1. JAN
  2. FEB
  3. MAR
  4. APR
  5. MAY
  6. JUN
  7. JUL
  8. AUG
  9. SEP
  10. OCT
  11. NOV
  12. DEC

HANK WILLIAMS

American Routes travels the Lost Highway in memory of Hank Williams. It was fifty years ago that Hank died in the back seat of his Cadillac en route to a New Years Day concert. We’ll remember Hank’s lasting contribution to American music with two hours of stories and songs from his musical ancestors, collaborators and descendants, including band member Don Helms, biographer Colin Escott, and grandson Hank III.

CHRISTMAS 2002

Christmas comes but once a year! American Routes digs into a bag of sound that’s been a year in the filling to bring you Christmas and seasonal music of the up, down, and off-beat variety we hope you’ve come to count on from (not) Saint Nick and the crew. Plus Chuck Siler, a museum curator and visual artist, tells us about his experience as a black Santa in 1968. Keep a cool Yule.

TITO PUENTE / MARC & ANN SAVOY

On this American Routes, music, songs, and artists that transcend their own cultural boundaries. Marc and Ann Savoy, a husband and wife team from Eunice, Louisiana, started playing together over 30 years ago and have helped Cajun music spread around the world. Plus legendary timbale player and bandleader Tito Puente, who brought even more of a Latin tinge to the American scene – our interview with him before he passed away in 2000. With music from Nina Simone, Wilco, Super Chikan and more.

VISUALIZING MUSIC

How do we “see” sound? Local artist Bruce Brice depicts the big sounds and scenes of New Orleans in murals; and photographer Herman Leonard tells us bout a half century chronicling the greatest jazz players. Plus Lafcadio Hearn’s meditations on the blueing water enroute to the French West Indies. Hear music from Bo Diddley, Van Morrison, Billie Holiday, Mose Allison and more.