Backtracks

The Persuasions | Expanding the boundaries of a cappella music

The Persuasions began as a doo wop a cappella quintet singing on the street corners of Brooklyn, New York. From that simple beginning their career careened in surprising

Martin, Bogan and Armstrong | The Legacy of the Old-Time Black String Bands

From their beginnings in Knoxville Tennessee playing on street corners in the late 1920's through their resurgence on the festival circuit in the 70's and 80's, Martin, B

Charlie Rich | The long road to finding his voice

Most people remember Charlie Rich for his 1973 country/pop hits and his controversial pyrotechnical antics at the 1975 Country Music Awards. But before his star rose in N

Clifton Chenier | The man who brought Zydeco music to the world

From the heart of French-speaking Louisiana, Clifton Chenier transformed the rural Zydeco of his father's generation into an international embodiment of high-energy good-

Willie Dunn | The resonant voice of Canada's indigenous people; with guest Kelly Mulhollan

Largely unknown on the folk scene in the US, Willie Dunn is an important figure in framing the stories of native Canadians in songs, films, and art. With a rich voice, st

Henry Thomas | The mystery of the hobo songster

Little is known about the life of Henry Thomas, but his legacy of 23 recorded songs influenced generations of folk, rock, and blues musicians. He often accompanied himsel

Lydia Mendoza | Idol of Mexican-American music

From her modest beginnings in the Mendoza family band playing for migrant farm workers, Lydia Mendoza became the undisputed queen of Tejano music, receiving awards from p

Link Wray | The power chord and beyond

Most often cited as the inventor of the power chord, Link Wray's loud gritty sound had a big influence on rock, heavy metal and punk music. Later in his career he embrace

Arlene Smith and the early “girl groups” that pioneered the sound of R & B and rock vocalists

In the 1950’s, the 16-year-old lead singer for the Chantels, Arlene Smith wrote hits and sang with a confidence and power. While the content and production of the songs a

Eddie Hinton | A soulful raw talent and the career that should have been

From his beginnings as a session guitar player at the famed Muscle Shoals Sound studio to writing hits and his “larynx-shredding” vocals, Eddie Hinton was the “young geni

Brenda Patterson - A Vocal Powerhouse Revisited

While Brenda Patterson had several strong solo albums, movie soundtracks and sung backup for Dylan and Ry Cooder, she somehow missed broad mainstream success. We look bac

Washington Phillips - Unearthly Music of Morality, Mystery and Glory

The quintessential outsider artist, Washington Phillips composed unique ethereal gospel and morality songs that have influenced artists including Sister Rosetta Tharp, Ry