Music: The Unifying Force

Janis Siegel and Yusuf Gandhi explore the rich roots of country music, from Appalachian folk traditions and African American blues and gospel to Irish and Scottish influences. They trace the genre through the voices of Leadbelly, the Carter Family, Jimmie Rodgers, Patsy Cline, Hank Williams, Dolly Parton, Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson and many more — revealing how country music became one of America’s great musical melting pots.

Songs in This Episode

LEADBELLY - Pick a Bale of Cotton

CHARLIE ACUFF - Songs of the Appalachia

BAYARD RAY - Polly Put the Kettle On

THE CARTER FAMILY - Can the Circle Be Unbroken?

JIMMIE RODGERS - Blue Yodel No. 9

PATSY CLINE - Walkin’ After Midnight

HANK WILLIAMS - Hey, Good Lookin’

LORETTA LYNN - Coal Miner’s Daughter

ERNEST TUBB - Walkin’ the Floor Over You

ROY ACUFF - Wabash Cannonball

GEORGE JONES - He Stopped Lovin’ Her Today

TAMMY WYNETTE - Stand by Your Man

CHARLIE PRIDE - Just Between You and Me

JOHNNY CASH - I Walk the Line

DOLLY PARTON - Jolene

MERLE HAGGARD - Okie from Muskogee

WAYLON JENNINGS - Mamas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys

BUCK OWENS - Act Naturally

WILLIE NELSON - On the Road Again

RAY CHARLES - I Can’t Stop Loving You

Unify Playlist (Additional Listening for Episode 11)

CLOGGIN IN THE APPALACHIANS - Cloggin in the Appalachians

LORETTA LYNN - Don't Come Home a Drinkin'

TAMMY WYNETTE - D.I.V.O.R.C.E.

JOHNNY CASH - Ring of Fire

JOHNNY CASH - Folsom Prison Blues

DOLLY PARTON (with LADYSMITH BLACK MAMBAZO) - Peace Train (Cat Stevens)

CHAPEL HART - You Can Have Him Jolene

GARTH BROOKS - Friends in Low Places

DARIUS RUCKER - Alright

In Part 2 of their journey through the origins of rock & roll, Janis Siegel and Yusuf Gandhi explore the artists who transformed a musical movement into a global cultural phenomenon. From Bill Haley's Rock Around the Clock and Jerry Lee Lewis's explosive performances to Elvis Presley's groundbreaking blend of gospel, country, blues, and R&B, they trace the evolution of a sound that broke racial barriers and redefined popular music. The conversation also highlights Carl Perkins' pioneering guitar work, the birth of rockabilly, and the unexpected influence of Britain's skiffle movement through Lonnie Donegan—an inspiration for The Beatles and the British Invasion. Filled with musical insights, personal reflections, and fascinating stories, this episode reveals how rock & roll became one of the world's first truly universal languages, continuing to connect people across cultures and generations.

Ep 10 | Unify Playlist on YouTube

Music in this podcast

BILL HALEY & THE COMETS - Rock Around the Clock

JERRY LEE LEWIS - Whole Lotta Shakin; Goin’ On

ELVIS PRESLEY - That’s All Right

CARL PERKINS - Blue Suede Shoes

LONNIE DONEGAN - Rock Island Line

BUDDY HOLLY - That’ll Be The Day

RITCHIE VALENS - La Bamba

EDDIE COCHRAN - Summertime Blues

DANNY & THE JUNIORS - At The Hop

HANK BALLARD & THE MIDNIGHTERS - Work With Me Annie

BO DIDDLEY - Bo Diddley

UNIFY PLAYLIST (Additional Listening for Episode 10):

THE MILLION-DOLLAR QUARTET (Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash at SAM PHILLIPS STUDIOS

ARTHUR CRUDUP – That’s All Right (Original version)

CARL PERKINS AND FRIENDS – Rock N Roll Medley featuring GEORGE HARRISON, ERIC CLAPTON, BRIAN SETZER, RINGO STARR etc.

LEADBELLY - Rock Island Line (Original version)

BIG BOPPER – Chantilly Lace

EDDIE COCHRAN – Three Stars (A tribute to RITCHIE VALENS, BUDDY HOLLY, BIG BOPPER)

BO DIDDLEY – Bo Diddley (LIVE 1999)

BUDDY HOLLY - Not Fade Away (One of Buddy Holly’s most covered compositions, and rhythmic adaptation influenced by BO DIDDLEY’S “Hambone” or “Clave” rhythm ).

