AMERICAN GROOVES RADIO HOUR hosted by JOE LAURO

Written in 1910 by African American songwriter Sheldon Brooks, the SOME OF THESE DAYS took on a new life after being embraced by popular Vaudeville singer SOPHIE TUCKER who made it her theme song and sang it nonstop in her act until her death in 1966. By 1966 the song had long before become a jazz standard. Besides Sophie's three pre-1930 recordings of it the tune was recorded by numerous Jazz...

Since the 1920s Charlotte North Carolina was a destination for field recording by several of the major record labels. Victor and Bluebird specifically recorded a fabulous array of Country Singers, String Bands, Gospel Quartets and "territory" Jazz Bands. Among several others Bill Monroe and his Brother Charlie started their recording career in Charlotte. This episode re-visits some of th...

Joe plays a mixture of 78s from his collection and of his friends! Perfect for a "Moldie Fig" barbecue soundtrack! You Will have swingin' tracks by Mart Britt & His Orchestra, Carl Webster's Yale Collegians, Carter Family and much more! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/american-grooves-hour/support

This episode, besides an array of rare Blues, Jazz and Country recordings focuses on a variety of different versions of the classic 1913 tune AFTER YOU'VE GONE from Fats to Sophie and then some! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/american-grooves-hour/support

Besides a fun selection of pre-war Blues. Jazz and Country in this episode Joe explores the origins and development of Jelly Roll Morton's classic KING PORTER STOMP - from piano solo to swing band standard --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/american-grooves-hour/support

The ASHEVILLE SHELLAC BASH is by far the most eclectic gathering of pre-war Blues, Country and Jazz 78 rpm record collectors and musicians . This year's "Bash" - the first since a covid shut down of a few years, was one for the books. This show is dedication to Brody Hunt and Hunter Holmes, the event's organizers and the many collectors who traveled the world to attend. I will on...

THE FIRST TRUE JAZZ BANDS TO RECORD WERE GENERALLY SMALL BANDS...THE CLASSIC LINEUP WAS TRUMPET OR CORNET, TROMBONE, CLARINET, PIANO AND DRUMS ( YOU CAN ADD A BASS HORN/BASS FIDDLE, AND OR GUITAR WITHOUT MISSING THE POINT/!) THIS EPISODE WILL EXPLORE SOME OF THE MOST FAMOUS OF THE RECORDED HOT JAZZ "FABULOUS FIVES": THE ORIGINAL MEMPHIS FIVE, THE ORIGINAL INDIANA FIVE, LOUISIANA FIVE, OR...

After the success of Ralph Peer's early 1920s recordings of rural musicians such as Henry Whitter and Fiddlin' Joh Carson most every major record label slowly began dabbling in the recording of rural country ( often labeled "Hillbilly" ) artists. A new record selling market was awoken! By 1928, with the success of the first "Bristol Sessions" Victor was all in. They est...

After the success of Ralph Peer's early 1920s recordings of rural musicians such as Henry Whitter and Fiddlin' Joh Carson most every major record label slowly began dabbling in the recording of rural country ( often labeled "Hillbilly" ) artists. A new record selling market was awoken! By 1928, with the success of the first "Bristol Sessions" Victor was all in. They est...

From Maybelle and Sarah Carter, "Moonshine Kate", Fiddler Hattie Stoneman, Patsy Montana to The Girls Of The Golden West women's contributions to pre-war country music are often overlooked. American Grooves celebrates some of those early voices in this episode - part 3 of our 2023 celbaration of Women's History Month 2023 --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/p...

In commemoration of Women's History Month 2023 Joe explores some of the great Lady Blues Singers of the pre-war era - Keechie Wiley, Bessie Smith , Memphis Minnie and many suprizes ! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/american-grooves-hour/support

In commemoration of Women's History Month 2023 American Grooves presents three programs focusing on Women's contributions to pre-war pop, jazz country and blues. Episode one of this mini-series focuses on some of the great unsung pop vocalists of the mid-1920s-1930s Ruth Etting, Annette Hanshaw and a slew of surprises ! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/amer...

