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The early blues women of Naptown
March 23, 2025
Celebrate Women’s History Month with music featuring the early blues women of Naptown during the 1920s and ‘30s.
The soul women of Indiana Avenue
March 16, 2025
Celebrate Women’s History Month with music from the soul women of Indiana Avenue, including Debbie Nelson, Pam Tanner, Elaine Livingston, Josephine Cheatham, Care Package, Charlotte Bailey, and more.
Hazel Johnson's Women in Jazz festival
March 9, 2025
Celebrate Women’s History Month as we look back at Hazel Johnson’s Women in Jazz festival. It ran from 1986 to 1991 at the Madam Walker Theatre and featured many important women from the Indianapolis jazz scene. Listen to music from artists who performed there, including never-before-heard live recordings of Hazel Johnson.
The best of The Hampton Sisters
March 2, 2025
Celebrate Women’s History Month with music from The Hampton Sisters, a legendary Indianapolis jazz quartet featuring Dawn, Virtue, Carmelita, and Aletra Hampton. The Hampton Sisters formed as an independent band during World War 2, when many male musicians were serving in the Armed Forces.
Indiana Avenue Stomp – The music of Montana Taylor
February 23, 2025
Explore the music of Arthur “Montana” Taylor, an important blues and boogie-woogie pianist who performed on Indiana Avenue during the 1920s. Montana is best known for a series of recordings he made in 1929 with the Vocalion Record Company. Among those recordings was an instrumental composition titled “Indiana Avenue Stomp”.
The complete Pookie Johnson - Part 3
February 16, 2025
Listen to the final episode in a three-part series exploring the complete works of Alonzo "Pookie" Johnson, a legendary Indianapolis jazz saxophonist. We’ll share music from Johnson’s 1996 album “Legacy” and his 2003 recording with The Hampton Sisters.
The complete Pookie Johnson - Part 2
February 9, 2025
Listen to the second episode of our three-part series exploring the complete works Alonzo "Pookie" Johnson, a legendary Indianapolis jazz saxophonist. This episode includes rare and unreleased recordings featuring Johnson’s work with Uncle Funkenstein, Jimmy Coe, Billy Wooten, and Steve Allee.
The complete Pookie Johnson - Part 1
February 2, 2025
Enjoy the first in our three-part series on the complete recordings of the late Alonzo “Pookie” Johnson, a legendary Indiana Avenue jazz saxophonist. This episode explores Johnson’s early recordings.
Remembering Reverend Dennis H. Freeman
January 26, 2025
Join us for a remembrance of Rev. Dennis H. Freeman, an important figure in Indianapolis gospel music. Freeman passed away on January 15, 2025, at 84. Listen to a 2021 interview WFYI’s Kyle long recorded with Freeman, along with rare recordings of his music.
MLK, civil rights, and gospel music
January 19, 2025
Celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day, with an hour of gospel music from artists who performed on the Avenue, as we explore the connection between gospel music and the struggle for civil rights. Also, hear an interview with the Indianapolis-based historic preservationist Claudia Polley, who attended King’s 1959 speech in the Avenue neighborhood.
Origins of the name Naptown
January 12, 2025
For nearly 100 years, the term Naptown has been used as a nickname for the city of Indianapolis. Listen to music celebrating Naptown from local jazz, blues, and soul musicians.
Celebrating saxophonist Eddie Chamblee
January 5, 2025
Explore the life and music of saxophonist Eddie Chamblee, best known for his work in jazz and R&B music. Chamblee worked with many legendary performers, including Lionel Hampton, T-Bone Walker, Memphis Slim, and Dinah Washington.
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