Country Hotshots

This Friday on Deeper Roots, we’re tipping our hats to some of the finest country artists of the 20th century with a journey far beyond the familiar hits. From the outlaw spirit of Waylon Jennings and the wit of Roger Miller to the Bakersfield fire of Dwight Yoakam, the timeless charm of Little Jimmy Dickens, and many more, we’ll dig into the deep tracks, hidden gems, and overlooked performances that helped define country music’s rich legacy. If you enjoy discovering songs that deserve another listen—or hearing legendary artists from a fresh perspective—this is a show you won’t want to miss. Join us Friday morning at 9:00 AM on KOWS Community Radio for two hours of classic country, unexpected favorites, and the stories behind the music. Come along as we celebrate the deeper roots of country music, one great song at a time.

No.ArtistTitleAlbumYearStart At
1Porter WagonerI'll Go Down SwingingThe Essential Porter Wagoner196400:00
2Buck OwensI Washed My Hands in Muddy WaterHonky Tonk Man: Buck Sings Country Classics201305:06
3Buck OwensClose Up the Honky TonksBuck 'Em: The Music of Buck Owens (1955-1967)196407:34
4Charlie WalkerClose All the Honky TonksCharlie Walker – 1959-1964201309:55
5Merle Haggard And The StrangersHonky Tonk Night Time Man (24-Bit Digitally Remastered 06)Hag: The Best of Merle Haggard200612:03
6Merle HaggardHonky Tonkin'Roots Vol. 1200114:37
7Dale WatsonHeaven's Gonna Have A Honky TonkCall Me Insane201517:24
8Dale WatsonWine Don't LieAn Empty Glass: A Collection of Drinkin' Songs200119:54
9Joshua HedleyMr. JukeboxMr. Jukebox201827:41
10Joshua HedleyThis TimeMr. Jukebox201830:51
11James HandBaby Baby Don't Tell Me ThatThe Truth Will Set You Free200633:21
12James HandBanks of the BrazosThe Truth Will Set You Free200636:39
13Little Jimmy DickensCrazy Worried MindCountry Boy [Disc 1]194938:40
14Little Jimmy DickensI Wish You Didn't Love Me So Much [Album Version] Various ArtistsThe Essential Little Jimmy Dickens195141:24
15Faron YoungFace to the WallThe Complete Capitol Hits of Faron Young (2 of 2)200048:51
16Bill AndersonGoodbye Cruel WorldHillbillies In Hell – Country Music's Tormented Testament (1952-1974) The Final Chapter196151:07
17Gary StewartCan't You SeeOxford American 10th Anniversary Southern Music CD [Disc 2] Past Masters [2008]197853:36
18Gary StewartHonky-Tonkin'Out of Hand197556:14
19Dwight YoakamTrain in VainReprise Please Baby: The Warner Bros. Years Disc 2200259:40
20Dwight YoakamIt Only Hurts When I CryIf There Was a Way19901:02:56
21Wynn StewartCome OnVery Best of: 1958 – 196219581:09:58
22Wynn StewartBig CityVery Best of: 1958 – 196219601:12:04
23Waylon JenningsWill The Wolf Survive?Complete MCA Recordings19861:14:24
24Waylon JenningsOnly Daddy That'll Walk the LineOnly Daddy That'll Walk the Line: The RCA Years Disc 119931:17:47
25Willie NelsonBubbles in My BeerLost Highway20091:20:04
26Willie NelsonThree DaysMr. Record Man – The Early Singles As & BS20161:22:49
27Ferlin HuskyI Feel Better All OverThe Other Side of Bakersfield Vol. 2; 1950s & 60s Boppers and Rockers from 'Nashville West'19541:27:51
28Ferlin HuskyDraggin' the RiverFerlin Husky Singles01:30:22
29George JonesI'm Ragged But I'm RightGeorge Jones The Absolutely Essential 3 CD Collection19561:32:27
30George JonesI'm a One Woman ManThe Essential George Jones: The Spirit of Country Disc 219941:34:44
31Webb PierceI Ain't Never20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection: Best Of Webb Pierce19591:36:56
32Webb PierceCrazy Wild DesireI Got A Woman : Gems From The Decca Vaults [Disc 2]19621:38:48
33Lefty FrizzellIf You've Got the MoneyBest19501:41:06
34Lefty FrizzellShine Shave Shower (It's A Saturday)Best19501:44:00
35Roger MillerLou's Got The FluKing Of The Road – The Genius Of Roger Miller (CD1)19641:46:26
36Johnny CashTennessee Flat Top BoxClassic Cash19611:48:10
37Johnny CashUnderstand Your ManI Walk The Line19641:54:01
38Willie NelsonThe Party's OverNaked Willie19661:56:40

