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
Country, Cuban and Cajun: Raul Malo & The Mavericks; The Pine Leaf Boys
December 10, 2025
We remember the late Raul Malo, who passed away on December 8, 2025. The Miami-born and Cuban-descended singer and leader of The Mavericks was known for country, pop and roots rock. We’ll talk about that and Latin music, all behind the band’s huge success in country music and their all-Spanish language recording. Then a live concert and conversation with the Pine Leaf Boys as Louisiana French two-steps meet rock n roll. Plus music from Celia Cruz, Patsy Cline, Los Lobos and Professor Longhair.
NEXT WEEK
Songs of Rivers and Mountains: Joan Shelley & Jeff Little
This week, we visit with two Southern crafters of music and song. Kentucky native and guitarist Joan Shelley takes her ethereal songwriting and voicing of life’s emotional flow from observations on the banks of the Ohio River near Louisville. Then, the virtuosic Blue Ridge pianist Jeff Little shares his stories of growing up playing alongside the legendary flat-pick guitarist Doc Watson at the family’s music store in Boone, North Carolina. It led to a singular career of playing high speed fiddle tunes on the piano. Also music of love, loss, and fast trains with Bill Frisell, Johnny Cash, James Brown, Tom Waits and Elizabeth Cotton.
Breaking Out: British Blues To New Orleans Bounce
From Great Britain to the Big Easy, we explore the sounds of musical and social breakouts. First, we hear how the late British blues pioneer John Mayall broke out of England with his band the Bluesbreakers, bringing British blues to a larger audience. We’ll hear some of Mayall’s sources and contemporaries, like Big Maceo and Eric Clapton. Then, it’s butt shakes and backbeats with Big Freedia, the Queen Diva of New Orleans Bounce, a rhythmic dance music with sources in hip hop and rap, as well as much earlier jazz and R&B. We’ll explore some of those sources, and strut with Kermit Ruffins and Sam Morgan, head “Down Yonder” with Smiley Lewis, and “Take it to the Street” with Rebirth Brass Band.
Remembering Jimmy Cliff
Jimmy Cliff, the global reggae star whose career was launched by the iconic film and soundtrack, The Harder They Come, passed away at age 81 On November 24, 2025.