Podcasts about Naptown

This week on Echoes of Indiana Avenue, we remember the legendary Naptown funk vocalist Kevin “Flash” Ferrell, who died on May 30, 2026. Flash performed with some of Indianapolis's most influential funk bands, including Rhythm Machine, Redd Hott, and Manchild. Hear music from across his career, along with reflections on his legacy from former Manchild manager Sid Johnson.

This week on Echoes of Indiana Avenue, we'll pay tribute to the legendary jazz saxophonist Sonny Rollins. He died on May 25th, 2026, at the age of 95. Explore Rollins' collaborations with the jazz masters of Indiana Avenue and trace the connections between his work and the musicians who helped define the sound of Naptown jazz.

This is our third and final installment of our centennial celebration of Miles Davis. May 26 marks the 100th anniversary of his birth. Join Rodney Stepp as we spotlight the music of Carl Perkins, one of the most important jazz pianists to emerge from Indiana Avenue, and one of Miles Davis' favorite pianists.

This week on Echoes of Indiana Avenue, we'll continue our centennial celebration of Miles Davis — May 26 marks the 100th anniversary of his birth. He influenced musicians around the world, including two of Naptown's most iconic jazz stars: guitarist Wes Montgomery and trumpeter Freddie Hubbard. Join us for songs featuring Montgomery and Hubbard performing the music of Miles Davis.

On May 26, 2026, music fans around the world will mark the 100th anniversary of the birth of Miles Davis — the legendary jazz trumpeter, composer, and bandleader whose life stands as one of the defining stories in American music. Join host Rodney Stepp to celebrate Davis' centennial by listening to his work with the legendary Naptown trombonist J. J. Johnson. Photo courtesy of the Indiana Historical Society.

Indianapolis-based rapper, musician, and writer Foosie discusses his debut album, “All-American Ghetto.” The album draws on his life — from growing up in Indianapolis' Mapleton-Fall Creek neighborhood to serving a 20-year prison sentence. During his incarceration, he learned to play acoustic guitar and developed his voice as a writer through the Indiana Prison Writers Workshop. In this conversation, Foosie reflects on that journey — and on the music and family that shaped him, including his uncle, Vonzell Wheeler of the legendary Naptown soul group The Vanguards.

Join host Rodney Stepp as we explore “The Lost Sessions,” a new release from one of Naptown's most historic funk bands: Ebony Rhythm Funk Campaign. These newly recovered recordings capture the band at a pivotal moment and document a sound in transition, as they added a jazzier edge to its trademark funk style. We'll be joined by the group's co-founder and bassist, Lester Johnson.

In 1968, a group of young Indianapolis broadcasters made history — they built their own radio station from scratch, without a license, and dared the FCC to stop them. For four years, Radio Free Naptown brought underground music to the city, from Captain Beefheart to Gil Scott-Heron, broadcasting from makeshift locations that at one point even included a horse pasture. They didn't call it pirate radio; they called it bootleg. Co-founders Steve Everitt and Don Worsham tell the inside story of Radio Free Naptown.

Join guest host Rodney Stepp as we explore the history of Words of Wisdom, a popular Naptown soul group of the early 1970s. They released two singles, including a 1973 record on Lamp Records and a 1976 recording for IX Chains. We'll share interviews with members of the group and their manager, Rickie Clark, and examine the contributions of songwriter Charles “Moose” Amos.

Join guest host Rodney Stepp for the final episode in our two-part series celebrating the music of the late drummer Jozell Carter. On this week's show, we focus on Carter's work in the Naptown jazz scene, featuring performances with Billy Wooten, Steve Weakley, Jonathan Wood, and the Small Talk Quintet.

Celebrate Women's History Month with guest host Debbie Nelson, featuring music from the legendary blues women of Naptown. Blues was one of the most popular forms of entertainment on Indiana Avenue, and some of the earliest recordings in the genre were made by women.

