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
Blues–The Universal Solvent & Little Freddie King Live
June 10, 2026
Blues…it’s a universal solvent in music. There’s blues in jazz, R & B, roots rock and soul, country, Cajun, Latin, funk, hip-hop, rock and pop… It’s everywhere! We’ll hear from all corners of the musical map including Bessie Smith, Buddy Guy, Freddy Fender and Clifton Chenier and more. Then, an hour with octogenarian electric country blues man Little Freddie King live from Marigny Studios in New Orleans.
NEXT WEEK
Juneteenth with the Gullah Geechee Ring Shouters
For Juneteenth, it’s music from the Staple Singers, Stevie Wonder, Nina Simone and Bob Dylan, plus classic jazz, reggae and a new generation of singers: the Carolina Chocolate Drops, Norah Jones and Questlove. Then, songs, rhythms and histories from the Georgia Sea Islands Gullah Geechee Ring Shouters.
Give the Drummer Some: with Earl Palmer, JM Van Eaton, Adonis Rose, the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra
It’s time to give the drummer some, with late New Orleans native Earl Palmer talking about his creative percussion for Fats Domino and Little Richard sessions; and conversation with Memphis rockabilly JM Van Eaton about backing Jerry Lee Lewis; plus rhythm and time-keeping in music from Elvis and Johnny Cash to Smokey Johnson and Slim Gaillard. Then, a live set dedicated to the soul, funk and jazz of New Orleans drummer James Black with Adonis Rose and the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra.
Remembering Sonny Rollins
Saxophone colossus Sonny Rollins passed away Monday afternoon at his Woodstock, N.Y. home at the age of 95. We spoke with Rollins about his work with Miles and Monk among others, and his improvisatory explorations. You can find that interview here.
To find out more about Sonny Rollins, click here.