Air Week: November 13-19, 2023 Eddie “Cleanhead” Vinson This week, the “Juke In The Back” honors one of the greatest blues shouters of all-time, Eddie “Cleanhead” Vinson.  He burst on the scene in 1944 with a cover of the Joe Turner classic, “Cherry Red Blues” as the vocalist for the Cootie Williams Orchestra.  He remained […]

Air Week: November 6-12, 2023 Big Mama Thornton Willie Mae Thornton was a trailblazer, who in making her own rules paved the way for other groundbreaking female artists like Janis Joplin and Madonna. Known as “Big Mama,” Thornton scored her only hit record in early 1953 when “Hound Dog” topped the national Rhythm & Blues […]

Air Week: October 30-November 5, 2023 Rosco Gordon This week, the “Juke In The Back” spotlights the “Prince of Primitive Cool,” Rosco Gordon. His mostly self-penned tunes, feature his unique blend of mid-tempo shuffle with a slightly behind-the-beat rolling barrelhouse piano line. He was a master at making his recordings sound rough, but there was […]

Air Week: October 23-39, 2023 Spooky Halloween Rhythm & Blues Halloween has always been a frightfully good time of the year for the “Juke In The Back.” This year, Matt The Cat, along with Miss Rosie and Bobby The Bobcat bring you a cauldron of ghoulishly spooky tunes from the 1940s and ’50s. The program […]

Air Week: October 16-22, 2023 Lavern Baker, Pt. 2 – 1954-56 This week, the “Juke In The Back” looks at how one of R&B’s greatest voices, LaVern Baker, got her start. It’s part two of a two part feature on the early career of LaVern Baker. In part two, we’ll dig on Baker’s prime recording […]

Air Week: October 9-15, 2023 Lavern Baker, Pt. 1 – 1949-54 This week, the “Juke In The Back” looks at how one of R&B’s greatest voices, Lavern Baker, got her start. It’s part one of a two part feature on the early career of Lavern Baker. In part one, we’ll dig on Baker’s first recordings […]

Air Week: October 2-8, 2023 Open The Door, Richard! This week, for the 700th episode of “Juke In The Back,” Matt The Cat digs deep into the racks n’ stacks o’ shellac to bring you a solid hour on that catch phrase craze and cultural phenomenon, “Open The Door, Richard!” In early 1947, you couldn’t […]

Air Week: September 25-October 1, 2023 Red Robin Records This week, the “Juke In The Back” salutes one of R&B’s greatest unsung labels, Red Robin Records. Bobby Robinson started Robin Records in 1952 as a way to expand the business in his Harlem record store, Bobby Record Shop. He was a natural-born entrepreneur with a […]

Air Week: September 18-24, 2023 Chuck Willis, Pt. 2 – 1954-58 “Juke In The Back” completes its 2 part special on the great Chuck Willis.  This week, in part 2, we focus on Chuck’s amazing crossover success in the late 1950s with huge pop hits like “C. C. Rider,” “Betty And Dupree,” “What Am I […]

Air Week: September 11-17, 2023 Chuck Willis, Pt. 1 – 1951-54 This week, the “Juke” features part 1 of a 2 part special on the great and much underrated Chuck Willis.  Most cats n’ chicks know Chuck’s 1957 smash “C. C. Rider,” but many are unfamiliar with the great records Chuck cut in the early […]