AMERICAN GROOVES RADIO HOUR hosted by JOE LAURO

With the coming of sound films in the late 1920s many Vaudeville and Broadway stage performers were summoned to Hollywood to try their hand ( and voice and feet!) to the new "Talkies" This episode plays recordings of some of the most famous ( and a few who toiled in obscurity!) Some included are the first Singing Cowboy KEN MAYNARD, German Bombshell MARLENE DIETRICH , BUDDY RODGERS, as well as JOLSON, CANTOR and ASTAIRE!

In 1967 pioneer collector, writer and researcher PETE WHELAN began his legendary "78 QUARTERLY" magazine- a journal dedicated to the Blues, Jazz, and Gospel music, musicians and RECORDS of the 1920s-early 30s... The magazine went on into the 1990s with a near 20 year gap between volumes 2 and 3! - One of it's regular columns was called THE RAREST OF THE RARE where a survey was held within the record collecting community of what everyone then considered to be the" rarer than hen's teeth" 78s - We are re-visiting that imperfect though fun research this year with a monthly show dedicated to "The Rarest Of The Rare" Blues, Gospel Jazz and ( some) Country 78s! This episode is part 1 of letters A-B!

STEALIN' STEALN' - a jug band, medicine show classic that transcended genres is this episodes featured song o ( versions by Walker Corbins' Ramblers, Mississippi Sheiks and Memphis Jug Band will be featured!) - also along for the ride are Johnny Dodds Black Bottom Stomper, Dixon Brothers, Little Jack Little, Riley Puckett, Joe Mannone's Cafe Royal Boys and more!

Some vintage and unusual Yuletide 78s by Harry Reser Orchestra , Arthur "Guitar Boogie" Smith, Fidldin' John Carson, Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, A Christmas Greeting to Decca Records Dealers from Jack Knapp and Connie Boswell, 1929 Oldsmobile Christmas, Benny Goodman Orchestra , Cotton Top Sanctified Singers, Clarence Williams Blue Five with young Louis Armstrong and of course, Bing Crosby!

Blind Alfred Reed, Kokomo Arnold, George Gershwin, Washboard Rhythm Kings, Willard Robison, Rosie Mae Moore, Memphis Jug Band and more!

Joe ventures uptown to Harlem during the final years of it's dominance ( 1930-36) as "thee" place to see and be seen..MILLS BLUE RHYTHM BAND, ETHEL WATERS, DUKE and more..and offers a heartfelt dedication to the "great generation" .

Red Headed Fiddlers, Blind Roosevelt Graves and Brother, Hoagy Carmichael, Ethel Waters and oter pre-war shellac heros join our end of holiday weekend broadcast!

During the mid 1920s-mid-1930s the major record companies sent their portable recording equipment to several regions in search of local artists performing jazz, country, blues and ethnic music - the market for local music and music earmarked to different ethnic groups had exploded - Texas was one of te places they went - recordings were made in Dallas, San Antonio and El Paso and artists such as BOB WILLS, WHISTLIN' ALEX MOORE, THE RED HEADED FIDDLERS, TEXAS JUBILEE SINGERS, BILLIE MAXWELL, DON ALBERT's ORCHESTRA and many others were recorded - and featured in this episode ( 1st of 2!)

Published in mid-1925 SWEET GEORGIA BROWN has been an enduring classic covered for the last 100 years by Jazz, Pop, Country and Blues artists - we will feature sone of the earliest and coolist versions! ( plus the usual assortment of Blues, Jazz and Country rare shellac!)

The Boswell Sister's great version of the title song plus super tracks by "Ragtime" Henry Thomas, Joe Mannone Harmony Kings, Memphis Jug Band, Rev McGee in the belly of the whale and more!