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Juke In The Back

Jimmy Witherspoon, Pt. 2 - 1950-56 Jimmy Witherspoon is one of most influential blues shouters to emerge after WWII and yet he remains just a footnote in the evolution of Rhythm & Blues and Rock n" Roll. In part 1 of our 2 part feature on Spoon, we focused on his early recordings with Jay McShann"s band from 1945-50. During that time, Spoon recorded his signature tune, "Ain"t Nobody"s Business," which topped the R&B charts during the summer of 1949. This week in part 2, we pick it up in 1950,

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Juke In The Back: #785 - The Larks, Pt. 1 - 1950-52 -...

Juke In The Back ·

2025/05/19

The Larks, Pt. 1 - 1950-52The Larks are one of the most influential and best sounding vocal groups of the early 1950s and yet, they are never remembered quite as well as many of their contemporaries. That might be because they only had 2 charting singles and neither record sold well after its initial release. But don't let the numbers fool you, the Larks were a top-notch group with outstanding leads provided by Eugene Mumford, Allen Bunn and David McNeil, who occasionally sang a solid bass lead

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Juke In The Back: #784 - Amos Milburn, Pt. 2 -...

Juke In The Back ·

2025/05/12

Amos Milburn, Pt. 2 - 1950-56Amos Milburn was the complete package. He could play boogie woogie piano with the best of 'em, having been influenced by the great Pete Johnson. He sang the smoky R&B ballad almost as well as his buddy Charles Brown and he could shout the blues alongside Roy Brown and Wynonie Harris. Milburn's delivery was indeed a hit with the public as his Aladdin Records releases spawned 4 #1 R&B records and a total of 16 charting singles (3 of them double-sided hits). This week in

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Juke In The Back: #783 - Amos Milburn, Pt. 1 -...

Juke In The Back ·

2025/05/05

Amos Milburn, Pt. 1 - 1946-49Amos Milburn was the complete package. He could play boogie woogie piano with the best of 'em, having been influenced by the great Pete Johnson. He sang the smoky R&B ballad almost as well as his buddy Charles Brown and he could shout the blues alongside Roy Brown and Wynonie Harris. Milburn's delivery was indeed a hit with the public as his Aladdin Records releases spawned 4 #1 R&B records and a total of 16 charting singles (3 of them double-sided hits). However, he

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Juke In The Back: #782 - Unsung Ladies of R&B - April...

Juke In The Back ·

2025/04/28

Unsung Ladies of R&BThis week, the "Juke In The Back" solutes the Unsung Ladies of R&B! We'll dig deep into a stack of shellac from some women you know, like Varetta Dillard, Ann Cole and The Cookies, as well as from some that you may not know, such as Gwen Johnson and Bonita Cole. Matt The Cat will also feature an audition tape by the seldom heard Olive Brown, which was never issued at the time. None of the chanteuses on this week's program have catalogs deep enough to be main features, so we've

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Juke In The Back: #781 - The Griffin Brothers - April...

Juke In The Back ·

2025/04/21

The Griffin BrothersThis week, "Juke In The Back" features The Griffin Brothers, one of the unsung Rhythm & Blues groups from the early 1950s. Jimmy and "Buddy" Griffin began in their hometown of Norfolk, VA in the late '40 playing jump blues. They settled in Washington, DC and were asked to backup Roy Brown on "Hard Luck Blues" in April, 1950. That recorded went to #1 in August and soon the brothers had their own record deal with Randy Wood's Dot Records out of Gallatin, TN. With vocalists Margie

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Juke In The Back: #780 - 15th Anniversary Special! -...

Juke In The Back ·

2025/04/14

15th Anniversary Special!Let's get together, throw some nickels in the ol' Rockola Jukebox and celebrate the 15th Anniversary of the "Juke In The Back." It's hard to believe that Matt The Cat's been droppin' down the plattahs and makin' 'em splattah like pancake battah for 15 years. He couldn't have done it without the listenership and support of all you hep cats and crazy kittens. This week, we open up the Request-O-Matic Hotline and take some of your requests as well as play some records that

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Juke In The Back: #779 - Bobby Mitchell & The Toppers...

