Blues America

Series produced by Drew Verbis

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Blues America is an hour-long weekly syndicated public radio series that features candid conversations with blues people who share their stories and music.

Blues America is heard around the country on over 50 public radio stations and the podcast has been downloaded over 2 million times. It is a featured “station” on the Living Blues Magazine radio-charts. Past guests have included B.B. King, Bobby Rush, Elvin Bishop, Cedric Burnside, Henry Gray, Kim Wilson, Billy Boy Arnold and more. The series is independently produced at the Chico Chism Memorial Studio in Phoenix by award winning host, Drew Verbis. The former Mississippi resident produced records for R.L. Burnside, Louisiana Red and the last album released by the great Robert Jr. Lockwood. He also contributed to the last album released by Mojo Buford. He earned his Master's degrees in Communication and Museum Science from the University of Oklahoma.

Host: Drew Verbis
Audio format: Stereophonic sound
Number of episodes: 120 (2017 – 37, 2016 – 44, 2015 – 34, 2014 – 05)
Original radio release: May 2, 2015 (KFNX, 1100 AM)
Recording studio: Chico Studio, Phoenix, Arizona

Each program presents a guest interview, special features and music packed into a one-hour (58:00 minutes) program. The music is arranged around the interview and is chosen to complement the guest or theme of the show

**There are no uploads twice per year: Thanksgiving and Christmas.

For more information about the program visit the Blues America website at http://www.bluesamerica.com
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Blues America is heard around the country on over 50 public radio stations and the podcast has been downloaded over 2 million times. It is a featured “station” on the Living Blues Magazine radio-charts. Past guests have included B.B. King, Bobby Rush, Elvin Bishop, Cedric Burnside, Henry Gray, Kim Wilson, Billy Boy Arnold and more. The series is independently produced at the Chico Chism Memorial Studio in Phoenix by award winning host, Drew Verbis. The former Mississippi resident produced records for R.L. Burnside, Louisiana Red and the last album released by the great Robert Jr. Lockwood. He also contributed to the last album released by Mojo Buford. He earned his Master's degrees in Communication and Museum Science from the University of Oklahoma. Host: Drew VerbisAudio format:... Show full description


Additional Files

98 Pieces

Order by: Newest First | Oldest First
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Author Steve Bergsman talks about his new book, I Put a Spell on You: The Bizarre Life of Screamin' Jay Hawkins.

Bought by GCR (Global Community Radio), Prairie Public, KMUW, GCR (Global Community Radio), Raven Radio and more


  • Added: Oct 10, 2019
  • Length: 57:55
  • Purchases: 8
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Westcoast blues guitar veteran, James Armstrong talks about his studio effort 'Blues Been Good to Me.'

Bought by GCR (Global Community Radio), Raven Radio, KPSQ-LP, WEAA, Public Radio East and more


  • Added: Apr 19, 2019
  • Length: 58:10
  • Purchases: 9
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Rising Houston native, Keeshea Pratt talks about the blues.

Bought by GCR (Global Community Radio), WSLR, Raven Radio, WLPR , KJZX-Austin and more


  • Added: Mar 24, 2019
  • Length: 58:11
  • Purchases: 12
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Charley Crockett hails from the same Texas border town as Freddy Fender and has a unique talent for naturally mixing country with blues.

Bought by GCR (Global Community Radio), Prairie Public, WSLR, Raven Radio, WLPR and more


  • Added: Mar 08, 2019
  • Length: 01:56:08
  • Purchases: 12
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Alligator Records hottest new artist who gained internet fame prior to releasing his first studio single, Fresh Out, featuring Buddy Guy.

Bought by Prairie Public, KMUW, Raven Radio, WLPR , Public Radio East and more


  • Added: Mar 01, 2019
  • Length: 58:04
  • Purchases: 11
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Thad is a young guitar player on the Chicago blues scene who has performed with some of the areas most recognized legends.

Bought by Raven Radio, Public Radio East, WEAA, RadioFreePalmer, WCPN and more


  • Added: Feb 15, 2019
  • Length: 58:07
  • Purchases: 8
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Toronzo Cannon is recognized as one of Chicago's most popular and exciting bluesmen. The singer, songwriter and guitarist is part of the new genera...

