Geeshie Wiley:  Last Kind Words Blues

Geeshie Wiley: Last Kind Words Blues

As we prepare for W. C. Handy & the Birth of the Blues with program consultant Elliott Hurwitt, we revisit his first week hosting Song of the Day. This song was originally posted on October 27, 2015. We don’t know a whole lot about Geeshie Wiley, who recorded...
Gladys Bentley:  Worried Blues

Gladys Bentley: Worried Blues

As we prepare for W. C. Handy & the Birth of the Blues with program consultant Elliott Hurwitt, we revisit his first week hosting Song of the Day. This song was originally posted on October 26, 2015. Gladys Bentley (ca. 1907-1960) was one of the biggest stars of...
Snarky Puppy:  Lingus

Snarky Puppy: Lingus

The song “Lingus” by the group Snarky Puppy has been recorded by the group many times, but my favorite take is from their ninth album We Like it Here. Snarky Puppy is a very special musical group made up of some of the best jazz fusion instrumentalists in the world....
Take 6: Come Unto Me

Take 6: Come Unto Me

Growing up, I was fascinated with the Grammy winning a cappella group “Take 6”. A group of six young black men singing about the power of goodness and Love was an incredible thing for me to look up to. Take 6 was started by singer Claude McKnight and 5 of his...
Punch Brothers: Familiarity

Punch Brothers: Familiarity

The song “Familiarity” by the Punch Brothers spoke to me on a special level when I first heard it a few years ago. It sort of redefined what I expected from popular music. The fact that there are so many musical styles and is set up in a form you usually...