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The late tenor saxophonist Sonny Rollins was one of the premier players in jazz. Rollins has been a favorite of both fans and critics, traversing bebop and cool with a strong melodic sound. The calypso rhythm that Sonny Rollins captured on one of his best-known tunes, “St. Thomas,” comes from family life. Sonny’s parents were natives of the Virgin Islands. Sonny was born Walter Theodore Rollins in 1930 and grew up in Harlem. His brother and sister were classically trained musicians, but Sonny turned to jazz early, and by his twenties, he was playing tenor sax with top jazzmen like Bud Powell, Miles Davis, and Thelonious Monk. By the late 1950s, Sonny Rollins had a long list of recordings to his name. Many are still classics today, including Saxophone Colossus, Tenor Madness, and Freedom Suite. Sonny Rollins’s music ranges from social statements to sweet remakes of popular songs. He absorbed it all in his youth: the sounds of his neighborhood, the radio and movies, and the music in his household. -
The Historic New Orleans CollectionThe Historic New Orleans Collection spotlights Edwin Blair, an early supporter of Jon and Gypsy Lou Webb's Loujon Press in New Orleans.
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We’re live at Marigny Studios with Little Freddie King, an old school bluesman from McComb, Mississippi who lives in New Orleans’ 9th Ward. Little Freddie is a great teller of tales. During the session, we talked about his comings and goings in music, and I asked about the story behind his homemade first guitar. -
Every year, Elvis fans flock to Tupelo to celebrate the King in his hometown — including some of his youngest fans, who perform like the rock icon in competition. -
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This is American Routes with a tribute to the legendary New Orleans drummer, James Black. Black also composed tunes like "Monkey Puzzle" and "Dee Wee," both recorded by Ellis Marsalis' ensemble in the early 1960s. As a composer, Black received support from the National Endowment for the Arts. -
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This is American Routes Live with New Orleans trombonist Corey Henry and his Treme Funktet at Marigny Studios, at the edge of the French Quarter. As the name of the band suggests, the Faubourg Tremé is an important part of Corey’s family history and his development as a musician. I asked him about the origins of the group. -
Cathy Tenedorio speaks with the Historic New Orleans collection about her son Matthew, one of the victims killed during the 2025 New Year's Day Bourbon Street attack. -
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On this week’s episode, we learn more about how one group is using hip-hop and social-emotional learning to better connect with students — with the help of local hip-hop star La Reezy. -
Creole accordion player Edward, “Eddie,” Poullard is a third-generation musician, born in Eunice, LA. He moved to Beaumont, TX, as a young child with his French-speaking family, and started learning music from father, John, a well-known old-time La-La accordionist. When he was nineteen, Eddie played house parties and church dances in his father’s group, the Poullard Family Band. He went on to learn from and tour with Creole fiddler Canray Fontenot. Eddie Poullard is also a master woodworker, specializing in building accordions. He keeps the tradition alive by teaching Creole and Cajun fiddle and accordion styles at festivals and music camps, as well as mentoring musicians from his community and own family.