Let’s Live

This week we celebrate the simple joys that have always bound American music together. Deeper Roots travels back nearly a century—from the roaring jazz of Ethel Waters, Fletcher Henderson, and Coleman Hawkins to the contemporary wit of Kacey Musgraves—finding common threads of laughter, resilience, friendship, and the everyday pleasures that make life worth living. Along the way we’ll make a party heavy stop in New Orleans with Aaron Neville, Fats Domino, James Booker, Dr. John, Irma Thomas, and Art Neville, then head into the hills with bluegrass, country, and Appalachian traditions as the road we ride takes us from Oklahoma to Kentucky. With deep blues, gospel, western swing, big band classics, and timeless folk ballads all sharing the same stage, our show this week revels in music that reminds us there’s always another reason to celebrate the journey.

No.ArtistTitleAlbumYearStart At
1Aaron NevilleLet's LiveTreacherous [Disc 1]196100:00
2James BookerMedley: Tico Tico / Papa Was A Rascal / So Swell When You're WellClassified198205:29
3Dr. JohnTraveling MoodThe Ultimate Dr. John198710:18
4Fats DominoThe Girl I Love [Version 2]This Is Gold Disc 1200412:56
5Aaron NevilleMy True StoryMy True Story201316:24
6Irma ThomasWhile the City SleepsTime Is on My Side: The Best of Irma Thomas Vol. 1196419:14
7Kansas Joe and Memphis MinnieI'm Wild About My StuffFlashbacks #1 Drug Songs 1917-1944028:43
8Blind Boy FullerTrucking My Blues Away No. 2 (take 2)Complete Recorded Works in Chronological Order – Volume 2 (29 April to 12 July 1937)193731:39
9Ollie ShepardKing Of All EvilVol. 2-1939-41193934:23
10Memphis Slim & Willie DixonStewballClassic African-American Ballads (Smithsonian Folkways)195937:04
11Angelic Gospel Singers with the Dixie Humming BirdsOne DayWhen the Moon Goes Down in the Valley of Time: African-American Gospel 1939-51201340:35
12Rory BlockLord I Feel Just Like Goin' OnI Belong To The Band: A Tribute To Rev. Gary Davis201242:45
13Ethel Waters and Her Jazz BandEv'rybody Mess ArounTight Women and Loose Bands 1921-1931192652:04
14Cleo BrownBoogie WoogiePicking the Blues – Compiled By John Mayall – Boogie Woogie Pioneers193554:46
15Benny Carter (With Lionel Hampton Orchestra)I'm in the Mood for SwingRCA Victor Jazz-The First Half-Century-The 30's193857:08
16Coleman HawkinsBody and SoulRCA Victor Jazz-The First Half-Century-The 30's19391:00:26
17Alan LomaxHow Many Biscuits Can You Eat?Ballad Operas-Martins & The Co01:07:53
18W. Lee & His Hillbilly BoysPlease Pass The Biscuits PappyWestern Swing Chronicles Vol. 4 1933-193819381:08:37
19Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs'How Many Biscuits'1953-X6-XX Grand Old Opry19531:11:11
20NRBQHot Biscuits and Sweet MarieKick Me Hard19791:11:31
21Kacey MusgravesBiscuitsPageant Material20151:13:51
22Mazzy StarI'm Gonna Bake My BiscuitFade Into You (Single)19941:17:02
23Joshua HedleyFresh Hot BiscuitsAll Hat20251:20:33
24Kenny BakerMonroe's HornpipePlays Bill Monroe19771:26:09
25Jack GuthrieNo Need to Knock on My DoorOklahoma Hills19461:29:13
26Merle TravisMissouriThe History Of Country & Western Music – Vol. 1101:31:35
27KentuckiansJourney's EndKeep on Going: The Rebel & Melodeon Recordings20041:34:15
28Doyle Lawson & QuicksilverBetter Times A' Comin'Mark Twain: Words & Music [Disc 1]20111:37:27
29Mac WisemanIt's Mighty Dark To TravelGrassroots To Bluegrass19901:40:00
30Johnny CashThanks a LotThe Essential Johnny Cash 1955-1983 Disc 119581:42:36
31Jimmy WakelyMoon Over MontanaVintage Collections01:45:10
32Leon RedboneSweet LorraineAny Time20011:48:03
33Enric MadrigueraB‚same MuchoThe Minute Samba19441:53:51
34The Dixie CupsIko IkoThe Big Easy19651:56:59