The Avenue was home to many legendary girl groups. Join guest host Debbie Nelson as we celebrate Women's History Month with a tribute to these groups, featuring the Pearls, the Indys, the Stovall Singers, the Chordelles, Joy Upton, Josephine Cheatham, Ethel McCane, and Pam Tanner.

In the 1960s, girl groups like The Supremes, The Ronettes, and Martha and the Vandellas helped define the sound of rhythm and blues and shape the course of American popular music. The Avenue was home to many legendary girl groups. This week on Echoes of Indiana Avenue, join guest host Debbie Nelson as we celebrate Women's History Month with a tribute to Naptown's own girl groups. Join us for an hour of words and music featuring the Pearls, the Indys, the Stovall Singers, the Chordelles, Joy Upton, Josephine Cheatham, Ethel McCane, and Pam Tanner.

2026 marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of John Coltrane, one of the most influential musicians in jazz history. Join guest host Rodney Stepp as we celebrate Coltrane's centennial by exploring his connections to Indiana Avenue. Indianapolis musicians were part of Coltrane's story from the very beginning. Coltrane credited the Naptown bandleader Joe Webb with providing one of his first professional gigs. Coltrane himself appeared on the Avenue at least twice during his career, including a week-long residency at the Chateau de Count & Eve. Join us for music exploring Coltrane's work with Naptown musicians including Joe Mitchell, Freddie Hubbard, J.J. Johnson, Ray Appleton, and Buddy Montgomery.

Celebrate the life and legacy of M.L. Allen Jr., a legendary Indianapolis gospel songwriter and guitarist who passed away on January 26 at the age of 89. Allen's music helped shape the sound of gospel in Indianapolis, beginning with his rise in the 1950s alongside the Wandering Travelers of Indianapolis. For over 15 years, the group performed in neighborhood churches across Naptown—from Indiana Avenue to Haughville and Martindale-Brightwood—leaving a lasting mark on the city's gospel scene. After the Wandering Travelers dissolved, Allen continued performing as a solo artist, accompanying himself on his guitar, “Magic.” Beyond music, he was a successful entrepreneur, owning a record shop and a dry cleaner in Haughville, and a devoted mentor, opening a karate studio and teaching at the Boys and Girls Club.

All Bones Considered: Laurel Hill Stories #083, part 4   Mpozi Mshale Tolbert was a West Philadelphia native who became a beloved photojournalist and DJ in Indianapolis. Despite his 6'6" frame and waist-length dreadlocks, he was described by all who knew him as a gentle giant. Two murals of Mpozi exist in Indianapolis's Broad Ripple and Fountain Square neighborhoods, celebrating his life and work.

Listen to music from Enoch “Sonny Boy” Williams, a Rhythm & Blues pianist and vocalist from Indianapolis. He began performing professionally in 1935, quickly establishing himself as a regular presence at Indiana Avenue venues.

Listen to music from Enoch “Sonny Boy” Williams, a Rhythm & Blues pianist and vocalist from Indianapolis.  Williams was born in London, Kentucky in 1917, but he was raised in Indianapolis. He began performing professionally in 1935, quickly establishing himself as a regular presence at Indiana Avenue venues including The Cotton Club, The Rhumboogie, and Sunset Terrace, where he became known for his energetic piano playing and engaging vocal style. In the early 1940s, Williams achieved national recognition through a series of recordings made for Decca Records. Among his most remembered records was the 1943 single “Reverse the Charges,” which became a modest hit. The song was influential enough that later artists such as Bud Powell and Etta Jones recorded their own versions.