Ep 10 | Unify Playlist on YouTube

In Part 2 of their journey through the origins of rock & roll, Janis Siegel and Yusuf Gandhi explore the artists who transformed a musical movement into a global cultural phenomenon. From Bill Haley's Rock Around the Clock and Jerry Lee Lewis's explosive performances to Elvis Presley's groundbreaking blend of gospel, country, blues, and R&B, they trace the evolution of a sound that broke racial barriers and redefined popular music. The conversation also highlights Carl Perkins' pioneering guitar work, the birth of rockabilly, and the unexpected influence of Britain's skiffle movement through Lonnie Donegan—an inspiration for The Beatles and the British Invasion. Filled with musical insights, personal reflections, and fascinating stories, this episode reveals how rock & roll became one of the world's first truly universal languages, continuing to connect people across cultures and generations.

Music in this podcast

BILL HALEY & THE COMETS - Rock Around the Clock

JERRY LEE LEWIS - Whole Lotta Shakin; Goin’ On

ELVIS PRESLEY - That’s All Right

CARL PERKINS - Blue Suede Shoes

LONNIE DONEGAN - Rock Island Line

BUDDY HOLLY - That’ll Be The Day

RITCHIE VALENS - La Bamba

EDDIE COCHRAN - Summertime Blues

DANNY & THE JUNIORS - At The Hop

HANK BALLARD & THE MIDNIGHTERS - Work With Me Annie

BO DIDDLEY - Bo Diddley

UNIFY PLAYLIST (Additional Listening for Episode 10):

THE MILLION-DOLLAR QUARTET (Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash at SAM PHILLIPS STUDIOS

ARTHUR CRUDUP – That’s All Right (Original version)

CARL PERKINS AND FRIENDS – Rock N Roll Medley featuring GEORGE HARRISON, ERIC CLAPTON, BRIAN SETZER, RINGO STARR etc.

LEADBELLY - Rock Island Line (Original version)

BIG BOPPER – Chantilly Lace

EDDIE COCHRAN – Three Stars (A tribute to RITCHIE VALENS, BUDDY HOLLY, BIG BOPPER)

BO DIDDLEY – Bo Diddley (LIVE 1999)

BUDDY HOLLY - Not Fade Away (One of Buddy Holly’s most covered compositions, and rhythmic adaptation influenced by BO DIDDLEY’S “Hambone” or “Clave” rhythm ).

Rock & roll did not appear overnight—it emerged from decades of musical innovation, cultural exchange, and extraordinary artists who transformed American music. In this episode of Music: The Unifying Force, Janis Siegel and Yusuf Gandhi explore the rich tapestry of styles that came together to create the sound that would captivate the world. From gospel, blues and boogie-woogie to jump blues, rhythm & blues and the rise of the electric guitar, they reveal how each tradition contributed to rock & roll's unmistakable energy and spirit.

Music in this podcast

LOUIS JORDAN - Let the Good Times Roll

SISTER ROSETTA THARPE - Didn’t It Rain

BIG MAMA THORNTON - Hound Dog

LOUIS JORDAN - Ain’t nobody here but us chickens.

CHUCK BERRY - Roll Over Beethoven

FATS DOMINO - Blueberry Hill

LITTLE RICHARD - Long Tall Sally/Tutti Fruiti

IKE TURNER & THE RHYTHM KINGS - Rocket 88

BIG JOE TURNER - Shake, Ratle & Roll

WYNONIE HARRIS - Lovin’ Machine

AMOS MILBURN - One Scotch, One Bourbon, One Beer

T-BONE WALKER - Stormy Monday Blues

Ep 9 | Unify Playlist additional songs:

Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee - Walkin’ My Blues Away

Louis Prima, Keely Smith, Sam Butera & The Witnesses “Just A Gigolo & I Ain’t Got Nobody”

ROY BROWN - Good Rockin’ Tonight (Original Songwriter - 1947)

WYNONIE HARRIS - Good Rockin’ Tonight (1948 #1 R&B Hit)

BILL HALEY & HIS COMETS - Shake, Rattle & Roll

GEORGE THOROGOOD & THE DESTROYERS - One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer

BULL MOOSE JACKSON - My Big Ten Inch Record

T-BONE WALKER - T-Bone Boogie

Little Richard Movie (Biopic -2000)

In this second instalment of their exploration of musical activism, Janis Siegel and Yusuf Gandhi travel far beyond the United States to examine how artists around the world have used music to confront injustice, challenge authority, and inspire change. From the voices of Latin America and South Africa to contemporary movements in Iran, Russia, China, and beyond, the episode highlights musicians whose songs became powerful acts of resistance.

