AMERICAN GROOVES RADIO HOUR hosted by JOE LAURO

MANY HOLLYWOOD STARS FROM THE ERA 192OS-30'S  EITHER BEGAN AS BAND LEADERS, CROONERS AND BLUES SINGERS  OR BECAMES ONES AFTER THEIR FAME ARRIVED - HEAR SOME RARE RECORDINGS BY JIMMY STEWART ( WITH THE HOT  PRINCETON BAND IN 1932!), MEL FERRAR ( LEADING THE PRINCETON BAND IN 1932!), PHIL HARRIS AT THE COCOANUT GROVE, BING CROSBY GETTING HOT WITH THE MILLS BROTHERS, DICK POWELL PLAYING BANJO WITH THE CHARLIE DAVIS BAND IN MINNEAPOLIS IN 1928  AND MANY OTHER SURPRISES! 

In the pre-television and internet world people were more accustomed to entertaining each other live and in person than they are these days - in rural areas MUSIC reigned supreme handed down from  neighbor to family member - there were countless little bands made up of family members...FAMILY BANDS if you will and quite a few were recorded for regional release by record companies scouring the wilds for anything musical that could possibly sell a few 100 dicks or more! - This episode will present some of the more obscure and fascinating of those countless bands - The Corley Family, Carter Brothers & Son, Floyd Ming's Pep Steppers - even NAT KING COLE's family jazz band! ( EDDIE COLE's SWINGERS) 

Part 2 of our deep dive into the life and music of Ferdinand Joseph LaMothe (later Morton; c. September 20, 1890 – July 10, 1941), known professionally as Jelly Roll Morton. Rare recordings and stories told by the man himself to a young Alan Lomax in 1938. and a special cameo by Papa Lee himself!!

The life  and music of Ferd "Jelly Roll" Morton -  from recordings from 1923-40 to anecdotes told by Mr. Jelly himself!  Show 1 or 3!

Part one of a series of American Grooves Radio Hours dedicated to the memory of Rich Conaty - long time host of  New Yorks' longest running  radio program dedicated to the jazz, and pop music if the 1920s-mid-1930s - Each episode will play the type of 78s that Conaty cherished ( and played) on his program - From ealry Bing, Boswell Sisters, Paul Whiteman, Cab Calloway, Annette Hanshaw, Fletcher Henderson, Mills Brothers, Baby Rosemarie, Bennie Moten, Gus Arnheim, The Rhythm Boys and so many more!

Besides the usual assortment of killer pre-1936 jazz, blues and country this episodes explores the great W.C. Handy tune and offers several interesting versions 

 THE JAZZ  FIDDLER! - some of the hottest and earliest recordings of fiddle jazz.  From Joe Venuti, Eddie South , Stuff Smith , Emilio Caseres to the  Mississippi Sheiks! From 1926-38!

From 1908-1931 THE ZIEGFELD FOLLIES were perhaps the most well known and beloved of the Broadway reviews.  In this episode of American Grooves we will play original cast recordings from some of Ziegfeld's most known performers ( Eddie Cantor, Fanny Brice, Burt Williams, Ruth Etting) and a supersizing assortment of recordings by his most unlikely performers!

The roots of Skiffle music can be traced to the 1890s. It was first recorded in the 1920s and 1930s and was somehow resurrected in the late 1950s in England. If it weren't for SKIFFLE music there would be no Beatles. This episode explores SKIFFLE'S early roots and recording

From wash tub bass, kazoos, tin can drums to cigar box fiddles - the specific brand of American Folk Music helped launch the  1960s British Invasion 

YOU WILL HEAR:   The Five Harmainiacs - SADDIE GREEN ( The Vamp Of New Orleans - 1926)

                             Mississippi Jook Band - BARBECUE BUST ( 1936)

                             Mobile Strugglers - FATTENING FROGS FOR SNAKES ( 1950s)

                             also, Bobby Leacan's Need More Band, Dallas String Band and much more!

In the "nothing is new under the sun" category hear some desperate and funny tunes from the BIG  1929 Wall Street  bloodbath!  While they were jumping out of windows on Broad & Wall Streets, tin pan alley was churning out an amazing array of related topical tunes! Tune in and hear just a few! ( plus our usual eclectic assortment of pre-war rarities!)

you will hear:

MY STOPS COME TUMBLING DOWN - Fields & Hall

EDDIE CANTOR's TIPS ON WALL STREET ( recorded a few days after the 1929 crash!)

TALE OF THE TICKER - Frank Crumit

GET THE JITTERS - Don Redman Orchestra ( 1932)

WALL STREET WAIL - Duke Ellingtons' Cotton Club Orchestra ( 1929) and many more!