Juke In The Back

Dinah Washington, Pt. 1 - 1943-46

Dinah Washington was more than just the "Queen of The Jukeboxes," "Queen Of The Blues" and any other prestigious but vacant title you could pin on her. Dinah was the real deal. As one of the best selling artists of the 20th Century, Dinah was no pop sensation or flash in the pan. She was a consummate artist, who developed a playful, yet serious style of phrasing all her own. This week, Matt The Cat honors the great Dinah Washington with the first installment of a multi-part series on "The Queen." Part 1 focuses on Dinah's very first recordings for the Keynote label with members of Lionel Hampton's band as well as the seldom heard Apollo Records sides with Lucky Thompson's group. We'll also dig on her early Mercury Records releases. "Evil Gal Blues" (Keynote) from 1944 was her first charting hit, making the Harlem Hit Parade Top Ten. She then followed that success up with another top tenner, "Salty Papa Blues." You'll also hear clips from Matt The Cat's interview with Dinah's biographer, Nadine Cahodas, who wrote the book, "Queen: The Life and Music of Dinah Washington." Don't miss the Fabulous Miss "D" on this week's "Juke In The Back."

R&B Influences: The Mills Brothers

On a weekly basis, Juke In The Back consistently points out how the Rhythm & Blues music played on the program influenced those that came later, mostly in the Rock n' Roll genre. What about the music the influenced and inspired the highly influential records played each week on our ol' Rockola Juke? This week, Matt The Cat begins a sporadic series on the music that influenced the R&B that we love so dearly. What better way to begin such a series than with a program highlighting the granddaddy of vocal groups and doo wop music: The Mills Brothers. The four brothers (John Jr., Herbert, Harry and Donald) were born in Piqua, OH in the early Twentieth Century and began singing tight barbershop harmonies. They became the first African-Americans to host a national radio show in 1930, largely based on their ability to imitate musical instruments with their mouths along with their close harmonies. This led to a record deal with Brunswick and their first hit, "Tiger Rag." More hit records, radio show appearances, movie cameos and shows followed through the early 1980s, making them one of the longest running groups of all-time. Their group harmony set a new standard, picked up by the Ink Spots, Ravens, Orioles and later the Flamingos, Clovers, Moonglows, Cadillacs and countless other rock n' roll doo wop groups. The Mills Brothers are the launching pad for nearly every vocal group the followed and it's a great pleasure and honor to feature their incredible sound on this week's Juke In The Back.

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 is heavy with devilish doo wop delights from The Cadillacs, The Del Vikings, The Verdicts, The Coasters, The Checkers and The Daylighters. There are tunes by Chuck Berry, Mad Man Jones and Louis Armstrong that will make your skin crawl, while Eugene Fox lays a cautionary tale on our ears about the dead returning to keep the living in line. So keep your spooks close, but your records closer and dig on some rarely heard haunted tunes on this week's Halloween "Juke In The Back."

Louis Jordan, Pt. 6 - 1950-56

The "Juke In The Back" presents Part 6, the final part of our mammoth, 6 part series, on the most important musical figure of the 1940s, Louis Jordan. He was the most successful African-American artist of the decade, selling millions of records to both Black and White audiences. Jordan charted 57 singles between 1942 and 1951, scoring 18 #1 R&B hits and 54 top 10s. Several of his records even crossed over into the Pop Top 10, which was an almost unheard of feat at the time. Matt The Cat closes the series focussing on 1950 through '56, just as Rock 'n Roll was breaking. Jordan scored his 18th and final #1 R&B record in 1951 with "Blue Light Boogie Pt. 1 & 2" and experimented with fronting a big band for a time in '52. By the end of '53, Jordan's 15 year stint with Decca Records ended. He next recorded some stellar sides for Aladdin Records, Vic, X and Mercury, but the hits were long gone. The singles on this week's program show that even in the lean times, Louis Jordan still put out quality records. He made some strong efforts at trying to capture the Rock n' Rollers, but his time in the musical limelight was over. There is no denying that Louis Jordan is almost single-handily responsible for the development of post War Rhythm & Blues as well as the birth of Rock n' Roll. The "Juke In The Back" is proud to have dedicated 6 programs to this legendary performer and American Icon.

