Echoes of Indiana Avenue

It's a New Year’s Eve dance party on Echoes of Indiana Avenue with classic dance music from Naptown funk and soul artists. We’ll also revisit local dance crazes like the “Hum-Bug” and “Funky 16 Corners.”

This week on Echoes of Indiana Avenue we’ll celebrate Christmas at the Pink Poodle, a legendary Avenue nightclub. The Pink Poodle featured the biggest stars in jazz, comedy, and R&B music – including Aretha Franklin, Redd Foxx, Moms Mabley, Max Roach, Etta James, and many others. Join us for classic holiday music from artists who performed at the Pink Poodle.

This week on Echoes of Avenue learn about the history of Indianapolis Recorder’s midnight Christmas benefit concerts at the Walker Theatre.  The concerts featured up to 60 acts and ran from midnight until 6 in the morning. Some of the greatest jazz, funk, and R&B musicians in Naptown performed at the midnight Christmas shows — including Wes Montgomery, Thurston Harris and Slide Hampton. But t...

This week on Echoes of Indiana Avenue we’ll pay tribute to Matthew Dickerson, an influential music promoter who lived and worked in the Avenue neighborhood. During his long career, Dickerson brought the biggest stars in jazz and R&B music to Naptown — including Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, Fats Waller, James Brown, and many more. Tune in for music featuring the performers...

This week on Echoes of Indiana Avenue we’ll feature an hour of words and music with vocalist George Chandler. He started his music career at Mt. Vernon Baptist Church in the Indianapolis neighborhood of Haughville. In the mid-1960s Chandler was drafted into the military. He was stationed in Italy and formed the Four Kents – a soul music act that recorded in both English and Italian. During the 197...

This week on Echoes of Indiana Avenue we’ll share the final episode of our two-part series exploring the Spinners’ connection to Indianapolis. We’ll be joined by two Indianapolis music legends who were part of The Spinners: Allen “Turk” Burke, who worked as a keyboardist and music director with The Spinners for over 25 years; Rodney Stepp, who served as keyboardist and assistant music director for...

In November of 2023, the Spinners were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The group is known worldwide for their classic soul hits - but very few music fans know about the Spinners’ Naptown connection. Spinners’ co-founder Billy Henderson born in Indianapolis in 1939 and the Spinners maintained a strong connection to the city throughout the years. For the next two weeks on Echoes of Ind...

This week on Echoes of Indiana Avenue we’ll share the final episode in our two-part series exploring the music of the late Russell Webster – a legendary Indianapolis saxophonist and composer. We’ll be joined by Webster’s daughter Bonita Webster-Coleman and his wife Lexie Webster. We’ll also hear from musicians who were influenced by Russell Webster, including Steve Allee and Justin S. Kinchen. Thi...

The first episode in our two-part series exploring the music of the late Russell Webster – a legendary Indianapolis saxophonist and composer. We’ll be joined by Webster’s daughter, Bonita Webster-Coleman, and his wife, Lexie Webster. Russell Webster is best known for his self-produced 1983 double LP “Uncle Funkenstein.” But there’s much more to Webster’s story. Born in Indianapolis in 1928, he stu...

This week on Echoes of Indiana Avenue we’ll celebrate the music of Dawn Hampton – best known for her work as a jazz and cabaret singer. Dawn was a member of Indianapolis’ legendary Hampton family and performed extensively on the Avenue during the 1940s, and ‘50s. During the 1960s, and ‘70s Dawn became a popular singer in New York City, where she was known as the “queen of cabaret.” Dawn developed...

This week on Echoes of Indiana Avenue we’ll share the final episode of our two-part series exploring the complete recordings of Guitar Pete Franklin – a legendary Naptown blues musician. On this episode, hear Franklin’s final recordings – made in Indianapolis during the early 1960s.

This week on Echoes of Indiana Avenue listen to the first episode of our two-part series exploring the complete recordings of Guitar Pete Franklin – a legendary Naptown blues musician. Franklin was born in Indianapolis in 1928. His style was influenced by the early Naptown blues duo of Leroy Carr and Scrapper Blackwell - but Franklin developed his own unique sound. On this edition, hear Franklin’s...

This week on Echoes of Indiana Avenue we celebrate the music of the Blakey Specials, a legendary Indianapolis gospel band. The Blakey Specials were founded in 1967 by the pianist, composer, and vocalist Eugene Blakey. Listen to rare recordings from the band and interviews with two original members: vocalist Henry Hinch and bassist/vocalist Hubert “Skeet” Canady.