Bought by GCR (Global Community Radio), WLPR , Raven Radio, Public Radio East, WEAA and more


  • Added: Feb 08, 2019
  • Length: 58:02
  • Purchases: 10
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Johnny Burgin is a renowned bluesman who has established himself as a major player on the scene since arriving in Chicago for college during the ea...

Bought by Raven Radio, Public Radio East, WEAA, RadioFreePalmer, WCPN and more


  • Added: Feb 01, 2019
  • Length: 58:05
  • Purchases: 8
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Blues America Rewinds the tape to hear what 2018 sounded like with some of the best guests, music and features.

Bought by WEAA, Public Radio East, GCR (Global Community Radio), WOUB, WLPR and more


  • Added: Jan 10, 2019
  • Length: 58:13
  • Purchases: 7
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The Queen of Detroit Blues shares her story

Bought by KMUW, WEAA, WCPN, RadioFreePalmer, Public Radio East and more


  • Added: Dec 28, 2018
  • Length: 58:32
  • Purchases: 10
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A BBQ smothered Christmas special featuring various artists, including Oklahoma’s blues elder and reigning queen of the blues, Dorothy Ellis, bette...

Bought by WJAB, WJAB, KOJB 90.1 FM The eagle, WEAA, WSGE and more


  • Added: Dec 14, 2018
  • Length: 58:09
  • Purchases: 14
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Lindsay Beaver is a multi-instrumentalist from Halifax, Nova Scotia who is the most recent young talent to sign with Chicago-based Alligator Record...

Bought by GCR (Global Community Radio), WLPR , KDLG, KBBI Alaska, WEAA and more


  • Added: Nov 30, 2018
  • Length: 58:12
  • Purchases: 12
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Mud Morganfield is the eldest son of the legendary Muddy Waters. Mud celebrates the release of his fourth studio effort, ‘They Call Me Mud’ on Seve...

Bought by GCR (Global Community Radio), WYAP, KBBI Alaska, WCPN, WEAA and more


  • Added: Nov 02, 2018
  • Length: 58:04
  • Purchases: 13
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Johnny Ace is one of the first black artists to cross-over into the white pop charts and is widely regarded as an integral part of the advent of R&...

Bought by WYAP, WCPN, Public Radio East, WEAA, KDLG and more


  • Added: Oct 26, 2018
  • Length: 58:01
  • Purchases: 10
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Whitney Shay is a talented upcoming blues talent from Southern California with 2-San Diego Music Awards under her belt.

Bought by WLPR , WCPN, Public Radio East, RadioFreePalmer, WEAA and more


  • Added: Oct 12, 2018
  • Length: 58:14
  • Purchases: 10
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Dr. Kawashima is an Asian-American multi-instrumentalist traditional Chicago blues talent who is recognized under the moniker, Sugar Brown. He cut ...

Bought by WLPR , WCPN, KDLG, WSLR, WEAA and more


  • Added: Sep 21, 2018
  • Length: 58:23
  • Purchases: 12
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Linsey “Hoochie Man” Alexander has been a fixture on Chicago’s Northside blues scene for decades. He celebrates his latest Delmark Records studio r...

Bought by GCR (Global Community Radio), WCPN, Public Radio East, WEAA, Spokane Public Radio and more


  • Added: Sep 14, 2018
  • Length: 58:01
  • Purchases: 11
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Canadian-born Harrison “Sweet-Taste” Kennedy is a multi-instrumentalist and a founding member of the famed Detroit R&B-Pop band Chairmen of the Boa...

Bought by GCR (Global Community Radio), Public Radio East, WLPR , WCPN, WSLR and more


  • Added: Sep 07, 2018
  • Length: 58:04
  • Purchases: 13
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Shemekia Copeland is the Grammy-nominated reigning Queen of Chicago Blues who released her 8th studio effort on Alligator records, ‘America’s Child.’

Bought by Northern Community Radio - KAXE & KBXE, Minnesota, GCR (Global Community Radio), WLPR , KMUW, Public Radio East and more


  • Added: Aug 26, 2018
  • Length: 58:21
  • Purchases: 12
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Dom Flemons is a multi-instrumentalist and native of Arizona who emerged onto the roots scene as the co-founder of the Grammy-Award winning folk ba...

Bought by GCR (Global Community Radio), GCR (Global Community Radio), WOUB, Spokane Public Radio, WEAA and more


  • Added: Aug 12, 2018
  • Length: 58:21
  • Purchases: 9