Louis Jordan, Pt. 5 - 1948-50

The "Juke In The Back" presents Part 5 of our mammoth, 6 part series, featuring the most important musical figure of the 1940s, Louis Jordan. He was the most successful African-American artist of the decade, selling millions of records to both Black and White audiences. Jordan charted 57 singles between 1942 and 1951, scoring 18 #1 R&B hits and 54 top 10s. Several of his records even crossed over into the Pop Top 10, which was an almost unheard of feat at the time. Part 5 of our series focuses on mid-1948 thru the beginning of 1950. During this time, Jordan only scored 2 #1 records and so it has become a much overlooked period in his career, even though he released some very strong singles. We'll hear two songs that were featured in motion pictures as well as 2 duets, one with Martha Davis and another one with Ella Fitzgerald. Though the hits weren't as strong as previous years, Jordan did score a career highlight with "Saturday Night Fish Fry," which topped the R&B Chart for an impressive 12 weeks. His competition in the R&B Field was getting much stronger, but Louis Jordan and His Tympany Five continued to record and release top-notch material. Pianist Bill Doggett is even featured on a few sides. This is the second to last part of my loving tribute to the great and influential Louis Jordan.

Louis Jordan, Pt. 4 - 1947-48

The "Juke In The Back" presents Part 4 of our mammoth, 6 part series, featuring the most important musical figure of the 1940s, Louis Jordan. He was the most successful African-American artist of the decade, selling millions of records to both Black and White audiences. Jordan charted 57 singles between 1942 and 1951, scoring 18 #1 R&B hits and 56 top 10s. Several of his records even crossed over into the Pop Top 10, which was an almost unheard of feat at the time. Part 4 of our series focuses on the incredible hit-making years of 1947 and '48. Jordan scored 4 #1 records in 1947, spending an amazing 40 weeks at the top of the Race Record Chart (the name of the R&B chart at that time). The year was kicked off with "Ain't Nobody Here But Us Chickens," which topped the chart for 17 weeks and nearly every record that Decca issued on Jordan that year was a major seller. "Ain't Nobody Here But Us Chickens" became the catchphrase of 1947, along with "Open The Door, Richard." The latter was a tune based on a Black Vaudeville routine, which hit #2 on the R&B charts by 4 different artists, including Louis Jordan. Count Basie's version of "Richard" crossed over to #1 on the Pop Chart, making "Richard" a huge crossover success. We're also highlighting the first half of 1948. It's still a big year for Jordan, but the hits begin to slow down a bit. He only scored 1 #1 in '48. The "Juke" is jumpin' with Jordan this week on part 4 of "Juke In The Back"'s tribute to the "King Of The Jukeboxes, Louis Jordan.

Louis Jordan, Pt. 3 - 1946

The "Juke In The Back" presents Part 3 of a mammoth, six-part series, featuring the most important musical figure of the 1940s, Louis Jordan. He was the most successful African-American artist of the decade, selling millions of records to both Black and White audiences. Jordan charted 57 singles between 1942 and 1951, scoring 18 #1 R&B hits and 56 top 10s. Several of his records even crossed over into the Pop Top 10, which was an almost unheard of feat at the time. Part 3 of our series focuses on the entire year of 1946. Jordan scored 5 #1 records that year and spent 35 out of 52 weeks at the top of the Race Record Chart (the name of the R&B chart at that time). One of those #1s was a duet with the great Ella Fitzgerald. We'll also hear Jordan duetting with another musical titan, Bing Crosby. Decca Records put their 2 biggest stars together, but unfortunately that tune only hit #14 on the Pop Chart. "Choo Choo Ch'Boogie" topped the chart for 18 weeks and then it was knocked out of the top spot by another Louis Jordan record, "Ain't That Just Like A Woman." He was at the top of his game in 1946, selling more records than any other African-American artist. We'll also dig on a V-Disc Jordan cut for those serving overseas in the Armed Forces as well as some choice B sides. The "Juke" is jumpin' with Jordan this week on part 3 of "Juke In The Back"'s tribute to the "King Of The Jukeboxes, Louis Jordan.