Celebrate the Christmas holiday at Sea Ferguson's Cotton Club — a legendary Avenue nightclub that hosted the greatest stars in American music, from Ray Charles to Louis Armstrong. Along with his brother, Denver Ferguson, Sea played a key role in shaping the Avenue's entertainment scene. Sea was born in Brownsville, Kentucky, in December of 1899. He came to Indianapolis during the 1920s, and by the 1930s, he had become one of the most prominent businessmen on the Avenue. His influence as a civic leader in Naptown was recognized in 1938, when Sea was voted “Mayor of Bronzeville” — an informal title used in Black communities during segregation for someone who held real power and leadership in everyday life, at a time when official political power was often out of reach. Today, Sea is best remembered for his connection to the Avenue music scene. In 1931, he opened the Trianon Ballroom. The club's official grand opening took place on Christmas Eve of that year. The ballroom occupied the third floor of a building located at the corner of Vermont and Senate Streets. In 1933, Sea expanded to the first floor, opening a restaurant and bar called the Cotton Club. Before long, the name “Cotton Club” stuck, and locals used it to describe the entire building — not just the bar. Sea Ferguson hosted legendary concerts at the club, and on this week's show, we'll celebrate the season by listening to holiday music from the artists who performed there, including Fats Waller, Ray Charles, Big Maybelle, Charles Brown, Louis Armstrong, Lowell Fulson, and more.

Celebrate the December birthday of the late, great jazz organist Jimmy Smith by listening to his recordings with the Avenue jazz guitarist Wes Montgomery. Jimmy Smith was born in Norristown, Pennsylvania, in 1928. He began his career on piano before switching to the organ in the early 1950s, developing a revolutionary sound that blended bebop and blues with deep gospel roots. In 1956, Smith signed with Blue Note Records, where he quickly became a sensation with groundbreaking albums like The Sermon, Back at the Chicken Shack, and Midnight Special. Today, Jimmy Smith is recognized as one of the most influential musicians in the history of jazz—and the most important figure in establishing the Hammond B-3 organ as a leading instrument in the genre. Jimmy Smith performed on Indiana Avenue in 1961 at the Pink Poodle nightclub. But his strongest connection to Naptown came in 1966, when he entered the studio with guitarist Wes Montgomery. Those sessions produced two albums: Jimmy & Wes: The Dynamic Duo and The Further Adventures of Jimmy and Wes. At the time, Jimmy Smith and Wes Montgomery were two of the most recognizable instrumental voices in jazz, each with a massive audience of devoted listeners. Expectations were high for their collaboration. Jazz fans were not disappointed. Jimmy and Wes shared a rare chemistry in the studio, and critics have since cited these sessions as some of the finest recordings of Jimmy Smith's career.

Very few Hoosiers are aware of the Avenue's important rock and roll history. This week on Echoes of Indiana Avenue, we'll pay tribute to the early rock and roll heroes of Naptown, including music from Roosevelt Johnson, Toni Cavanaugh, Lois Blaine, Thurston Harris, Tiny Brown, Bobby Lewis and more.

When you want some heat for your meal, there is no need to head to New Orleans when we have our very own Naptown Sauces right here in Anne Arundel County! Bet you didn't know that! Neither did I until I saw a jar at Naval Bagels and made a call. Today, we sit down with James Young, the founder of Naptown Sauces. We learn how a guy who had zero interest in gardening left a corporate job after COVID to grow peppers in his backyard and create some of the best sauces you will taste! We learn how sauce is made, how he almost gassed out his daughter with spice, and just what makes a good sauce. You can order online or pick them up at several places all around town. Have a listen!

Indiana Avenue played an important role in the development of rock and roll. Artists like Chuck Berry, Little Richard and Fats Domino played their first Indiana concerts on the Avenue, and Naptown artists like the Ink Spots, and Leroy Carr influenced the development of rock and roll. But very few Hoosiers are aware of the Avenue's important rock and roll history. This week on Echoes of Indiana Avenue, we'll pay tribute to the early rock and roll heroes of Naptown, including music from Roosevelt Johnson, Toni Cavanaugh, Lois Blaine, Thurston Harris, Tiny Brown, Bobby Lewis and more.

