) - Paul Whiteman; Winter Weather (1941) - Peggy Lee, Benny Goodman.
"We have broken down the meaning of American Pie and Creeque Alley and now it its time for We Didnt Start the Fire from Billy Joel. Listen closely. We go pretty quick."
"The The Office of the US Trade Representative has released their 2024 Piracy Report listing the notorious markets for counterfeiting and piracy. The practice is alive and well. This report dedicated an entire section just to music. We will tell you what it said."
"This is our annual Thanksgiving show. Thanksgiving is celebrated in many counties other than the United States. We will tell you the list and and how the people celebrate. Plus play songs about Thanksgiving food."
"Video may have killed the radio star but streaming and individual choices in music killed the video. Paramount Global has begun shutting down Mtv channels in Europe and reports are that soon it will come to the United States. Mtv is 44 and it looks like it may not make it to 45. "
"At least three record companies have extended million dollar contracts to people who create AI music. The US Copyright office has said it will begin extending protection those who use AI as a tool. The PROs will extend licensing. We will tell you what is going on."
"The number changes, but as of the writing of this description, only 1883 songs have topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart including all its earlier versions. This week back in 1990, the first rap song topped the chart. That got me wondering how many other firsts and other interesting facts surround the top spot. Here is a list."
"Be happy while ye live, for ye'll be a long time dead." Something terrible is wending its way to Bessie Smith's small cottage, something that no amount of warding spells or charms may avert. As her inner circle is ripped apart from her, and terrible lies become the music of the land, she asks one question: Will she ever dance freely again? A story of witchcraft and resistance by Morgan Sylvia, read by Jessica Taige with sound design by Fred Greenhalgh, music by Blue Dot Sessions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
"Be happy while ye live, for ye'll be a long time dead." Something terrible is wending its way to Bessie Smith's small cottage, something that no amount of warding spells or charms may avert. As her inner circle is ripped apart from her, and terrible lies become the music of the land, she asks one question: Will she ever dance freely again? A story of witchcraft and resistance by Morgan Sylvia, read by Jessica Taige with sound design by Fred Greenhalgh, music by Blue Dot Sessions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
"The NOW CDs, as they are often called, started in the UK in 1998 with Richard Branson. They were a hit out of the gate, each crafted to a specific formula. They are a professionally made mix tape. We have the full history and a good bit of trivia about the series."
This episode of Across The Margin : The Podcast features an interview with singer-songwriter Jenna Nicholls. Hailing from the small town of Irwin, PA near Pittsburgh, after college Jenna set her sights east to test her wings as a songwriter and performer. Initially trying Boston, she ultimately gravitated to the creative hotbed of Manhattan's Lower East Side forging lasting friendships with other like-minded artists and musicians. Jenna made three albums on her own dime: Curled Up Toes in Red Mary Janes, The Blooming Hour, and Radio Parade. The albums revealed a restless muse and a theme that would be a constant for Nicholls: a love of vintage music – anything from classic music films like “Singin' in the Rain” to Bessie Smith. Her latest album — The Commuter — is the focus of this episode. The title of Jenna Nicholls' new album The Commuter is fitting in every sense — the story of a journey both musical and personal. The recording signals a departure and new beginnings: a new producer (multiple Grammy winner Larry Campbell), a new record label (Hudson Valley based Royal Potato Family), a lusher sound with inventive, fleshed-out arrangements, and an astoundingly wide-ranging collection of original songs. The constant: Jenna's unique ability to transport the listener to a different place and time with her writing and inspired singing. The Commuter displays Jenna's melodic and lyrical gifts in full flower. It's a cinematic trip that takes the listener to 1930's Parisian cafés, New Orleans juke joints, and beyond. It is an album that communicates the excitement of venturing forth and the reassurance of returning home to an abiding love. Learn all about it and more in this episode. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
"Cryptozoology is the study of a creature that probably doesn ot exist. Think Bigfoot. What is great about it is that every state seems to have its own monster. Maybe people really do think it exists or maybe it was invented to scare children at Halloween. We built up a list along with songs about candy. It is Halloween 2025."