Juke In The Back ·

2025/04/07

Bobby Mitchell & The ToppersThe "Juke In The Back" digs deep into New Orleans Rhythm & Blues this week to focus on Bobby Mitchell & The Toppers, one of the few vocal groups to come out of a city best known for its blues, jazz and cajun roots. The Spiders were the best known vocal group to come out of 1950s New Orleans, but Bobby Mitchell & The Toppers were probably more versatile in the sense that they could not only shout the blues, like Roy Brown or Wynonie Harris, but they could also harmonize

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Juke In The Back: #778 - Early Etta James - March...

Juke In The Back ·

2025/03/31

Early Etta JamesProducer Jerry Wexler called Etta James, "The greatest of all modern blues singers." That's great praise coming from a guy who worked with the greatest of the greats for 50 years. Etta had an amazing talent for mixing a bit of tenderness and heartbreak into her gritty, tough and soulful voice. She had a style all her own and she played by her own rules. Her success on record was equally matched by her personal failures off-mic, dealing with drug addiction, bad relationships and

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Juke In The Back: #777 - The Heartbeats - March...

Juke In The Back ·

2025/03/24

The HeartbeatsWith so many wonderful vocal groups present during the 1950s, it took a few distinct ones to lead the pack and blaze the trail. The Heartbeats are always right up there with The Clovers, Harptones, Moonglows, Flamingos and the other leaders who carried the torch lit by the Orioles and Ravens during the late '40s. The Heartbeats began as the Hearts in 1953, but before making their first record in 1955, changed their name after a female group called The Hearts scored a big hit with

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Juke In The Back: #774 - Chess Records, Pt. 7 - 1956...

Juke In The Back ·

2025/03/03

Chess Records, Pt. 7 - 1956"Juke In The Back" continues a behemoth, multi-part series on Chess Records. The Chicago record label, founded by 2 Polish immigrant brothers, Leonard and Phil Chess, proved to be one of the most influential and important labels in not only Blues, but also Rhythm & Blues and its contribution to the birth of Rock n' Roll. Chess was the musical home of Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Little Walter, Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, The Moonglows, The Flamingos and countless other

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Juke In The Back: #773 - Chess Records, Pt. 6 - 1955...

Juke In The Back ·

2025/02/24

Chess Records, Pt. 6 - 1955"Juke In The Back" continues a behemoth, multi-part series on Chess Records. The Chicago record label, founded by 2 Polish immigrant brothers, Leonard and Phil Chess, proved to be one of the most influential and important labels in not only Blues, but also Rhythm & Blues and its contribution to the birth of Rock n' Roll. Chess was the musical home of Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Little Walter, Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, The Moonglows, The Flamingos and countless other

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Juke In The Back: #771 - Chess Records, Pt. 4 - 1953...

Juke In The Back ·

2025/02/10

Chess Records, Pt. 4 - 1953"Juke In The Back" continues a behemoth, multi-part series on Chess Records. The Chicago record label, founded by 2 Polish immigrant brothers, Leonard and Phil Chess, proved to be one of the most influential and important labels in not only Blues, but also Rhythm & Blues and its contribution to the birth of Rock n' Roll. Chess was the musical home of Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Little Walter, Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, The Moonglows, The Flamingos and countless other

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Juke In The Back: #770 - Chess Records, Pt. 3 - 1952...

Juke In The Back ·

2025/02/03

Chess Records, Pt. 3 - 1952"Juke In The Back" continues a behemoth, multi-part series on Chess Records. The Chicago record label, founded by 2 Polish immigrant brothers, Leonard and Phil Chess, proved to be one of the most influential and important labels in not only Blues, but also Rhythm & Blues and its contribution to the birth of Rock n' Roll. Chess was the musical home of Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Little Walter, Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, The Moonglows, The Flamingos and countless other

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Juke In The Back: #769 - Chess Records, Pt. 2 -...