On October 26, 2025, the legendary jazz drummer Jack DeJohnette passed away at the age of 83. DeJohnette was one of the greatest drummers in modern jazz. He released more than 50 albums as a bandleader and appeared on hundreds of recordings as a sideman — including landmark sessions such as Miles Davis' “Bitches Brew”, Wayne Shorter's “Super Nova”, and Keith Jarrett's “Standards”, among many others. DeJohnette also recorded six classic albums with Naptown jazz icon Freddie Hubbard. This week on Echoes of Indiana Avenue, we'll share music highlighting Freddie Hubbard's collaborations with Jack DeJohnette.  Born in Chicago in 1942, DeJohnette began his musical journey studying classical piano before switching to drums — a duality that shaped his melodic sensibility behind the kit. He rose to prominence in the 1960s through his work with jazz luminaries including Charles Lloyd, Chick Corea, Bill Evans, and Miles Davis. During his six-decade career, DeJohnette led numerous ensembles and recorded prolifically, creating a distinctive sound that fused jazz traditions with abstract and avant-garde influences. A National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master and Grammy Award winner, DeJohnette was a guiding force in the evolution of modern jazz.

On October 26, 2025, the legendary jazz drummer Jack DeJohnette passed away at the age of 83. DeJohnette was one of the greatest drummers in modern jazz. During his six-decade career, DeJohnette led numerous ensembles and recorded prolifically, including six classic albums with Naptown jazz icon Freddie Hubbard.

Episode 344 features Shea Springer from Sweetfoot Studios. I've recently been recording with him, and I was eager to bring him on the podcast to share his story. Shea is an absolute blast to work with and is based in Easton, MD. In the interview, we dive into his recording process, his role as an engineer and producer, and how he keeps his business thriving in the modern music industry. We ended up doing two songs with him; one just dropped yesterday, called “Zero Sum.” We also recorded a fun parody titled "Naptown," inspired by Annapolis, Maryland. At the time of this interview, it wasn't out yet, but the music video is out now on YouTube. We filmed it all over the city. Thanks for listening and supporting local musicians! Follow Sweetfoot Studios on IG for updates and info!           Please follow, rate, or review the podcast wherever you are streaming if you'd like to help us out. -- Part-Time Rockstar Productions is available in the DMV for music videos and live filming. 

Explore the music of Brooks Berry, an important Naptown blues vocalist and guitarist. Though she left behind just a handful of recordings, the artistry and emotional depth of her music have ensured that her legacy lives on. Brooks worked extensively, with the Naptown guitar master Scrapper Blackwell and all of her recordings feature Blackwell on guitar or piano.  Brooks Berry was born in April of 1900 in the small Kentucky town of Sturgis. As a teenager, Brooks left Kentucky and moved north to Indianapolis, joining a wave of Black southerners seeking better opportunities in the Midwest. At the time she arrived in Naptown, the city was developing a thriving blues scene centered around the Indiana Avenue neighborhood. Musicians like Leroy Carr and Scrapper Blackwell made Naptown an important hub for blues music. Brooks quickly found a place in this scene, and after the death of Leroy Carr in 1935, she formed an enduring creative partnership with Scrapper Blackwell.  During the 1920s and ‘30s, Brooks lived in the Avenue area, including addresses at 724 Torbett Street, and 802 West 11th Street. She spent her final years living at the Barton Tower at 555 Massachusetts Avenue.

Explore the music of Brooks Berry, an important Naptown blues vocalist and guitarist. Though she left behind just a handful of recordings, the artistry and emotional depth of her music have ensured that her legacy lives on. Brooks worked extensively with the Naptown guitar master Scrapper Blackwell and all of her recordings feature Blackwell on guitar or piano.