Here is my music podcast of Bluesland October 9, 2025. Enjoy the music of Stevie Ray Vaughan, Larkin Poe, The Blind Boys of Alabama, Humble Pie, Savoy Brown, Bessie Smith and more. Just click on the link/picture and enjoy. See you next Thursday 7-9 PM on KMRE 88.3 FM.
"Many music outlets noticed there was no traditional Summer Song this year. No poppy dance tune that rose to the top of the charts. The Billboard Summer Song chart claimed a number one but it was a down tempo ballad. We will explore what happened and why."
"Many countries around the world take time each year to poll their citizens about their favorite songs. It usually happens around Christmas and a major media outlet plays the songs. We will tell you about some of the biggest ones and try to figure out why we don't do that here in America."
On the September 26 edition of the Music History Today Podcast, On today's show, a famous musical premieres, a musical film premieres, & the Empress of the Blues passes awayFor more music history, subscribe to my Spotify Channel or subscribe to the audio version of my music history podcasts, wherever you get your podcasts fromALL MUSIC HISTORY TODAY PODCAST NETWORK LINKS - https://allmylinks.com/musichistorytoday
"An Idiom is a group of words that suggest a meaning different than their specific words. Many of them come from the world of music and we have created a solid list. You will recognize a lot of them."
"This past 4th of July someone posted the Preamble and I wondered who the singer was. I watched a few more and wondered who they were. We will answer that today. We will play some of their Schoolhouse Rock song and then one of their singles. Plus we have some trivia about the show."
"Long before American Idol and Americas Got Talent, there was Star Search. It was pretty schmaltzy but looking back, some of the biggest singers, actors and comedians got their big break on Star Search. We have grabbed as many examples as we could."
"Here is a game to play. Name as many two minute songs as you can following these rules. Only one song per group and you cannot name just punk songs. We then go one step farther and change the game to as many one minute songs as you can."
"A band named The Velvet Sundown had a hit a short while ago. The concern was that the band and the music were all fake. They were both fully AI generated. It is easier than you think. We have the story and some examples of when I did the same thing for an audience just to prove how easy it is to do."
Today we feature two black female vocalists, born 66 years apart, both renown for their independent spirit, singing songs about trying to make love work - despite clear signs to the contrary. As artists, they've both shunned the spotlight, maintaining the mystery of their magic: Sippie Wallace quit show business for 30 years, preferring to express herself through her church organ, and LGBTQ icon Tracy Chapman staunchly separates her private life from her public one. Sippie returned to the spotlight by way of the blues festivals of the 60s, and was celebrated and covered by Bonnie Raitt, among others, and although Tracy appears regularly to perform for political causes she champions, only recently did she resurface in a big way in the mind the general public, by way of an emotional re-appearance at the 2023 Grammy's to perform her song “Fast Car” in a duet with Luke Combs, who made it a Country hit almost 40 years after its original release. SIPPIE WALLACEOn this 1926 Okeh recording of “Special Delivery Blues”, we first hear the whistle of the approaching mail train, then the crescendoing piano rolls building up suspense musically. This wave of energy is capped by the immortal cornet of Louis Armstrong and the yearning phrases of Sippie Wallace begging for news of her man's return. She wishes and hopes that the guy who left her will come back soon, but it doesn't look good. Despite this, Sippie makes it clear she'll keep up the vigil as long as it takes.“The Texas Nightingale” built up her reputation playing tent shows, and releasing a spate of recordings that put her up there with Ma Rainy and Bessie Smith, but she decided to chuck it all and dedicate her musical talents to the Church, where she played organ for 30 plus years. During the folk/blues revival of the mid-1960s, she was rediscovered and enjoyed immense appreciation for another 20 years, until her death at age 88. TRACY CHAPMANI love GIVE ME ONE REASON because it's so simple and direct. Tracy is drawing a line: “I'm telling you that I love you, but you have to reciprocate, or I'm gone”. It's clearly stated without equivocation, but as the verses add up, you can just picture her, standing in the doorframe, giving her object of desire just one more chance, then another, then another…. Drawing one line, then moving it back a bit. She doesn't want to go, but it looks like she's going to have to.Tracy Chapman catapulted out of the Boston coffeehouse scene in 1986, 25 years after Joan Baez had accomplished the same feat, and her first single, “Fast Car,” a song which alluded to economic inequality, was ubiquitous - a definite anomaly during the MTV era, which shows that the public can respond to bare-boned honesty, (without bells and whistles), when they hear it. And, she has maintained her integrity as a socially conscious artist throughout the intervening decades.