This week on Echoes of Indiana Avenue we’ll celebrate the life and music of the Chicago-born bass player Richard Davis – he passed away last month. Davis was ranked among the top bassists in jazz history. He performed often with the genre’s top stars, including Miles Davis and Louis Armstrong. In addition to his work in jazz, Davis contributed to landmark rock recordings, from Van Morrison’s “Astr...

September is Hispanic Heritage Month, and throughout the month, we’ll be spotlighting the contributions Avenue musicians made to Latin Music. On this week’s show, we’ll share Latin-inspired music from the iconic Naptown trombonist J.J. Johnson. Throughout his career, Johnson recorded with prominent Latin percussionists, including Sabu Martinez, Mongo Santamaria, Patato Valdes, and Ray Barretto. Jo...

September is Hispanic Heritage Month and throughout the month, Echoes of Indiana Avenue will spotlight the contributions Avenue musicians have made to Latin Music. On this week’s show we’ll share music from vibraphonist Billy Wooten and trumpeter Virgil Jones. Billy Wooten is best known for his work with the famed jazz guitarist Grant Green. From the 1960s, to his death in 2016, Wooten was a popul...

September is Hispanic Heritage Month and throughout the month we’ll be spotlighting the contributions Avenue musicians have made to Latin Music. On this week’s show we’ll share music from saxophonist Claude Bartee and trombonist Slide Hampton. Bartee grew up in Indianapolis. He graduated from Crispus Attucks High School during the early 1950s and played on the school’s legendary basketball team. B...

This week on Echoes of Indiana Avenue, we’ll celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month by exploring the Latin sound of Wes Montgomery. Throughout his career, Wes incorporated Latin music into his sound — performing music by Latin American composers and recording with legendary Latin percussionists, including Willie Bobo, Ray Barretto, and Candido.

This week on Echoes of Indiana Avenue we’ll continue our look back at the Indiana Avenue Jazz Festival —  an annual concert series that flourished on the Avenue from 1983 to 1997. The festival was established at a time when the Avenue was in decline. The expansion of IUPUI during the 1970s saw whole neighborhoods wiped out. By the early 1980s, this once-vibrant mecca of entertainment and culture w...

For the next two weeks on Echoes of Indiana Avenue we’ll look back at the Indiana Avenue Jazz Festival —  an annual concert series that flourished on the Avenue from 1983 to 1997. We’ll listen to music from artists who performed at the festival, with a focus on local musicians. The festival was established at a time when the Avenue was in decline. The expansion of IUPUI during the 1970s saw whole...

This week on Echoes of Indiana Avenue, we’ll celebrate the August birthday of Anna Mae Winburn, vocalist and bandleader for the International Sweethearts of Rhythm — a multiracial, all-female band that was active from 1937-1949. Anna Mae was raised in Kokomo and played some of her earliest gigs on the Avenue.

This week on Echoes of Indiana Avenue, we’ll celebrate the August birthday of Les Taylor — better known as Les “Bear” Taylor, a legendary Naptown baritone sax player who started his career on the Avenue. Tune in for an hour of classic music from Bear, featuring his work with Ella Fitzgerald, Bill Doggett, and more.

This week on Echoes of Indiana Avenue we’ll look back at the music of Jesse “Tiny” Crump, an important pianist on the Indiana Avenue scene in the early 1920s. During his career, Crump recorded jazz, blues, and ragtime music. Crump is best known for his association with the blues singer Ida Cox, the couple were married and performed together often. In July of 1923, Crump recorded 4 tracks at Richmo...

This week on Echoes of Indiana Avenue we’ll celebrate the July birthday of Charles Tyler – an important avant-garde saxophonist known for his work in free jazz music. Tyler spent much of his childhood in Indianapolis. He attended Crispus Attucks High School, and studied music with the Indianapolis Junior Symphony Orchestra. During his historic career, Tyler performed with many of the greatest lege...

This week on Echoes of Indiana Avenue, we’ll share the final episode of our two part series celebrating the 50th anniversary of Amnesty’s 700 West sessions by looking back at our 2019 interview with Amnesty’s vocalist Joe Trotter, percussionist Rafael Barnes, and sax player Gino Johnson. Amnesty was a legendary Indianapolis funk band, known for their hard-hitting grooves and soaring vocal harmonie...