This Week in Blues History

Series produced by Steve c/o Ernest Franz

Caption: Our distinctive logo comes from a rare poster for the 1977 Beale Street Music Festival.
Our distinctive logo comes from a rare poster for the 1977 Beale Street Music Festival. 

“This Week in Blues History” aims the spotlight on important recordings, artists, and events from the golden era of the blues.

From producer Steve Franz (Blues Unlimited) comes a new series, “This Week in Blues History,” spotlighting important recordings, artists, and events from the golden era of the blues. Each evergreen segment will be three and a half minutes in length, and is designed as an engaging and informative “drop in” to your existing programming. Keyed to a specific week of the year, “This Week in Blues History” will grab the listener’s attention, and leave them wanting a little more!


53 Pieces

Order by: Newest First | Oldest First
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This time, we profile a handful of rare recordings from Big Joe Williams that became one of the few remaining legacies of post-war St. Louis blues.

  • Added: Mar 04, 2019
  • Length: 03:29
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This time, we profile guitarists Geeshie Wiley and Elvie Thomas, whose 1930 recordings for Paramount baffled researchers for nearly a century.

  • Added: Sep 01, 2018
  • Length: 03:29
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This time, we profile St. Louis guitarist Hi Henry Brown, who made a handful of remarkable sides for Vocalion in March 1932, and then disappeared.

  • Added: Sep 01, 2018
  • Length: 03:29
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This time, we profile the March 1932 recording sessions held by Vocalion in New York City, as the nation was in the grips of the Great Depression.

  • Added: Aug 30, 2018
  • Length: 03:29
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This time, we profile “Rocket 88,” by Jackie Brenston — widely considered to be one of the archetypal records of rock ‘n’ roll.

  • Added: Aug 28, 2018
  • Length: 03:29
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This time, we profile “Baby Scratch My Back” by Slim Harpo — the only number one hit on the Excello label during its 23 year run.

  • Added: Aug 26, 2018
  • Length: 03:29
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This time, we profile “Key to the Highway” — one of the enduring classics of the blues, first recorded by pianist Charlie Segar in 1940.

Bought by KLCC


  • Added: Aug 24, 2018
  • Length: 03:29
  • Purchases: 1
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This time, we profile Stick McGhee’s 1949 anthem to good times and cheap booze — a big hit that saved a fledgling Atlantic Records from bankruptcy.

  • Added: Aug 21, 2018
  • Length: 03:29
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This time, we profile B.B. King, who hit the number one spot on the Billboard R&B charts with “Three O’Clock Blues,” this week in 1952.

  • Added: Aug 18, 2018
  • Length: 03:29
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This time, we profile Guitar Slim, who — much to everyone’s surprise — hit the top of the R&B charts with “The Things That I Used To Do,” in 1954.

  • Added: Jul 26, 2018
  • Length: 03:29
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January 1953 was a busy month for recording in Chicago, involving sessions, this week, with “Homesick” James Williamson and Johnny Shines.

  • Added: Jul 21, 2018
  • Length: 03:29
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January 1953 was a busy month for recording in Chicago, involving sessions, this week, with Elmore James, Arthur Spires, and Johnny Williams.

  • Added: Jul 17, 2018
  • Length: 03:29
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January 1953 was a busy month for recording in Chicago, involving sessions, this week, with Little Walter, “Honeyboy” Edwards, Muddy Waters, and J....

  • Added: Jul 14, 2018
  • Length: 03:29
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This time we profile “Open the Door, Richard” — a 1947 novelty record that quickly embedded itself into the American consciousness.

  • Added: May 15, 2018
  • Length: 03:29
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This time we profile Floyd Jones, a serious and thoughtful songwriter, who was in the studio for Chess Records in 1951.

  • Added: Apr 28, 2018
  • Length: 03:29
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This time we profile guitarist Big Joe Williams and harmonica ace John Lee “Sonny Boy” Williamson, who last recorded together, this week in 1947.

  • Added: Apr 27, 2018
  • Length: 03:29
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This time we profile Ruth Brown, one of the biggest R&B singers of the 1950s, who first hit the top of the Billboard charts, this week in 1950.

  • Added: Apr 23, 2018
  • Length: 03:29
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This time we profile street musician Bongo Joe, who recorded a cult favorite for Arhoolie Records, in 1968.

  • Added: Apr 21, 2018
  • Length: 03:29
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This time we profile Robert Johnson, who made his recording debut the week of Thanksgiving, 1936.

  • Added: Apr 20, 2018
  • Length: 03:29
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This time we profile Son House and B.B. King, who both made historic live appearances in Chicago the Saturday night before Thanksgiving, 1964.

  • Added: Apr 19, 2018
  • Length: 03:29