AMERICAN GROOVES RADIO HOUR hosted by JOE LAURO

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Our song of the week is the Maceo Pinkard 1925 standard SWEET GEORGIA BROWN - Some cool versions by the likes of Ethel Waters, Cab Calloway and Oliver Naylor'a Orchestra plus some fun jazz, blues and country pre-war gems!

American Grooves, explores the origins of at least TWO versions of the Easy Rider musical myth- and it didn't originate with a motorcycle!

From Sam McGee and Barbecue Bob to Mae West, with a bit of Jelly Roll Morton thrown in to set you on year ear!