Juke In The Back ·

2025/01/27

Chess Records, Pt. 2 - 1950-51"Juke In The Back" continues a behemoth, multi-part series on Chess Records. The Chicago record label, founded by 2 Polish immigrant brothers, Leonard and Phil Chess, proved to be one of the most influential and important labels in not only Blues, but also Rhythm & Blues and its contribution to the birth of Rock n' Roll. Chess was the musical home of Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Little Walter, Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, The Moonglows, The Flamingos and countless other

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Juke In The Back: #768 - Chess Records, Pt. 1 -...

Juke In The Back ·

2025/01/20

Chess Records, Pt. 1 - Aristocrat Records"Juke In The Back" begins a behemoth, multi-part series on Chess Records. The Chicago record label, founded by 2 Polish immigrant brothers, Leonard and Phil Chess, proved to be one of the most influential and important labels in not only Blues, but also Rhythm & Blues and its contribution to the birth of Rock n' Roll. Chess was the musical home of Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Little Walter, Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, The Moonglows, The Flamingos and countless

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Juke In The Back: #767 - Jimmy Reed: 1953-59 -...

Juke In The Back ·

2025/01/13

Jimmy Reed: 1953-59Jimmy Reed was a hit-making blues machine back in the 1950s, yet he isn't as well remembered today as some of his contemporaries. This week, Matt The Cat and the "Juke In The Back" dedicate the entire program to this highly influential bluesman. Reed's mid-tempo shuffle was unique when first introduced in 1953 and has since become a part of Blues and Rock n' Roll DNA. Reed, along with The Spaniels, were the first two acts signed to Vivian Carter and James Bracken's new label,

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Juke In The Back: #766 - 1955: Jukebox Rhythm Review,...

Juke In The Back ·

2025/01/06

1955: Jukebox Rhythm Review, Pt. 2Lets journey back 70 years and put the ol' Rockola Jukebox back in the spotlight as we present part 2 of a 2 part feature on the biggest R&B jukebox records of 1955. It was a year of many firsts. 1955 was the first full year of Rhythm & Blues records consistently crossing over into the Pop Chart. Matt The Cat will point out just how popular some of these records were in the Pop Market. 1955 was also the debut year for Bo Diddley, Chuck Berry and Etta James. Fats

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Juke In The Back: #762 - Joe Liggins - December 9-15,...

Juke In The Back ·

2024/12/09

Joe LigginsThere were so many important figures in post WWII Rhythm & Blues that helped build what would become Rock n' Roll. Today's popular culture has left so many musical pioneers behind and this week the "Juke In The Back" features Joe Liggins, one such pioneer who's been largely forgotten. Liggins scored one of the biggest hits of all-time when his "The Honeydripper" hit #1 on the R&B Chart for 18 staggering weeks in 1945. Singer/songwriter and music historian, Billy Vera drops by the

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Juke In The Back: #761 - Jimmy Liggins - December...

Juke In The Back ·

2024/12/02

Jimmy LigginsJimmy Liggins didn't have the chart success or popularity of his older brother Joe Liggins, but he did have a killer band, a raw sound and quite possibly the "first rock n' roll record." Both brothers traveled to California from their native Oklahoma in order to make it in the music business. Jimmy started out as a professional boxer before hanging up the gloves in order to drive his older brother around after the success of Joe's "The Honeydripper" in 1945. By the end of '46, Jimmy

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Juke In The Back: #760 - Buddy & Ella Johnson -...

Juke In The Back ·

2024/11/25

Buddy & Ella JohnsonBandleader, pianist, composer and sometimes vocalist Buddy Johnson and his chanteuse sister Ella are in the spotlight on this week's "Juke In The Back." Johnson was a superstar and one of the hottest live acts of the 1940s in the Black Community, but he barely made a dent with White audiences, though a few of his records actually did cross over into the Pop Chart. Raised in South Carolina, Buddy moved to New York when he was 23 and began touring the world with the Cotton Club

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