Born in Waco in 1937, folk singer Carolyn Hester became a major figure in the 1960s folk revival, recording an influential early version of “The House of the Rising Sun” in 1961 that helped establish her reputation as the “Texas Songbird.”

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Waco History Mixtape: Whacko from Waco by Billie Joe Shaver

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The Crush Collision March by Scott Joplin was a live performance with a twist. It was a backing track of a spectacle of purposely crashing two trains together, all in Waco.

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Ol' Man River was featured in the original stage production Show Boat (1927) by Waco Native Jules Bledsoe, and has been covered multiple times since.

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As the first episode of the Waco History Mixtape, Across the Brazos by Billy Walker, a song previously used on our regular format, was the best choice.

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Join Stephen Sloan and guest host Jim Benninghoff will discuss history and build a playlist of great Waco artists and iconic songs about Waco!

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Join Stephen Sloan and Rick Tullis as they cap off the year's journey of covering 175 years of Waco history with a final live show! Location at Vitek's BBQ March 19th from 6:30PM to 8:30PM.

Ticket Link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-waco-history-podcast-live-show-at-viteks-bbq-celebrating-175-years-tickets-1982219123759

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Between 2000 and 2025, Waco underwent steady transformation driven by demographic growth, shifting economic patterns, and evolving civic priorities. The city moved beyond late-20th-century challenges and reemerged as a regional center for education, health care, and culture. Expanding institutions and rising population anchored public life as Waco’s identity matured, marking a new chapter in its modern history. 

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See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Between 2000 and 2025, Waco underwent steady transformation driven by demographic growth, shifting economic patterns, and evolving civic priorities. The city moved beyond late-20th-century challenges and reemerged as a regional center for education, health care, and culture. Expanding institutions and rising population anchored public life as Waco’s identity matured, marking a new chapter in its modern history. 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.