Louis Jordan, Pt. 2 - 1942-45

The "Juke In The Back" presents Part 2 of a mammoth, six-part series, featuring the most important musical figure of the 1940s, Louis Jordan. He was the most successful African-American artist of the decade, selling millions of records to both Black and White audiences. Jordan charted 57 singles between 1942 and 1951, scoring 18 #1 R&B hits and 56 top 10s. Several of his records even crossed over into the Pop Top 10, which was an almost unheard of feat at the time. Part 2 of our series picks up in 1942, right before Jordan's first hit record, "I'm Gonna Leave You On The Outskirts Of Town," and covers his first 5 #1 records, which began with "What's The Use Of Getting Sober (When You're Gonna Get Drunk Again" in 1943. The hits started as Decca assigned legendary jazz producer Milt Gabler to produce his sessions. Their first session together took place right before the Recording Ban of 1942 went into effect. During the ban, the musicians union refused to let artists record for any recording company until their royalty demands were met. This kept Jordan out of the studio for over a year. Once the ban ended in September of '43, Jordan was back in the studio cutting hit record after hit record. It's during this time that he became the "King Of The Jukeboxes." So don't miss one fantabulous Louis Jordan record on this week's "Juke In The Back."

Louis Jordan, Pt. 1: 1938-41

The "Juke In The Back" begins a mammoth, multi-part series, featuring the most important musical figure of the 1940s, Louis Jordan. He was the most successful African-American artist of the decade, selling millions of records to both Black and White audiences. Jordan charted 57 singles between 1942 and 1951, scoring 18 #1 R&B hits and 56 top 10s. Several of his records even crossed over into the Pop Top 10, which was an almost unheard of feat at the time. Jordan was born in Brinkley, AR in 1908 and thanks to his musician father, began touring with the Rabbit Foot Minstrels before he was even in his teens. His love of music, performing and baseball took him to Arkansas Baptist College and soon he was playing in bands in Philadelphia and New York. He started his own band after being fired by legendary drummer Chick Webb. His first records with the Elk's Rendezvous Band were not hits, but they cast a light on the tight arrangements, the comedic delivery and good feelin' jump blues that was to become Louis Jordan's trademark. Part 1 features Jordan's earliest recordings from 1938 to 1941. There are no certified hits, but these records show the blueprint for the future superstar. Matt The Cat's series on Louis Jordan will cover all his important records up through 1956, so don't miss a show!

Ike Turner

One of Rhythm & Blues greatest innovators was also one of its most notorious personalities. Ike Turner was born in the same place that the blues was born, in the heart of the Mississippi Delta in Clarksdale in 1931. He learned boogie woogie piano was the legendary Pinetop Perkins and soon taught himself how to play guitar. His band, The Kings Of Rhythm, recorded what some would come to name as the first Rock n Roll Record with Rocket 88 in 1951. The Chess label called them Jackie Brenston & His Delta Cats, but it didnt matter, Ike Turners stamp is all over that groundbreaking record, which was based on Jimmy Liggins 1948 R&B classic, Cadillac Boogie. From there, Turner became a talent scout for both Sam Phillips at Sun Records and The Bihari Brothers at RPM Records. He played behind Howlin Wolf, Little Milton, Elmore James, Otis Rush and many others while also releasing his own important sides. Matt The Cat sorts through the many record labels and incarnations of The Kings Of Rhythm on this weeks Juke In The Back, as we honor one of musics most tragic, but important figures, the legendary Ike Turner.