Echoes of Indiana Avenue

Indianapolis jazz drummer Larry Clark shares his thoughts on the destruction of Indiana Avenue and discusses his unique archive of cassette tapes.

Indianapolis jazz drummer Larry Clark shares his memories of working on the Avenue plus never-before-heard live recordings from his personal collection.

A preview of the “Juneteenth Black Heritage Concert: Gospel and Blues – The Roots of it All” and interviews with two of the concert’s performers, Lester Johnson and Debbie Nelson.

Saxophonist Alonzo “Pookie” Johnson is a legend of the Avenue jazz scene. He is best known for his long association with the Montgomery Brothers: Buddy, Monk, and Wes. Hear music featuring Pookie Johnson’s recordings with Wes Montgomery.

Explore the lives and music of John W. Bubbles and Todd Duncan. Both had deep roots on the Indiana Avenue scene and were featured in the original cast of George Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess.

Listen to music and interviews from Indianapolis musicians who lived and worked in Europe. including Slide Hampton, Paul Weeden, Charles Tyler, Claudia Polley, George Chandler and The Presidents.

A tribute to the Black rock and roll legends of Indianapolis ahead of The I Made Rock and Roll festival that comes to Downtown Indianapolis this month.

The final episode in our three-part series celebrating the music of guitarist Steve Weakley, one of the greatest living legends of Indianapolis music.

The second episode in our three-part series celebrating the music of guitarist Steve Weakley, one of the greatest living legends of Indianapolis music.

The first episode in our three-part series celebrating the music of guitarist Steve Weakley, one of the greatest living legends of Indianapolis music.

Listen to music from The 3 Souls as we celebrate the life of Albert Coleman, a legendary Indianapolis jazz drummer and entrepreneur who passed away earlier this year at the age of 96.

Learn about the life and music of Enoch “Sonny Boy” Williams, a rhythm & blues pianist and vocalist from Indianapolis.

Learn about the history of Merging Traffic, an influential jazz fusion band that thrived in Indianapolis during the 1970s. Listen to interviews with members Kenny Simms, George Benn, and Ricky Knox and rare unreleased recordings from the group.

Celebrate Women’s History Month with music from the “Boogie Woogie Queen” Christine Chatman. Her 1944 debut single “Naptown Boogie”, was a tribute to the city that helped launch her career.

Celebrate Women’s History Month by learning about the legendary jazz women of Indiana Avenue. Listen to classic music from Indianapolis women who made historical contributions to jazz, including Debbie Andrews, Sarah McLawler, Flo Garvin and the Hampton Sisters.

Explore the music of Bobby Lewis, Indianapolis’ biggest rock and roll star. His 1961 single “Tossin’ and Turnin’” topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart for 7 straight weeks.

Explore the music of the pianist and bandleader Millard Lee, an unsung Indianapolis music legend. Lee is best known for his collaboration with the blues star B.B. King. Lee worked as a keyboardist and bandleader for King from the mid-1950s, until his death in 1961.

Explore the music of the late Indianapolis saxophonist, band leader, and music educator Larry Liggett, including his work for the legendary Chicago label Chess Records.

Celebrate Wes Bound: The Genius of Wes Montgomery by listening to classic recordings of Wes Montgomery's performances in Indianapolis. And hear from Indianapolis musicians who performed with Wes, including Phil Ranelin, Everett Greene, Wanda Stafford, Jimmy Gilford and Johnny Shacklett.

On this week’s show, we’ll explore the music of Thurston Harris, Indianapolis’ first rock and roll star. He’s best known for his recording of “Little Bitty Pretty One,” a Top 10 hit in 1957.

Classic Naptown gospel music, featuring rare recordings from the quartets, choirs, and songwriters that made history in the Circle City. Plus, interviews with Indianapolis gospel artists M.L. Allen, Reggie Gammon, Reverend Dennis Freeman, Henry Hinch, Everett Greene, and more.

Explore the Ink Spots’ influence on rock and roll. The only Indianapolis act to be inducted in the Rock and Hall of Fame, the Ink Spots remain one of the most influential acts to emerge from the Avenue.

The legendary jazz pianist and vocalist Les McCann passed away in December of 2023. This week on Echoes of Indiana Avenue, we’ll celebrate, the life and music of Les McCann, by listening to his work with the Indianapolis bass player Leroy Vinnegar. McCann featured Vinnegar on over a dozen albums, including the biggest record of his career "Compared to What."

This week on Echoes of Indiana Avenue, we’ll continue our look back at some of our favorite music and interviews of 2023. Indianapolis music legends Rodney Stepp and Allen “Turk” Burke will discuss their work with The Spinners, and R&B vocalist Debbie Nelson will share her memories of growing up on the Avenue.

This week on Echoes of Indiana Avenue we’ll look back at some of our favorite music and interviews of 2023. Tune in for words and music from Phil Ranelin, George Chandler, Claudia Polley, and more.