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Shaka Zulu is a drummer, Black masking Indian, and stilt dancer from New Orleans. He grew up in his father's performing arts company, Free Spirit, where he learned stilt dancing, as well as African drumming. He began masking in 1999 under Big Chief Darryl Montana, son of Chief Allison "Tootie" Montana of the Yellow Pocahontas Tribe. Later, in 2018, Shaka Zulu started his own tribe, the Golden Feather Hunters. He's passed Black masking and stilt dancing traditions on to his daughter, ensuring that future generations will carry on as well.

This is American Routes from New Orleans, a city of music and songs, many of which have been written about it, often by outsiders. “Way Down Yonder in New Orleans"–music by John Turner Layton and lyrics from Henry Creamer–was published in 1922. “Way Down Yonder” was advertised as "A Southern Song, without A Mammy, A Mule, Or A Moon.” That was a rightful dig at some of the Tin Pan Alley clichés of the day. “Way Down Yonder in”–I say–“New Orleans" has been performed by many: Benny Goodman, the Andrews Sisters, Freddy Cannon, Jan and Dean, and Dean Martin. And now let’s go “Way Down Yonder” and beyond, starting with a fresh version of the old song from New Orleans Jazz Vipers on American Routes.

The restaurant landscape in America is rapidly changing. The pandemic gave a lot of people time to rethink, retool, and redo the way the industry works. On this week's show, we speak with young chefs and restaurateurs who are changing the rules and reshaping culinary culture. We learn how chefs Mason Hereford and Serigne Mbaye run their restaurants and meet the trio behind the award-winning Saint Germain in New Orleans.

This is American Routes from New Orleans, a city of music and songs, many of which have been written about it, often by outsiders. “Way Down Yonder in New Orleans"–music by John Turner Layton and lyrics from Henry Creamer–was published in 1922. “Way Down Yonder” was advertised as "A Southern Song, without A Mammy, A Mule, Or A Moon.” That was a rightful dig at some of the Tin Pan Alley clichés of the day. “Way Down Yonder in”–I say–“New Orleans" has been performed by many: Benny Goodman, the Andrews Sisters, Freddy Cannon, Jan and Dean, and Dean Martin. And now let’s go “Way Down Yonder” and beyond, starting with a fresh version of the old song from New Orleans Jazz Vipers on American Routes.

We went to visit with the late Frankie Ford at his house across the river from New Orleans in Gretna, Louisiana back when. Frankie gave us a tour of memorabilia from a lifetime in music. On a wall of promo pictures, his hairdo goes from slicked down teen to fluffy Sicilian ‘fro. Frankie started singing at age six and opened for Sophie Tucker and Carmen Miranda when they played the Crescent City.

Today on Louisiana Considered, we hear why the school board in East Baton Rouge Parish rejected rehiring its superintendent. We also check in with the state of the economy in the capital region, and learn about the financial impact of last summer’s deadly heat and wildfires.

Today on Louisiana Considered, we learn how student debt, and the new federal plans to address it, may impact Louisianans. Plus we speak with the new director of Le Petit Theatre, and hear an update on qualifying rounds for the governor’s race.

This is American Routes, our program, “How many Roads? Bob Dylan’s Back Pages.” Joan Baez sang and recorded many of Bob’s songs of love and loss.

We’ve got saxophonist Sonny Rollins on the essential support from his mother to persevere in jazz. Also Creole accordionist Geno Delafose tells of Mama coming out to the dance hall. And St. Louis soul singer Fontella Bass telling a tale of trying to take a train out of town, until her mother found out.

We feature gospel and R&B singer Mavis Staples, from the second installment of our show all about Bob Dylan. Bob Dylan admired the civil rights songs of the Staples Singers and would hear them on tour in the early ‘60s. Mavis Staples remembers when her father, Pops, heard Dylan for the first time and how Dylan’s protest lyrics influenced their family in return.