Air Week: March 28-April 3, 2022 Jack McVea Jack McVea is an integral part of the Los Angeles Rhythm & Blues scene of the 1940s. He came up playing banjo in his father’s band, before touring the country on baritone saxophone with Lionel Hampton’s Band. After leaving Hamp in late 1943, McVea spearheaded the idea […]

Air Week: March 21-27, 2022 Sam Cooke The “Juke In The Back” features a full hour of Sam Cooke, one of the distinctive and expressive voices ever pressed in wax. Cooke’s early period singing gospel with the renowned Soul Stirrers is often cited, but hardly ever featured. Matt The Cat focuses on Sam Cooke’s early […]

Air Week: March 14-20, 2022 R&B of Decca RecordsIn the 1940s and ’50s, the major record labels didn’t lead the way when it came to releasing Rhythm & Blues, Blues and Rock n’ Roll, but they all did participate in what was known unfortunately as “Race Music” back then. Columbia, Victor and Decca all had […]

Air Week: March 7-13, 2022 The Robins This week, the “Juke In The Back” features The Robins, one of the earliest and most influential West Coast R&B vocal groups.  They first appeared on wax in April of 1949 as the 4 Bluebirds, backed up by bandleader extraordinaire, Johnny Otis, who had discovered the group at his […]

Air Week: February 28-March 6, 2022 Roy Byrd aka Professor Longhair What better way to celebrate Mardi Gras than with the “Grandaddy of New Orleans Rhythm & Blues”? That, cats & kittens, is Henry Roeland Byrd, aka Roy Byrd, aka Professor Longhair. Byrd’s piano and singing style are like none that came before or since. […]

Air Week: February 21-27, 2022 New Orleans R&B, Pt. 3 – 1955-57 Get ready for Carnival with part 3 of “Juke In The Back”‘s 3 part series on the great, influential and infectious music that came out of New Orleans, one of America’s most fertile musical cities. In fact, the “Crescent City” is often cited […]

Air Week: February 14-20, 2022 New Orleans R&B, Pt. 2 – 1953-55 Get ready for Carnival with part 2 of “Juke In The Back”‘s 3 part series on the great, influential and infectious music that came out of New Orleans, one of America’s most fertile musical cities. In fact, the “Crescent City” is often cited […]

Air Week: February 7-13, 2022 New Orleans R&B, Pt. 1 Get ready for Carnival as the “Juke In The Back” begins a 3 part series on the great, influential and infectious music that came out of New Orleans, one of America’s most fertile musical cities. In fact, the “Crescent City” is often cited as the […]

Air Week: January 31-February 6, 2022 Gene Phillips This week, the “Juke In The Back” is proud to shine the spotlight on guitarist Gene Phillips, one of the unsung heroes of the 1940s Los Angeles Rhythm & Blues scene. Born in St. Louis in 1915, Gene came out to LA as part of the Mills […]

Air Week: January 24-30, 2022 Johnny Ace He is often called the “first casualty of rock n’ roll,” since his life was brought to a controversial end just as rock n’ roll was picking up steam in the mainstream, but Johnny Ace’s demise does not overshadow his impressive, yet short career.  This week’s “Juke In The […]