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
The Outlaw Poet and the Crawfish Queen: Billy Joe Shaver & Yvette Landry
May 14, 2025
The late Texas singer-songwriter Billy Joe Shaver was a prolific composer who drew inspiration from his life experiences: turning horses to working in a sawmill; his relationship with religion and his family. All raw material for honing classic country songs, many of which are anthemic in the Outlaw Country music scene of yore. Then, the former Crawfish Queen of Breaux Bridge, Louisiana, Yvette Landry, shares stories of coming to music and song-making later in life, and her work with the “Godfather of Swamp Pop,” Warren Storm. Plus words and music from Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Marcia Ball and Fats Domino.
NEXT WEEK
Memorial Day with the 2024 National Heritage Fellows
We celebrate the 2024 National Endowment for the Arts National Heritage Fellows. Each year since 1982, the program has recognized artistic excellence, lifetime achievement, and contributions to the nation's traditional arts heritage. The 2024 fellows include rockabilly country musician, Rosie Flores; carousel restorationist, Todd Goings; Cambodian dancer and costume maker, Sochietah Ung; Chicago tap dancer, Bril Barrett; Arkansas community activist, Pat Johnson; Navajo/Diné quilter, Susan Hudson; Gwich’in fiddler, Trimble Gilbert; Zuni dancers and singers, the Zuni Olla Maidens; Chicano muralist from Los Angeles, Fabian Debora; and koto player, June Kuramoto. Plus, music from past fellows, including live sets from New Orleans’ clarinetist, Dr. Michael White, Cajun fiddler Michael Doucet and his band, BeauSoleil, and sacred steel masters, the Campbell Brothers.
Sisters, Brothers, Lovers & Others: Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Dave Alvin and Syl & Jimmy Johnson
Exploring the musical ties that bind, we spin platters from our favorite harmonizing pairs and family affairs. We map the careers of West Texas-troubadour Jimmie Dale Gilmore of the Flatlanders and So-Cal rocker Dave Alvin of the Blasters and trace the events that led to their cosmic collaboration. And we follow the journey of funk singer Syl Johnson and blues guitarist Jimmy Johnson from Mississippi to Chicago, and the different paths the late sibling rivals carved out in the Windy City’s electric soundscape. Plus, country duets and family bands. Soul sisters and blues brothers. Lovers, kindred spirits, and lots of others.
Urge Congress: Save Public Media Funding
The White House is planning to release a proposal that would claw back already approved public media funding. If Congress agrees, your local stations could lose critical support – immediately.
Save your local stations. Urge your lawmakers to oppose the rescissions package.