Everyone has some musical talent, says Sophia Hardesty. And she'd know. Sophia is the owner of Naptown Sings and Plays, a wonderful school for musicians from toddlers to teens. The catch? They specialize in modern music! What started out as a glee club in a shared space twelve years ago has blossomed into a full-fledged music school. If your child loves to sing, there is a group or individual class for them. If they love to strum on a guitar, Naptown Sings and Plays checks that box as well. With a cadre of professional musicians on staff, Naptown Sings and Plays positions kids for a lifetime of love for music! Plus a convenient location off West Street and plenty of free parking! Have a listen. LINKS: Naptown Sings and Plays (Website) Naptown Sings and Plays (Facebook) Naptown Sings and Plays (Instagram) Naptown Sings and Plays (YouTube)

The legendary jazz saxophonist and flutist James Moody was born in Savannah, Georgia in 1925. This week on Echoes of Indiana Avenue, we'll celebrate the 100th anniversary of Moody's birth by listening to his work with the jazz masters of Indiana Avenue.  Moody gave many performances on the Avenue, appearing at the Sunset Terrace in 1952, 1956, and 1957. He also recorded with legendary Avenue musicians, including Larry Ridley, Slide Hampton, Freddie Hubbard, and J.J. Johnson. But Moody's connection to the Avenue goes even deeper — his father James Moody Sr. lived in Naptown for decades. Moody Sr. was a trumpet player and bandleader. Moody Sr. played with local bands, including Bob Womack's Bob Cats, Buchanan's Dance-A-Pators, and the Showboat Orchestra. Moody Sr. lived near the Avenue and played in neighborhood venues like the Defense Worker's Social Club.  Join us for music from the saxophonist and flutist James Moody — including rare, unreleased live recordings of Moody performing with the legendary Naptown jazz drummer Larry Clark.

Celebrate the 100th anniversary of the birth of legendary jazz saxophonist and flutist James Moody. Listen to his work with the jazz masters of Indiana Avenue, including rare, unreleased live recordings of him performing with the legendary Naptown jazz drummer Larry Clark.

This October, PBS will air a new documentary titled “King of Them All: The Story of King Records.” The film tells the story of the influential King Records label, founded in 1943 by Syd Nathan in Cincinnati, Ohio. King began as a country music label, recording artists such as Moon Mullican and Cowboy Copas, before later expanding into R&B, gospel, and rockabilly. By the late 1950s, King Records had become a powerhouse in R&B and soul music, launching the careers of Little Willie John, Hank Ballard and the Midnighters, and—most famously—James Brown. Located just over 100 miles from Cincinnati, Indianapolis became a reliable source of talent for King Records. Many notable Indianapolis artists recorded for the label, from country star Lattie Moore to jazz legend Jimmy Coe. This week on Echoes of Indiana Avenue, we'll share an hour of music from Avenue artists who recorded for King, including The Hampton Family, Flo Garvin, Sarah McLawler, Bill Jennings, Thurston Harris, and more.

Ahead of the new PBS documentary, “King of Them All: The Story of King Records,” enjoy an hour of music from Avenue artists who recorded for King, including The Hampton Family, Flo Garvin, Sarah McLawler, Bill Jennings, Thurston Harris, and more.

Listen to an hour of music celebrating the legacy of The Bebop Society of Indianapolis. Hear rare recordings from Avenue musicians, including Wes Montgomery, Carl Perkins, David Baker, Pookie Johnson and more. In the early 1940s, a new style of jazz music known as bebop began to emerge. Bebop marked a revolutionary shift in jazz, breaking away from the swing dance music of the 1930s. Bebop was born in after-hours jam sessions at venues like Minton's Playhouse in Harlem. Bebop developed as musicians sought greater artistic freedom and technical challenge. Artists like Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, and Thelonious Monk pushed the boundaries of harmony, rhythm and improvisation. They created a style that featured fast tempos with complex melodies and chord progressions. Bebop transformed jazz into a modernist art form that focused on creativity, over commercial appeal.  Here in Naptown, the Avenue was the place to hear bebop music. In 1946, Dizzy Gillespie performed at the Avenue's Sunset Terrace nightclub, and in January of 1948 Charlie Parker played there too. 1948 was also the year that a collective of Naptown musicians and music fans, formed The Bebop Society of Indianapolis.  At that time, bebop music had not yet gained, widespread acceptance among music fans. The Bebop Society held concerts and lectures to educate the public on the music's importance Their events were not held in nightclubs,  the society hosted gatherings in community centers, including, The Senate Avenue YMCA, The Phyllis Wheatley YWCA, The Flanner House, and the Crispus Attucks High School auditorium. Guest speakers at the Bebop Soierty's events, included Crispus Attucks' music teacher Norman Merrifield and Jack Tracey, an editor for Down Beat magazine.  The Bebop Society also fought against racial segregation at music events. In 1948, members of the Bebop Society desegregated a Stan Kenton concert, at Riverside Park. As headline, in the Indianapolis Recorder stated, “Youth Group Breaks Jim Crow and Attends Concert at Riverside”. The Society also provided scholarships for talented young musicians, including the future Avenue jazz star David Baker.  But The Bebop Society's main focus was music, and their concerts featured the greatest jazz musicians in Naptown, including Pookie Johnson, Wes Montgomery, Carl Perkins, Buddy Montgomery, Monk Montgomery, Joe Mitchell, Maceo Hampton, Les “Bear” Taylor, Benny Barth, and Willis Kirk,  who served as president of the Society in 1950.