FROM RARE RECORDINGS OF DUKE ELLINGTON'S COTTON CLUB BAND, FLETCHER HENDERSON AND LUIS RUSSELL TO EARLY BLACK BROADWAY PIONEERS WILLIAMS AND WALKER JOIN UA FOR PART TWO OF OUR CELEBRATION OF THE HARLEM RENAISSANCE --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/american-grooves-hour/support

IN COMMEMORATION OF WOMEN' HISTORY MONTH WE PRESENT A PROGRAM FEATURING SOME OF THE 1920S-30S FINEST JAZZ/DANCE BANDS LED BY LADY BAND LEADERS - BLANCHE CALLOWAY & HER JOY BOYS, INA RAY HUTTON BAND, CLEO BROWN, THELMA TERRY AND MORE . --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/american-grooves-hour/support

THERE WERE MANY SMALL INDEPENDENT RECORD LABELS COMPETING WITH THE BIG 5 ( COLUMBIA, VICTOR, BRUNSWICK, VOCALION & OKEH) BACK IN THE 1920S. GREY GULL RECORDS AND ITS' ASSOCIATED LABELS ( RADIEX, VAN DYKE, SUNRISE AND OTHERS) WERE BY FAR THE LEASE EXPENSIVE ( 25 CENTS) AND WORSE SOUNDING ( BEING PRESSED WITH A THIN SHELLAC COMPOUND LIKELY INCORPORATING SAND AND WHO KNOWS WHAT ELSE!) - GREY...

THE HARLEM  RENAISSANCE Part 1 (1901-1925)  - From Williams & Walker to stride  piano mastermind James P. Johnson we will  attempt to scratch the  surface of that iconic uptown cultural explosion .... The Harlem Renaissance was an intellectual and cultural revival of  African American music, dance, art, fashion, literature, theater,  politics and scholarship...

Joe plays some of his favorite Blues, Jazz and Country tunes about REQUITED love!  From Miss Lee Morse's lovely version of SIDE BY SIDE ( 1926) to Cliff "Ukulele" Ike's OLD FASHIONED LOVE ( 1934), Carter Family, Jimmie Rodgers  and so much more -  --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/american-grooves-hour/support

The "Johnny B. Good" of jazz tunes! TIGER RAG has it's origins in  Victorian era French Folk Music - hear how it started and how it was played by everyone from  ORIGINAL DIXIELAND JASS BAND, JELLY ROLL MORTON to THE MILLS BROTHERS and many more! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/american-grooves-hour/support

What was BLUE BLOWING ? it was human beings imitating jazz horns and banjos with just their mouths! - From  guitarist Eddie Lang's first recordings with THE MOUND CITY BLUE BLOWERS ( 1924!), THE   MILLS BROTHERS, to UKULELE IKE and a slew of now obscure artists hear how HOT blue blowing could be- a lost art of early jazz! -  --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify....

From 1928-1933 Victor Records (then  in 1931 RCA Victor) produced a series of Blues, Jug Band, Gospel, Jazz. Skiffle and Sermon recordings specifically marketed to African American record buyers..and some hip hot jazz loving white folks!...Icons such as Memphis Jug Band, Blind Willie McTell, Fury Lewis, Tommy Johnson,  Duke Ellington, Bennie Moten and Jelly Roll Morton were released on V...

Joe plays some of his favorite pre-1935  hot jazz, blues and folk sides as well as a study of the 1921 tin pan alley  tune THERE'LL BE SOME CHANGES MADE - great versions by Ethel Waters,  Sophie Tucker, Eddie & Sugar Lou's Hotel Tyler Orchestra, Red Mckenzie and others are played! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/american-grooves-hour/support

American Grooves Radio Hour pays homage in song to the butcher, bakers and candlestick makers of  pre-1940 American Song - From the obscure Vance Dixon & His Pencil's  1932  PETE THE DEALER IN MEAT to GROCERIES ON THE SHELF by  blues gal Lucille Bogan  we will be playing all of the grocery store hits and more --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod...

A new batch of  pre-1940 Yuletide rarities and more to help you celebrate a shellac-centric Christmas! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/american-grooves-hour/support

From 1928 - 1933 RCA VICTOR RECORDS had a record series specifically marketed to African American record buyers. It flourished until the ravages of the Great Depression put an enormous hurt on the record business in general and the buyers of "race" records in particular. Hear a variety of the Hot Jazz, Blues, Gospel,  Jug Bands, Comedy and Sermons released by VICTOR for Americas' black popula...

Songs of turkeys, good eats and THANKSGIVING as recorded by the pilgrims and pioneers of pre-1940 American Music! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/american-grooves-hour/support