Another theme time extravaganza for our listeners on this new Spring morning here in Sonoma County. The theme focuses on bad behavior, poor judgement and legal entanglements that find themselves into the American musical lexicon. Rock, country and blues seem to lean on the theme more than any other with the country stories of cheatin’, stealin’, and petulant pistols being the most common. We’ll be hearing from Johnny Cash, Porter Wagoner, Louis Jordan, Elvis, The Cadillacs, and a number of others, sharing stories of everything from jaywalking to murder. Oh…and let’s not forget the lawyers. No lawyer jokes, though. Just a little bit of David Lindley, Kitty Wells, and Warren Zevon on visiting day behind the bars…which is every Friday morning at 9 on community radio for Sonoma County.
Category Archives: Early Rock
Finger Poppin’ Doo Wop
From Big Sandy to Hank Ballard and The Flamingos…here we go on another Deeper Roots Friday morning. High energy rhythm and blues, doo wop, and foot-tapping sounds to celebrate everything that’s happened…and revel in all that hot rockin’ stuff that erupted in the fifties. This week’s episode focuses on playlists that keep the tempo hot and the rug getting cut with slamming sounds from the high side of vocal harmonies. Wild sounds from The Cadets, The Cadillacs, The Larks, The Crests, The Regals, and The Lollypoppers; and that’s just getting the kettle hot. We got your water boiling and we’re gonna cook your goose…and “we ain’t gonna turn you loose”. Rhythm and blues and doo wop from the late century on this week’s episode of Deeper Roots. Drop on by at 92.5 FM or streaming at freespeechnobull.com/listen. We’d love to have you.
Girl Groups – 50s & 60s
Soul and rhythm, heartbreak and boy trouble, big hair and sequined dresses. Deeper Roots goes on a romp through the early years of rock and soul sharing the very special talents that filled the AM airwaves of the fifties and sixties. It was almost impossible to select one song from each of these groups but we had to given the time constraints. There were the “Ettes”: The Chordettes, The Bobettes, The Marvelettes, The Ronettes, and The Ikettes; The Angels, The Murmaids, The Crystals, The Jelly Beans, and The Tammys. There were the Detroit sounds, the Wall of Sound, the Brill Building, and the Philly sounds. Perfectly delicious and light-hearted pop and soul from every corner. Tune into for a listen. Two hours of Deeper Roots this week.
Saucy Rhythm Serenades
Rhythm & Blues is the order of the day. Join Dave Stroud for an entertaining blast of fresh sounds from the well of the past century. What’s old is always new if you haven’t heard it, right? The playlist this morning features songs about the night time from Ray Charles, honeydripper rocking from Big Joe Turner, doo wop serenades from the The Jive Bombers, bluesy torch sounds from Erma Franklin, and so much more. We’ll stretch the boundaries of R&B with Elvis, Lonnie Johnson, and a few more as we take on some saucy serenades and unruly pleas from performers from the thirties to the early sixties. All without malice of forethought, I assure you. Tune into Sonoma County Community Radio every Friday morning at 9 Pacific.
Papa Come Quick
Friday morning free form sounds from the Cherry Street Historic District of Santa Rosa, California. We’ve been doing this Deeper Roots thing for almost nine years and, if you’re a regular, you’ll know that Dave’s always itching for a free form collection of sounds to complement the targeted shows that are featured weekly. This week we’ll be rolling out some Bill Kirchen, Dave Van Ronk, Ricky Nelson, Annisteen Allen, and Ethel Merman…to name a few. Blues, country, doo wop, rhythm & blues, gospel, and jazz all bundled up for your late spring listening enjoyment while sequestered for health and safety. Tune in on your FM if you’re local at 92.5 or stream us at kowsfm.com/listen.
Covering Elvis
This morning’s show will be a collection of Elvis covers; songs that hit the charts for Elvis from 1956 into the break of the 1970s. Mostly number ones, but some repeated favorites, all covered by a cross-section of his contemporaries and those from another generation. We’ll have everyone from Santo & Johnny and Bobby Gentry to Rosie Flores and John Prine putting forward covers of Elvis Presley treats. We’ve also got a version of Heartbreak Hotel by Hanni El Khabib, a rare piece by rocker and session man (not bluesman) Robert Johnson, Billy Burnette’s bluegrass, and some C. J. Chenier to keep the eclectic blend alive. We’re on Friday mornings at 9 Pacific on KOWS and Friday evenings at 9 Pacific on KWTF.
Moon Baby
A laid back Friday morning in store as we celebrate a century of America’s music with classics from every corner. Dave Stroud hosts with a potpourri of doo wop, gospel, rock, R&B, soul, and country wrapped up just for Deeper Roots listeners out there. We’ll be hearing from Johnny Cash, The Ravens, Mike Farris, (more than one) Bo Diddley, and The Neville Brothers as we watch the trees turn their late summer umber under warm Sonoma County September skies. Tune in for the very best, including The Living Sisters and The Andrews Sisters, side by side, this one time. Only on Community Radio because all other $$$ stations fail to play with heart.
Covered by the Stones
It had to start somewhere. And it did. The music that inspired rock and roll also inspired the countless British Invasion groups that littered the charts beginning in the early-to-mid 60s. Mayall, The Yardbirds, and, of course, The Rolling Stones. The early years of the Stones found them playing covers of some of the great stateside R&B, blues, and soul classics. Our Deeper Roots show today feasts on the originals (as did Jagger, Richard and company) and brings you the seminal sounds of Chuck Berry, Muddy Waters, Solomon Burke, Arthur Alexander, and a host of others in our tribute to the music that was a fusion of blues, R&B, and soul. Music that made rock and roll the world music phenomenon that it was to become. Tune into Community Radio on Fridays for roots music.
Summer Songs
Summer is here and so we’ll be celebrating those lazy, hazy, crazy days that come with it. We’re approaching the dog days, as they say, and that also means festivals, music, cool drinks, swimming gear, and lighter beers. This week’s show has us getting serious about summer songs: Elvis, Sam Cooke, The Chantels, Dolly Parton, Dave Brubeck, and just a touch of surf sounds from The Sandals. Summer winds, summer wages, summer rain, and summer love this week on Deeper Roots, recorded at the KOWS studios planted square in the Cherry Street District of Santa Rosa.
Too Darn Hot
One way to lounge about in the summer heat is to go directly at it with songs that complement the temperature from different angles (and genres). Tune in Saturday afternoon for a fresh look as Dave sits in for Steady Eddie once more with some rockabilly with Jimmy Simmons and Billy Lee Riley, hot country biscuits from Asleep at the Wheel and Al Dexter, hot soul stew from James Brown and Major Lance, and some humid yet playful pieces from Fats Waller and Lee Press-on & The Nails. We’ll also be taking a drone flight above some Mason-Dixon Line tradition from the very distant past with the Old South Quartette (featuring Polk Miller), and Victoria Spivey and Don Flemons. It’s summer and the heat will be with us for some weeks; too hot to handle? Too darn hot? Too hot for (fill in the blank)? Join this hot little collection in a special fill-in on a Saturday afternoon in Sonoma County. At least it’s a dry heat.