American Routes is blues and jazz, gospel and soul, rockabilly and country, Cajun and swamp pop, Tejano, Latin… and beyond. Songs and stories from musicians describe a deep and diverse nation with sounds and styles shared by all Americans. From the bayous to the beltways, from crossroads to crosstown, on interstates and city streets, turn up your radio for the sonic journey!
American Routes—produced in New Orleans since 1998
Memphis’ Hi Records – Stories and Music from Al Green, Willie Mitchell, Don Bryant, Rev. Charles Hodges and Archie “Hubbie” Turner
November 19, 2025
We’ll go up the Mississippi to another great river city of music: Memphis. Known for rhythm & blues, gospel, soul and roots, rock n roll-- and landmark record labels: Sun, Stax and Hi Records. On this visit, we’ll listen to the work of Hi Records producer/arranger/trumpeter Willie Mitchell and talk to members of the Hi Rhythm section: Rev. Charles Hodges and Archie “Hubbie” Turner, plus an archival conversation with the man with the most hits for Hi Records, Al Green. Then more memories of those days with old school singer and prolific songwriter Don Bryant, who got his start with Willie Mitchell and, in his ‘70s, returned to the studio, cutting records with lots of soul.
NEXT WEEK
Family Harmony
Join us around the piano for a good helping of family harmonies, led by the Haden Triplets and their father, the late jazz bassist Charlie Haden. Then, get down to the sounds of Tupelo, Mississippi’s Homemade Jamz Blues Band, featuring the Perry brothers and their sister Taya on drums. Plus, music from famous family bands and songs about grandmas, cousins and long lost relatives — all of whom we expect to hear from at Thanksgiving dinner.
American Routes Live: Cajun Troubadour Zachary Richard and New Orleans Creole Jazzman Don Vappie
It’s American Routes Live in concert and conversation with musicians from southwest Louisiana Cajun and New Orleans Creole life. Singer Songwriter Zachary Richard has been called the most American of French songwriters and the most French of American songwriters. We’ll visit with Zachary and his band live at Dockside Studios in Maurice, Louisiana for a walk through his nearly 50 year catalog of songs. Then Creole jazz banjoman Don Vappie updates musical history while keeping the New Orleans traditional sound alive, live from Marigny Studios near the French Quarter.
Remembering Flaco Jiménez & Eddie Palmieri
Flaco Jiménez, king of the conjunto accordion, passed away Thursday, July 31, at age 86.
Nuyorican jazz pianist Eddie Palmieri passed away on Wednesday, August 6, at the age of 88.
You can find our interviews with Flaco Jiménez and Eddie Palmieri here.