Easter & Passover: Let Hope & Freedom Prevail
It’s songs for Easter, Passover and spring, to let hope prevail while we preserve freedom in these tough times. We’ve got songs of resurrection, liberation, rainy weather, and rabbit blues, with the voices of Aretha Franklin, Bruce Springsteen, Bessie Smith, Sister Rosetta Tharp, Dr. John, Willie Nelson and Fats Domino. We’ll hear the “voice of the Holy Ghost” through the sacred steel stylings of Fran Grace (“Lady Strings”) and Nicolle “Nikki D” Brown from Toledo, Ohio. Then, we travel to North East Louisiana to witness the Winnsboro Easter Rock Ensemble perform a spiritual ritual from enslaved Africans that combines Christian worship and the West African ring shout tradition.
HOUR ONE
Spirit in the Dark Aretha Franklin
Spirit in the Dark, Atlantic
Wait a Little Longer James Phelps and the Clefs of Calvary
Baptized!, Tru-Sound
Help Me Run this Race Otis Clay with the Gospel Songbirds
Jubilee Showcase, Rhythm & Light
It’s Raining Irma Thomas
Irma Thomas Collection: 1961-1966, Capitol
The Soul of a Man Irma Thomas
After the Rain, Rounder
Instrumental: It Might As Well Be Spring James Moody
At the Jazz Workshop, GRP
March Winds and April Showers Louis Prima, Joe “Wingy” Manone
The Complete Louis Prima and Wingy Manone Brunswick & Vocation Recordings, Vol 3, Sony
April in Paris Billie Holiday
All or Nothing at All, Verve
April Come She Will Simon & Garfunkel
Sounds of Silence, Columbia
Big Eyed Rabbit Tommy Jarrell & Fred Cockerham
Tommy & Fred, Country Records
Rabbit Stomp Rabbit Muse
Virginia Traditions: Western Piedmont Blues, Smithsonian Folkways
Little Rabbit Blues Johnny Hodges, The Ellington Men
The Big Sound, Verve
Instrumental: Bunny Gerry Mulligan, Johnny Hodges
Gerry Mulligan Meets Johnny Hodges, Verve
Go Down, Moses Paul Robeson
Ballad for Americans, Vanguard Records
At the Feast (Of the Passover) The Congos
King Scratch (Musical Masterpieces from the Upsetter Ark-ive), Trojan Records
O Mary Don't You Weep Bruce Springsteen
We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions (American Land Edition), Columbia
SEGMENT: Fran Grace & Nikki D. Brown
End Bed: Let’s Dance Fran E. Grace Lady Strings
Is It Well With Your Soul, Sacred Strings Records
HOUR TWO
Open Bed: When the Saints Go Marching In Winnsboro Easter Rock Ensemble
American Routes Original Recording
There’s a Higher Power The Easter Brothers
They’re Holding Up the Ladder, Rebel Records Llc
A Voice From On High The Stanley Brothers, the Clinch Mountain Boys
The Complete Mercury Recordings, Mercury
The Last Mile of the Way Sam Cooke, The Soul Stirrers
The Last Mile of the Way, Specialty
The Love of God (Take 3) The Soul Stirrers
Heaven Is My Home, Specialty
Two Little Fishes and Five Loaves of Bread Sister Rosetta Tharpe
The Gospel of the Blues, Geffen
Instrumental: Honey Dripper Dr. John
Dr. John Plays Mac Rebennack, Sundazed Music
Funny How Times Slips Away Dr. John
Things Happen That Way, Rounder
Gimme That Old Time Religion Dr. John, Willie Nelson
Things Happen That Way, Rounder
Down Yonder (We Go Balling) Snooks Eaglin
Snooks Eaglin The Imperial Recordings, Capitol
Blueberry Hill Fats Domino
Fats Dominos Swings, Imperial
Across the Borderline Freddy Fender
Freddy Fender: The Golden Voice of the Texas Gulf Coast, Gazell Records
El Mexicano-Americano Los Cenzontles
Con Su Permiso, Señores, Smithsonian Folkways
Instrumental: Wade in the Water Dr. John
Dr. John Plays Mac Rebennack, Sundazed Music
On Revival Day (A Rhythmic Spiritual) Bessie Smith
The Essential Bessie Smith, Columbia
Jump Sister Bessie Otis Rush
The Essential Otis Rush, Cobra
Joy Myrna Summers
Now, Cotillion
SEGMENT: The Winnsboro Easter Rock Ensemble
When the Saints Go Marching In The Winnsboro Easter Rock Ensemble
American Routes Original Recording
Oh David The Winnsboro Easter Rock Ensemble
American Routes Original Recording
Two Wings The Winnsboro Easter Rock Ensemble and the Gullah Geechee Ring Shouters
American Routes Original Recording
I’ll Fly Away The Winnsboro Easter Rock Ensemble and the Gullah Geechee Ring Shouters
American Routes Original Recording
End Bed: God So Loved the World Fran E. Grace Lady Strings
Is It Well With Your Soul, Sacred Strings Records