Along the way, they uncover stories of courage, exile, censorship, and sacrifice, while celebrating the enduring ability of music to unite people across cultures and borders. These artists may have come from different countries and traditions, but they shared a common belief: that a song can be far more than entertainment — it can be a force for freedom and justice.

Music in this podcast

Mercedes Sosa (ARGENTINA) - Duermo Negrito

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dR9AJwjZeIg

Violeta Parra (CHILE) - Miren Como Sonrien

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2ldR1EvhG0   

Victor Jara (CHILE) - Manifesto

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uj-3mpjDC8M 

Miriam Makeba/Hugh Masekela (S. AFRICA ) Soweto Blues

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7kHtWuVwZSs  

Rana Mansour (IRAN) - Beraye (composed by Sherwin Hajipour)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JX0OumECPOk  

Pussy Riot (RUSSIA) - Chaika

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VakUHHUSdf8  

Sinéad O’ Connor (IRELAND) - Famine

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JyLnbjtBLX4  

Cui Jian (CHINA) No More Disguises

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6yao6f0QIgA  

Fela Kuti (NIGERIA) - Beasts of No Nation

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E0BhNPiq78k  

Bob Marley (JAMAICA) - Redemption Song

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ZpxaeICYyg

Ep 8 | Unify Playlist additional songs

Alicia Keys and Angelique Kidjo perform “Afrika” at Mandela Day 2009 from Radio City Music Hall

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ThdXkwu42aw 

Mercedes Sosa, Chico Buarque, Caetano Veloso, Milton Nascimento e Gal Costa - Volver a los 17 (composed by Violetta Para)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krEMw8E5ZAg 

Joan Baez & Mercedes Sosa “Gracias A La Vida” (composed by Violetta Para)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMuTXcf3-6A 

Arlo Guthrie - Victor Jara (composed by Arlo Guthrie & Adrian Mitchell)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vatEqeFmXdQ 

Hugh Masekela - Stimela (Coal Train) - Jazz Day 2013

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=650IZTWZa50 

Sarafina (Movie) - Funeral Song/Freedom is coming

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YTXyh7YPQ9Y 

Papa WemBa - Esclave (Slave)

(A song tribute to Nelson Mandela, comparing struggles of Africans’ slavery around the world, and the struggles of the South Africans during apartheid.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFiNaSTTgeQ 

Shervin Hajipour - Baraye (full version with English lyrics)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0th9_v-BbUI 

“Coldplay” perform Iranian protest song “Baraye” in Buenos Aires featuring “exiled Iranian actor Golshifteh Farahani”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJb3uc1D1D8 

Linton Kwesi Johnson - Sonny’s Lettah

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7uvY5qU7ayg 

Bob Marley & The Wailers - Exodus (Lyric Video)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSOqWgqwynQ

Sam Cooke - A Change Is Gonna Come {LYRICS}

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrAGbRHxyHs

In this episode, Janis Siegel and Yusuf Gandhi explore the powerful role of music as a force for social change, tracing a lineage of musical activism from early voices like Billie Holiday and Woody Guthrie to the rise of politically charged folk, soul, and hip-hop. Through iconic songs and personal reflections, the hosts examine how artists have challenged injustice, amplified marginalized voices, and shaped cultural movements across generations. Part 1 sets the stage for a journey through music that doesn’t just entertain—but provokes, resists, and inspires.

