Juke In The Back

R&B Influences: The Mills Brothers On a weekly basis, Juke In The Back consistently points out how the Rhythm & Blues music played on the program influenced those that came later, mostly in the Rock n' Roll genre. What about the music the influenced and inspired the highly influential records played each week on our ol' Rockola Juke? This week, Matt The Cat begins a sporadic series on the music th...

Spooky Halloween Rhythm & Blues Halloween has always been a frightfully good time of the year for the "Juke In The Back." This year, Matt The Cat, along with Miss Rosie and Bobby The Bobcat bring you a cauldron of ghoulishly spooky tunes from the 1940s and '50s. The program is heavy with devilish doo wop delights from The Cadillacs, The Del Vikings, The Verdicts, The Coasters, The Checkers and The...

Louis Jordan, Pt. 6 - 1950-56 The "Juke In The Back" presents Part 6, the final part of our mammoth, 6 part series, on the most important musical figure of the 1940s, Louis Jordan. He was the most successful African-American artist of the decade, selling millions of records to both Black and White audiences. Jordan charted 57 singles between 1942 and 1951, scoring 18 #1 R&B hits and 54 top 10s. Se...

Louis Jordan, Pt. 5 - 1948-50 The "Juke In The Back" presents Part 5 of our mammoth, 6 part series, featuring the most important musical figure of the 1940s, Louis Jordan. He was the most successful African-American artist of the decade, selling millions of records to both Black and White audiences. Jordan charted 57 singles between 1942 and 1951, scoring 18 #1 R&B hits and 54 top 10s. Several of...

Louis Jordan, Pt. 4 - 1947-48 The "Juke In The Back" presents Part 4 of our mammoth, 6 part series, featuring the most important musical figure of the 1940s, Louis Jordan. He was the most successful African-American artist of the decade, selling millions of records to both Black and White audiences. Jordan charted 57 singles between 1942 and 1951, scoring 18 #1 R&B hits and 56 top 10s. Several of...

Louis Jordan, Pt. 3 - 1946 The "Juke In The Back" presents Part 3 of a mammoth, six-part series, featuring the most important musical figure of the 1940s, Louis Jordan. He was the most successful African-American artist of the decade, selling millions of records to both Black and White audiences. Jordan charted 57 singles between 1942 and 1951, scoring 18 #1 R&B hits and 56 top 10s. Several of his...

Parrot Records This week, "Juke In The Back" focuses on a tiny Chicago R&B record label with a big sound; Parrot Records. The label was started by Chicago DJ Al Benson in late 1952 and it closed its doors in 1956. During its period of operation, Parrot recorded some smokin' R&B with Willie Mabon, Mabel Scott and J.B. Lenoir and smooth vocal group sounds from The Flamingos, the 5 Thrills and the Or...