Trouble Bound

Free form and completely eclectic—that is the absolute best way to introduce this week’s episode of Deeper Roots. Every so often, we love to shake things up by forgoing our usual archival explorations of specific genres, artists, or historical themes. Instead, Dave is opening up his personal vault for a special curation of deep tracks and personal favorites that he has been setting aside over the past couple of months just to share with you.  We are bridging eras and styles in a way only Deeper Roots can. Expect a magical blend of sounds, including early Cotton Club sounds of Cab Calloway alongside beach music from The Catalinas, rocking guitar fuzz with Grady Martin paired with the Buckaroo guitar sounds of Don Rich, and some Dylan, Merle, Berigan and Clooney. Join us for a scenic, unpredictable journey through the back roads of American music each and every Friday morning at 9am Pacific on KOWS Community Radio, streaming 24/7 at kowsfm.com/listen.

No.ArtistTitleAlbumYearStart At
1Elvis PresleyA Mess Of BluesThe Essential 60's Masters I [Disc 1]196000:00
2John HiattDust Down a Country RoadWalk On199505:01
3Jay & The AmericansThis Magic MomentCome A Little Bit Closer – The Best of Jay and The Americans196808:59
4Emmylou HarrisSave The Last Dance For MeProfile II: The Best Of Emmylou Harris197811:50
5The Neville BrothersSitting in LimboFiyo on the Bayou198115:23
6Jackson BrowneEverywhere I GoI'm Alive199319:18
7Grady MartinThe FuzzI Got A Woman : Gems From The Decca Vaults [Disc 3]196128:31
8Ricky NelsonMy BabeJames Burton – The Early Years 1957-1969030:48
9Don Rich & The BuckaroosI'm a-Comin' Back Home to YouGuitar Pickin' Man201633:20
10Merle TravisPretty Girl (Jolie Fille)The Guitar Picker CD4 (1954-56)035:17
11Chet AtkinsBlue AngelThe Essential Chet Atkins [RCA]199637:16
12Doc WatsonGonna Lay Down My Old Guitar1964-1965 (Warped 6411F)201639:35
13The Nitty Gritty Dirt BandWreck on the HighwayWill the Circle Be Unbroken [Bonus Tracks] Disc 1197248:30
14Red SimpsonThe Highway PatrolSwing West 1: Bakersfield196651:50
15The BlastersTrouble BoundTestament: The Complete Slash Recordings (1981-1985) (2 of 2)200254:00
16Dave EdmundsTrouble BoysSingle Trax 1970-1981197857:43
17Lee HazlewoodTrouble Is A Lonesome Town400 Miles From L.A. 1955-5619561:00:54
18Buck OwensHello TroubleBuck 'Em: The Music of Buck Owens (1955-1967)19641:03:07
19Ernest Tubb & The Texas TroubadorsThis Troubled Mind O'MineDaddy of 'Em All19571:04:52
20Bob DylanIf Not for YouBiograph Disc 119851:12:00
21Ruben BladesOllie's Doo-WopNothing But The Truth19881:14:37
22The TreniersGo! Go! Go!The Dawn Of Doo-Wop Vol. 4: Doo-Wop Dancin'19511:17:01
23The ChantersNo No NoDoo Wop Box Vol. 3: 101 More Vocal Group Gems from the Golden Age of Rock-N-Roll Disc 120001:19:21
24The CatalinasYou're Driving Me CrazyDance The Night Away19991:21:30
25Cab CallowayMama I Wanna Make RhythmChronological 1937-3819371:30:40
26Peggy LeeAlright OK You WinMagic Moments: Best Of 50's Pop (Disc 2)20041:33:42
27Rosemary ClooneyBotch-A-Me (Ba-Ba-Baciami Piccina)Tenderly19521:36:32
28Bunny Berigan & His BoysI Can't Get StartedColumbia Records' 125th Anniv.19361:38:46
29Bob Dylan4th Time AroundBlonde on Blonde19661:42:06
30Buddy HollyBo Diddley [1963 Album Version]Rave On: The Very Best Of ?19631:46:33
31Bo DiddleyDon't Let It Go (Hold On To What You Got)20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection – The Best Of Bo Diddley19591:48:50
32Hank Thompson & His Brazos Valley Boys(I've Got A) Humpty Dumpty HeartVintage Collections19471:54:44
33Dean MartinI Don't Care If The Sun Don't ShineCapitol Records' From The Vaults19501:57:05