Music in this podcast:

Billie Holiday - Strange Fruit

Woody Guthrie - Tear the Fascists Down

The Weavers - If I had a Hammer

Joan Baez - Oh, Freedom

Mahalia Jackson - We Shall Overcome

Bob Dylan - Blowin’ In the Wind

Nina Simone - Mississippi Goddam

Marvin Gaye - What’s Going On

Gil Scott-Heron - The Revolution will not be Televised

Grandmaster Flash - The Message

Jesse Welles - Join Ice

Ep 7 | Unify Playlist (additional songs)

Phil Ochs - I Ain’t Marching Anymore

Woody Guthrie - I Ain’t Got No Home/ Old Man Trump

Gil Scott-Heron - We Almost Lost Detroit (No Nukes Concert Live)

Linton Kwesi Johnson - Making History

Boogie Dowh Productions (feat. KRS1) - You Must Learn

Public Enemy - Fight the Power

BDP/Stop The Violence Movement - Self-Destruction

Baby Cham feat. Alicia Keys - Ghetto Story

Bruce Springsteen - Streets of Minneapolis (Live)

Herbie Hancock’s The Imagine Project- Imagine

We continue our journey into the role of music within spiritual traditions—this time turning our focus to India.Beginning with a tribute to the legendary Asha Bhosle, Yusuf Gandhi introduces us to the rich landscape of devotional music across Hindu, Sikh, and other faith practices. From the ancient sounds of Dhrupad in temple spaces to the evolution of Khayal under Mughal influence, the episode traces how music moves across time, culture, and belief. We travel through bhajans, kirtans, and Shabads, and across regions—from North to South India—before stepping outward into global parallels, from Indonesian gamelan to Rastafarian music.At its heart, this episode is a reminder: while traditions may differ, music continues to connect, transcend, and unify.

Music in this podcast:

Mere Sahib, Mere Sahib - Asha Bhosle

Shiva Shiva - Wasifuddin Khan Dagar

Raghupati Raghava Rajaram

Nirbhay Nirguna - Kumar Gandharva

Giriraj Sudha - Remember Shakti

Nadaswaram in Temple

Kerala Drums in Temples

Gamelan Music

One Love - Bob Marley

Episode 6 | Unify Playlist on YouTube

Ustad Amjad Ali Khan : his collaborations with music and musicians from around the world, as well as nurturing and educating his sons and grandchildren to preserve and cement his legacy.

Music in this podcast

Raga Celebration Sarod Maestro - Amjad Ali Khan - Raga Durga

Ustad Amjad Ali Khan : his collaborations with music and musicians from around the world, as well as nurturing and educating his sons and grandchildren to preserve and cement his legacy.

Last month when I was in India I had the pleasure of meeting and conversing with one of the greatest Indian classical musicians of our time - Sarod Maestro Ustad Amjad Ali Khan.

Khansaheb as I respectfully call him spoke to me extensively and freely about his life, his music, his instrument and his collaborations with some of the most revered musicians around the world. The interview lasted a little under 1.5 hours.

As our next special episode on Music: The Unifying Force, we are honoured to present this episode in its entirety. However, being apprehensive of your schedules and your time we have divided the episode into 3 parts. You may binge-watch and hear the entire interview in one go which is recommended if possible. Or you may listen to the 3 parts separately as your time permits.

This first part features Ustad Amjad Ali Khan’s childhood and his nurturing in his instrument and the music under the tutelage of his guru and father Ustad Hafiz Ali Khan.

The second part features Ustad Amjad Ali Khan’s collaborations with music and musicians from around the world and the respect and empathy that musicians have for each other’s cultures and customs.

Part three features Ustad Amjad Ali Khan and his instrument the sarod, the uniqueness of its techniques, the intricacies of its tonal qualities and its relationship to other stringed instruments.

We hope you enjoy this special Episode. Our next Episode with my beloved co-host Janis Siegel and myself will continue with the second part of the Episode: ONE WORLD: FAITH IN MUSIC. It will be released in the next couple of weeks.

We welcome your comments and suggestions.

Thank you for your support,

Yusuf Gandhi

Music in this Episode

Sadhana - film by Pt Hariprasad Chaurasia’s Vrindavan Gurukul

Ustad Hafiz Ali Khan last interview with Amjad Ali Khan

Early Recording of Raag Marwa. Pt. Bhimsen Joshi.

Library Sessions (recorded at Saroj Ghar) Raga Chayanat

Ustad Amjad Ali Khan performing Gujarari Todi in Calcutta:

Ustad Hafiz Ali Khan - Raga Darbari Kanada

Tarana in Raga Tilang in 9 1/2 Beats Time Cycle

Lalgudi Jayaraman (Carnatic violin) and Ustad Amjad Ali Khan (Hindustani sarod)