"The Rock School show is now a part of the Library of Congress through their American Archive of Public Broadcasting. I know. I can barely believe it myself. Here is the story of the Library of Congress and how this all came to be. Check the calendar. It is not April and I am not fooling."
"This is a fun parlor game. Name a band, a song by that band and then an album from that band that are all named exactly the same. Here is an example. Bad Company by Bad Company on the album Bad Company. There are many that are close but a true Trilogy is all three exactly the same."
Songs include: Tico Tico by Ethel Smith, Jitterbug Waltz by Fats Waller, St Louis Blues by Bessie Smith, Twilight Time by The Three Suns, TV Is the Thing by Dinah Washington and Fuzzy Wuzzy by the Milt Hearth Trio.
"Naming a band can be quite difficult. The list of bands we will discuss today went back into history to grab a name or an event to come up with a moniker. You know a good many of them. "
"The K Pop band EXO claimed that one of their concerts in South Korea sold out in less than two seconds. It sounds impossible because you are not being told the entire story. It is a badge of honor for bands to sell out quickly. Other than EXO, who did legitimately sell out the fastest. We will tell you our pick."
"Often an actor will start a band once her or she is famous. However many actors start as musicians. Some saw great success. We have some surprising names this week."
"Rock and Roll really came into its own in the 1950s and once it did someone was always proclaiming it bad for the youth in one way or another. These were generally called Moral Panics. Here is the history and some examples of a few of the most popular Moral Panics."
"Here is the second show where we play songs you might not know were covers. Often the cover version of a song becomes a bigger hit. And even if you did know the hit was a cover you may not know the original. We will play you a few."
Kirk answers a bunch of listener questions on topics like bluegrass guitar, the music of Blue Prince, good apps for training theory skills, Robert Fripp's "Frippertronics," a mysterious sound on a Gene Clark song, different types of music notation, and the legacy of the blues. All that, and a trio of terrific singer/songwriters stops by the studio to help answer a question about lyrics.Come see Triple Click Live! Friday, July 11 at the Alberta Rose Theatre in Portland, OR. Tickets HereKirk has new music for sale on Bandcamp: Music For Podcasting and his original score for Arydia: The Paths We Dare TreadThanks to The Wailin' Jennys for coming on the show! Stay tuned for a full-length interview episode this summer, and go see them live if you can. They are amazing.FEATURED/DISCUSSED:“White Trash Wedding” by The Chicks from Home, 2002A live performance of “White Trash Wedding”“Simon's Theme” by Trigg & Gusset from the Blue Prince original soundtrack, 2025Kirk's recent essay about Blue Prince and musicTwo good free music sites: musictheory.net and muted.io“What Am I Here For” by Jade Bird from Something American - EP, 2017“Across The Sea” by The Wailin' Jennys from Bright Morning Stars, 2011“Lady of the North” by Gene Clark from No Other, 1974The terrific Wonder of Stevie podcastTantacrul's tremendous video about the history of music notation“Hammond Song” by The Roaches, 1979Chords of Orion video explaining and re-creating Frippertronics“The Heavenly Music Corporation II” by Robert Fripp and Brian Eno from No Pussyfooting, 1973“St. James Infirmary” rec. Joseph “King” Oliver, 1930“Cross Road Blues” rec. Robert Johnson, ~193x“Down Hearted Blues” rec. Bessie Smith, 1929Two versions of "Wedding Song" by Anaïs Mitchell from Hadestown, 2018Kirk's essay about musical creation and “The Spark”OUTRO SOLO: Rob Reich, prolific bay area multi-instrumentalist, died unexpectedly a few weeks ago at the age of 47. It's an unfathomable loss. Rob recorded an outro solo for Strong Songs back in its very first year, so we're including it in this episode as a tribute to him and his generous musical spirit. Read more about Rob here.----LINKS-----
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