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  12. DEC

MR. SOUL: A TRIBUTE TO SAM COOKE

Tune in for a tribute to the man who melded gospel, soul and pop in music and life, Sam Cooke. We’ll follow the singer from Clarksdale to Chicago and from the church to the Copa as he revolutionized gospel music with the Soul Stirrers and then secular music with self-penned hits “You Send Me,” “Change is Gonna Come,” and more. Plus an hour of the musical roots and branches of Sam Cooke.

GIMME MORE HOPE: RESILIENCE AND IMPROVISATION IN MUSIC, FOOD & DRINK

We’re seeking out hope in a cold, dark season with warm conversation and music. We check in on the places in New Orleans that keep us connected, even in these isolating times, from Li’l Dizzy’s Cafe in Treme to Pete’s Out in the Cold Lounge in the Irish Channel to see how they’re faring. Then a round with Joe Krown at the 88s…on wheels, the Piano on a Truck. Plus songs by Bob Dylan, Bessie Smith, Otis Redding, and Dolly Parton.

DANCE YOUR BLUES AWAY ON MARDI GRAS DAY

We’re hitting the streets this week to celebrate – what else? – Mardi Gras! Even though we can’t celebrate as we usually do, we can still enjoy the sounds of Carnival seasons in years past. In this archive edition of American Routes, we meet parade float builders, visit the Backstreet Cultural Museum in Treme, discover a skull and bone gang and baby dolls, follow Mardi Gras Indians and learn why flamingos flock to Baton Rouge this time of year.

BLUES-- THE UNIVERSAL SOLVENT & LITTLE FREDDIE KING LIVE

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.