American Routes is blues and jazz, gospel and soul, rockabilly and country, Cajun and swamp pop, Tejano, Latin… and beyond. Songs and stories from musicians describe a deep and diverse nation with sounds and styles shared by all Americans. From the bayous to the beltways, from crossroads to crosstown, on interstates and city streets, turn up your radio for the sonic journey!
American Routes—produced in New Orleans since 1998
Juneteenth with the Gullah Geechee Ring Shouters
June 18, 2025
For Juneteenth, it’s music from the Staple Singers, Stevie Wonder, Nina Simone and Bob Dylan, plus classic jazz, reggae and a new generation of singers: the Carolina Chocolate Drops, Norah Jones and Questlove. Then, songs, rhythms and histories from the Georgia Sea Islands Gullah Geechee Ring Shouters.
NEXT WEEK
Blues Routes Then & Now: with a Creole & Cajun Live Set from Cedric Watson & Chris Stafford
The blues carry us from back roads to city streets, with heartache and hope in jazz, country and folk music. We’ll hear old field recordings and new commentaries in blues from Cedell Davis, Guitar Slim, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, Irma Thomas and Lucinda Williams. Then, it’s Cajun, zydeco, waltzes and two-steps and swamp pop soul from Beau Jocque, Clifton Chenier, and Carol Fran. Plus an interview and live performance from younger traditionalists Cedric Watson and the late Chris Stafford on French Louisiana accordion and fiddle in Creole zydeco and Cajun music.
Charley Pride and Charlie Musselwhite
This week we toe, walk and cross the blurry line between country and blues, as performed by both Black and white artists. Guests include white blues harmonica player Charlie Musselwhite, who tells us about his lifetime journey from Mississippi to Memphis to Chicago to California; and the late Charley Pride talks about his upbringing in Sledge, Mississippi, his baseball career, and being an African American country singer with 29 number one hits to his name. Plus bluesy-country and country blues from Hank Williams, Howlin’ Wolf, Aretha Franklin and more.
Urge Congress: Save Public Media Funding
The White House is planning to release a proposal that would claw back already approved public media funding. If Congress agrees, your local stations could lose critical support – immediately.
Save your local stations. Urge your lawmakers to oppose the rescissions package.