This is the final episode in our three-part series celebrating the work of the bass player Leonard Wilson Swain Jr., better known as “Heavy” Swain, an unsung hero of the Avenue music scene. On this edition, we'll focus on Swain's work with Tiny Bradshaw, Willis Jackson, T.N.T Tribble, and Frank Motley.

This is the final episode in our three-part series celebrating the work of the bass player Leonard Wilson Swain Jr., better known as “Heavy” Swain, an unsung hero of the Avenue music scene. During his career, Swain performed with many legendary jazz and R&B musicians, including Dinah Washington, Cootie Williams and more.  On this edition, we'll focus on Swain's work with Tiny Bradshaw, Willis Jackson, T.N.T Tribble, and Frank Motley.  Swain was born in Nashville, Tennessee in 1916. By the 1930s, he was living in Indianapolis. The 1940 census listed his address as 2039 North Capitol. Swain began working professionally in music as a teenager, performing at Avenue venues like the Cotton Club, and Mitchellyne. In 1942, Heavy left Naptown, with the bandleader Tiny Bradshaw. Swain died in Washington D.C., in August of 1964. His body was brought back to his hometown of Indianapolis, and he was buried at Crown Hill Cemetery.

This is the second episode in our three-part series celebrating the work of the bass player Leonard Wilson Swain Jr., better known as “Heavy” Swain, an unsung hero of the Avenue music scene. We'll focus on Swain's work with the legendary jazz trumpeter and bandleader Cootie Williams. Swain was a member of Williams' orchestra from 1947 to 1949.

This is the second episode in our three-part series celebrating the work of the bass player Leonard Wilson Swain Jr., better known as “Heavy” Swain, an unsung hero of the Avenue music scene. During his career, Swain performed with many legendary jazz and R&B musicians, including Dinah Washington, Cootie Williams, Willis Jackson, Tiny Bradshaw and more. On this week's show, we'll focus on his recordings with “Champion” Jack Dupree and Eddie “Cleanhead” Vinson. On this edition, we'll focus on Swain's work with the legendary jazz trumpeter and bandleader Cootie Williams. Swain was a member of Williams' orchestra from 1947 to 1949. Swain was born in Nashville, Tennessee in 1916. By the 1930s, he was living in Indianapolis. The 1940 census listed his address as 2039 North Capitol. Swain began working professionally in music as a teenager, performing at Avenue venues like the Cotton Club, and Mitchellyne. During his time in Naptown, Swain worked with the city's best musicians, including Jerry Daniels of the Ink Spots, Step Wharton, Bessie Moore, Baggie Hardiman, Eldridge Morrison, Fred Wisdom, Cleve Bottoms and many others.

Celebrate the work of the bass player Leonard Wilson Swain Jr., better known as “Heavy” Swain, an unsung hero of the Avenue music scene. This episode is Part 1 of 3, focusing on his recordings with “Champion” Jack Dupree and Eddie “Cleanhead” Vinson.

