Juke In The Back

Air Week: October 5-11, 2026 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, sco...

Air Week: September 28-October 4, 2026 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 19...

Air Week: September 21-27, 2026 Louis Jordan, Pt. 2 – 1942-45 The “Juke In The Back” presents Part 2 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,...

Air Week: September 14-20, 2026 Louis Jordan, Pt. 1 – 1938-41 The “Juke In The Back” begins a mammoth, multi-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...

Air Week: July 6-12, 2026 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 gro...

Air Week: June 29-July 5, 2026 250th 4th of July R&B Picnic This week, “Juke In The Back” waves the banner high in celebration of America’s 250th birthday with one of America’s great contributions to the world. No, it’s not a representative democracy, motion pictures, space flight or a free economy, but its cuisine. America’s food in song with some good ol’ red, white and Rhythm & Blues. D...

Air Week: June 22-28, 2026 Chuck Berry, Pt. 3 – 1958 Chuck Berry has been called the “Father of Rock n’ Roll” and with good reason. He took the blues of T-Bone Walker and B.B. King, the guitar riffs of Carl Hogan and mixed it with the fiddle and Western Swing music of Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys. Then he rolled it all into one big sonic blast. Rhythm & Blues beco...

Air Week: June 15-21, 2026 Chuck Berry, Pt. 2 – 1956-57 Chuck Berry has been called the “Father of Rock n’ Roll” and with good reason. He took the blues of T-Bone Walker and B.B. King, the guitar riffs of Carl Hogan and mixed it with the fiddle and Western Swing music of Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys. Then he rolled it all into one big sonic blast. Rhythm & Blues b...

Air Week: June 8-14, 2026 Chuck Berry, Pt. 1 – 1955-56 Chuck Berry has been called the “Father of Rock n’ Roll” and with good reason. He took the blues of T-Bone Walker and B.B. King, the guitar riffs of Carl Hogan and mixed it with the fiddle and Western Swing music of Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys. Then he rolled it all into one big sonic blast. Rhythm & Blues be...

Air Week: June 1-7, 2026 Arthur Lee Maye & The Crowns Arthur Lee Maye did something that few had ever done. He concurrently had a career as a R&B singer, leading the LA-based group Arthur Lee Maye & The Crowns while also playing minor and major league baseball as an outfielder for the Milwaukee Braves. Both of his careers virtually began in 1954 and since Lee Maye was busy playing base...

1940s & †50s Rhythm & Blues At the end of the Second World War, economics forced the big bands to trim their once great size and thus, the Jump Blues combo was born. Between 1946-1954, rhythm and blues laid the tracks for what was to become Rock n†Roll. So how come, 70 years later, this vibrant and influential music is still so unknown to so many? Matt The Cat is going to change that w...

  Click below to hear a demo episode of “Juke In The Back.”