Words and Music in the Spirit of Martin Luther King, Jr.

American Routes reflects on the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. in words and music. Join us as we speak with those who knew Dr. King, from music scholar Albert Murray and historian Julian Bond to singers Mavis Staples, Harry Belafonte, and Mable John. Also, Mississippi riverboat captain Doc Hawley shares a unique memory of Memphis. Plus songs of freedom, deliverance, and hope to commemorate this holiday weekend.

HOUR ONE

Open Bed: Spiritual Charlie Haden & Hank Jones
Steal Away: Spirituals, Hymns and Folk Songs, Polydor/Polydram

Ofay and Oxford Gray Louis Jordan
The Hoy Hoy Collection: Rock Before Elvis, Stash

It Ain't Necessarily So Mary Lou Williams
Black Christ of the Andes, Folkways

Straighten Up and Fly Right Nat King Cole
The Best of Nat King Cole Trio: The Vocal Classics, Vol. 1, Capitol

Jim Crow Blues Leadbelly
Bourgeois Blues, Smithsonian Folkways

When a Black Man's Blue Duke Ellington
The Duke Ellington Centennial Edition: The Complete RCA/Victor Recordings, 1927-1973, RCA

Clip: Albert Murray

Instrumental: I've Got a Robe You Got a Robe Charlie Haden & Hank Jones
Steal Away: Spirituals, Hymns and Folk Songs, Polydor/Polygram

Freedom Train James Carr
The Essential James Carr, Razor & Tie

Change It Kathleen Cleaver
Black Power: Music of a Revolution, Shout! Factory

Freedom Train Honeyboy Edwards, Floyd Jones, Kansas City Red, Sunnyland Slim & Big Walter Horton
Old Friends, Earwig

Clip: Julian Bond

Paths of Victory Odetta
Odetta Sings Dylan, Camden

Joshua Fit the Battle Elvis Presley
His Hand in Mine, RCA

Ninety-Nine and a Half Dorothy Loves Coates
The Oxford American Sampler 1999, Oxford American

Instrumental: It's Me O Lord, Standing In the Need of Prayer Charlie Haden & Hank Jones
Steal Away: Spirituals, Hymns and Folk Songs, Polydor/Polygram

Freedom Road Blind Boys of Alabama
Higher Ground, Real World

Old Jim Crow Nina Simone
Nina Simone in Concert, Mercury

We're a Winner The Impressions
Change Is Gonna Come: The Voice of Black American 1963-1973, Kent

Lift Every Voice and Sing Zion Harmonizers
Best of New Orleans Gospel, Vol. II, Mardi Gras

Down by the Riverside Louis Armstrong
Louis and the Angels/Louis and the Good Book, MCA

Redemption Song Johnny Cash and Joe Strummer
Redemption Songs, American

End Bed: Freedom Jazz Dance Eddie Harris
Atlantic Jazz-Saxophones Vol. 1, Rhino

HOUR TWO

Open Bed: Inner City Blues Dirty Dozen Brass Band
Buck Jump, Mammoth

Wake Up, Everybody John Legend and the Roots
Wake Up, Columbia

Where Are We Going? Marvin Gaye
The Very Best of Marvin Gaye, Motown

How Long Charles Bradley
No Time For Dreaming, Dunham

Clip: Harry Belafonte

Those Three Are on My Mind Harry Belafonte
Belafonte on Campus, RCA Victor

Instrumental: My Lord What a Mornin' Charlie Haden & Hank Jones
Steal Away: Spirituals, Hymns and Folk Songs, Polydor/Polygram

Clip: Mavis Staples

Long Walk to DC Staple Singers
Soul Folk in Action, Stax

We Shall Not Be Moved SNCC Freedom Singers
Voices of the Civil Rights Movement, Smithsonian Folkways

Clip: Mable John

All Men Are Made By God Highway QC's
World's Greatest Gospel, Roadshow/HOB

Martin Luther Kind Southside Joe Turner
Everyday I Have the Blues, Pablo

Instrumental: Wade in the Water Charlie Haden & Hank Jones
Steal Away: Spirituals, Hymns and Folk Songs, Polydor/Polygram

Wade in the Water Staple Singers
Freedom Highway, Columbia

Clip: Captain Doc Hawley

Swing Low, Sweet Chariot/Every Time I Feel the Spirit Paul Robeson
The Power and the Glory, Sony

A Change is Gonna Come Sam Cooke
The Man and His Music, RCA

End Bed: We Shall Overcome Charlie Haden & Hank Jones
Steal Away: Spirituals, Hymns and Folk Songs, Polydor/Polygram