For the next three weeks, we'll celebrate the work of the bass player Leonard Wilson Swain Jr., better known as “Heavy” Swain, an unsung hero of the Avenue music scene. During his career, Swain performed with many legendary jazz and R&B musicians, including Dinah Washington, Cootie Williams, Willis Jackson, Tiny Bradshaw and more. On this week's show, we'll focus on his recordings with “Champion” Jack Dupree and Eddie “Cleanhead” Vinson. Swain was born in Nashville, Tennessee in 1916. By the 1930s, he was living in Indianapolis. The 1940 census listed his address as 2039 North Capitol. Swain began working professionally in music as a teenager, performing at Avenue venues like the Cotton Club, and Mitchellyne. During his time in Naptown, Swain worked with the city's best musicians, including Jerry Daniels of the Ink Spots, Step Wharton, Bessie Moore, Baggie Hardiman, Eldridge Morrison, Fred Wisdom, Cleve Bottoms and many others.  Swain first gained notoriety on the six-string guitar. A 1936 article in the Indianapolis Recorder called him the “best six-string player in town.” By 1940, Swain had switched to the upright bass. He made his first recordings that set year, cutting a series of sessions with “Champion” Jack Dupree in Chicago.

Listen to an interview with the legendary Indianapolis gospel keyboardist Ezra Bufford, known for his work with the Pentecostal Ambassadors.  Bufford was born in Indianapolis in 1952. He's been playing gospel music in Naptown for over 50 years, earning a reputation as one of finest keyboardists on the local gospel scene. In 1988, Bufford was voted “Instrumentalist of the Year” by the Indianapolis Gospel Music Awards. In addition to his work with the Pentecostal Ambassadors, Bufford has recorded with Al Hobbs and the Indianapolis Mass Choir, the Indianapolis Pentecostal Mass Choir, Donald Watkins, and many others. He's worked in secular music too, performing with Queen Delphine, Simply United, and Music Box.

Listen to an interview with the legendary Indianapolis gospel keyboardist Ezra Bufford, known for his work with the Pentecostal Ambassadors. In 1988, Bufford was voted “Instrumentalist of the Year” by the Indianapolis Gospel Music Awards.

Over the last few years, rapper 4200Kory has emerged as one of the most compelling artistic voices in the Indianapolis hip-hop scene. His name, 4200Kory, is an homage to the Indianapolis neighborhood where he grew up, 42 and Post Road. The music of 4200Kory channels the spirit of golden age ‘90s hip-hop with poetic lyrics, chronicling his life and experiences in Naptown. His debut album “Cobra Son” is a mediation on his early family life. 4200 Kory is the oldest of seven children and he crafted the album as a tribute to his mother and late father.  Listen to an interview with 4200Kory, as he shares the inspiration behind “Cobra Son”. He will also discuss his upcoming performance at Chreece, an all-day hip-hop festival happening in the Fountain Square neighborhood.

Listen to the final episode in our two-part series exploring the music of Rapture, a legendary Indianapolis funk band led by keyboardist Rodney Stepp in the late 1970s. Hear interviews with Rapture's Rodney Stepp, Lonnie Williams and Greg Russell. Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds will also share his memories--his band Manchild was one of Rapture's biggest rivals.

