AMERICAN GROOVES RADIO HOUR hosted by JOE LAURO

From  1917 to 1934 Gennett Records, a  small, family owned record label out  of Richmond, Indiana recorded some of the earliest, most eclectic and  most curious mid-west and east coast jazz- From the first recordings of  LOUIS ARMSTRONG, KING OLIVER, BIX BEIDERBECKE , HOAGY CARMICHAEL and  JELLY ROLL MORTON to obscure "territory" bands such as ZACK WHYTE &  HIS CHOCOLATE BEAU BRUMMEL'S, SYD VALENTINE  & HIS PATENT LEATHER KIDS and THE BLACKBIRDS OF PARADISE , Gennett  recorded it ALL - and preserved the sounds of early jazz in every  imaginable incarnation. JOIN US as we explore some of those early  Gennett recorded sounds! .

THIS SPECIAL GEORGE GERSHWIN EPISODE, IN COMMEMORATION OF HIS SEPT 26TH BIRTHDAY ( 1898!),  WILL PRESENT RARE RECORDINGS OF GEORGE HIMSELF ON THE PIANO - PLAYING SOLO, ACCOMPANYING FRED & ADELE ASTAIRE ( 1926), AND  WITH THE PAUL WHITEMAN ORCHESTRA  ( 1927) AS WELL AS EARLY VERSIONS OF MANY PRE-1934  RECORDED GERSHWIN CLASSICS

VOLUME FOUR OF OUR ONGOING TRIBUTE TO THE LATE  RICH CONATY AND HIS "BIG BROADCAST" PROGRAM OUT OF FORDHAM UNIVERSITY THAT FOR FOUR DECADES BROUGHT THE GREAT, JAZZ, DANCE AND PERSONALITY RECORDINGS OF THE PRE-WW2 ERA TO THE AIR.

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!