Listen to the final episode in our two-part series exploring the music of Rapture, a legendary Indianapolis funk band led by keyboardist Rodney Stepp. During the late 1970s, Rapture was a dominating force in the Indianapolis club scene. A new compilation of Rapture's music was recently issued by Now Again Records in California. The album features previously unreleased music Rapture recorded in 1977.  Hear interviews with Rapture's Rodney Stepp, Lonnie Williams and Greg Russell. The Indianapolis soul music legend Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds will also share his memories of Rapture. Edmonds' band Manchild was one of Rapture's biggest rivals.  Rodney Stepp was born in Indianapolis in 1952. He was raised in the historic Flanner House Homes neighborhood, directly adjacent to Indiana Avenue. Stepp rose to prominence in the Naptown music scene as a teenager, during the 1960s. His high school band the Diplomats performed with major R&B stars and scored a local hit with the song “Hum-Bug”, issued by Lamp Records in 1969. Stepp's follow-up recording “Young Girl” was issued in 1970 under the name Jazzie Cazzie and the Eight Sounds. During the early 1970s, Stepp toured the world as a keyboardist and assistant music director for The Spinners. Stepp eventually grew tired of working as a sideman with The Spinners. Yearning to explore his own musical concepts, he returned to Indianapolis in the late 1970s to form Rapture.

Rapper Jessica Garrett is better known to Indianapolis music fans as Joosi Got Bars. She was born and raised on the west side of Indianapolis and has been recording and releasing music for over a decade. Joosi will be performing at Chreece on August 23.

The keyboardist and bandleader Rodney Stepp is among the greatest living legends of the Avenue neighborhood. A new compilation of Stepp's music was recently issued by the Now Again Records in California. The album features previously unreleased music from a 1977 session Stepp recorded with his band Rapture. During the late 1970s, Rapture was a dominating force in the Indianapolis club scene.  For the next two weeks, listen to an interview with Rodney Stepp as he shares the history of Rapture. Also hear commentary from former Rapture members Lonnie Williams and Greg Russell. The Indianapolis soul legend Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds will also share his memories of Rapture. Edmonds' band Manchild was one of Rapture's biggest rivals.  Rodney Stepp was born in Indianapolis in 1952. He was raised in the historic Flanner House Homes neighborhood, directly adjacent to Indiana Avenue. Stepp rose to prominence in the Naptown music scene as a teenager, during the 1960s. His high school band the Diplomats performed with major R&B stars and scored a local hit with the song “Hum-Bug”, issued by Lamp Records in 1969. Stepp's follow-up recording “Young Girl” was issued in 1970 under the name Jazzie Cazzie and the Eight Sounds. During the early 1970s, Stepp toured the world as a keyboardist and assistant music director for The Spinners. Stepp eventually grew tired of working as a sideman with The Spinners. Yearning to explore his own musical concepts, he returned to Indianapolis in the late 1970s to form Rapture.

Indianapolis-based group 81355 (pronounced ‘bless') is a collaboration between the rapper/singers Oreo Jones and Sirius Blvck, and the lyricist/producer Sedcairn, and while they're clearly rooted in hip hop, they're not bound by it. On their impressive new album Bad Dogs, the band races through electropop, future soul, grunge, and avant-garde boom-bap, all the while designing a hazy and heavy Afrofuturist take on a live band augmented by electronics - supported by members of their "Naptown" underground music community. They play music from their latest, 'Bad Dogs', in-studio for the #SoundcheckPodcast.Set list: 1. Heart of Stone 2. Guitar 3. Capstone

Listen to an interview with the experimental Indiana hip-hop group 81355, featuring Oreo Jones, Sirius Black, and David Moose Adamson. Also hear music from their new album Bad Dogs, which finds the trio expanding into a full band, with Sharlene Birdsong on bass, Dimitri Morris on guitar, and Pat Okerson on drums.

Listen to an interview with the experimental Indiana hip-hop group 81355. Also hear music from their new album Bad Dogs. 81355 was formed in 2021 as a trio, featuring Oreo Jones, Sirius Black and David Moose Adamson. Each member brought a rich and varied history to the project, leading some to label the band an Indianapolis super-group. Their debut album This Time I'll Be of Use was issued that same year on 37d03d, a label founded by Justin Vernon of Bon Iver, and Aaron and Bryce Dessner of The National. The album received national attention, earning praise from Pitchfork, Consequence and Flood. Bad Dogs is the group's second album and it finds the trio expanding into a full band, with Sharlene Birdsong on bass, Dimitri Morris on guitar, and Pat Okerson on drums.