Travelin’ Blues 2026

This Friday, Deeper Roots presents an encore broadcast from February 2020, exploring the rich intersection of gospel, blues, and tradition through the theme of the “Travelin’ Blues.” Whether the journey leads down the King’s Highway toward salvation or along a lonely back road toward temptation, we’ll steer clear of the toll roads and follow the winding paths where sacred and secular music have traveled side by side for generations. Along the way you’ll hear performances from Rory Block, Chris Smither, Eric Clapton, Freddie King, The Golden Gate Quartet, and many more. Originally conceived as the first installment in a series of programs about songs of the road, this episode explores highways and journeys through the language of the blues and gospel. Join us for two hours of American roots music where every mile has a story to tell.

No.ArtistTitleAlbumYearStart At
1Maria MuldaurTravelin' Shoes197400:00
2Blind Sammie (Blind Willie McTell)Travelin' Blues192905:42
3Taj MahalFarther On Down The Road200008:49
4Roland StoneDown The Road196011:56
5Freddie SlackDown The Road200314:15
6Eric ClaptonFurther On Down the Road201320:57
7Chris SmitherLook Down the Road026:32
8Mattie DelaneyDown The Big Road Blues193029:06
9Unidentified QuartetI Look Down The Road And Wonder201036:43
10The Golden Gate QuartetI Looked Down The Road And Wondered193939:49
11Rory BlockIf You Haven't Any Hay Get On Down The Road201444:12
12Paul Butterfield's Better DaysHighway 28197252:29
13Johnny Guitar WatsonHighway 60200655:28
14Lowell FulsonHighway 99200857:47
15Gatemouth MooreHighway 61 Blues20001:00:42
16Honeyboy EdwardsStrollin' Down Highway 6101:03:13
17Snooks EaglinTraveling Mood19951:08:42
18Doc PomusTraveling Dog19491:10:54
19Ella Johnson & Buddy JohnsonGet On Down The Road19581:13:19
20Ernie Andrews With Maxwell Davis OrchestraTravelin' Baby19511:16:17
21Slim Gaillard & His BoogiereenersTravelin' Blues19451:18:44
22T-Bone WalkerTravelin' Blues19501:21:44
23Smiley LewisLonesome Highway20101:28:47
24Howling WolfDriving This Highway19521:31:00
25Freddie KingKey To The Highway19701:33:51
26Freddie KingLiving On The Highway19711:37:11
27Little WalterKey To The Highway01:41:20
28Eric ClaptonTraveling Riverside Blues20041:44:04
29Tommy McLennanTravelin' Highway Blues19411:50:03
30Cripple Clarence LoftonTravelin' Blues19391:52:58
31Eric Bibb/Rory Block/Maria MuldaurTravelin' Woman Blues20041:55:03

Wake Up Everybody

Tomorrow isn’t a guarantee; it’s a promise we keep to one another. In times when the airwaves and headlines feel crowded with division, hatred, and the loud noise of demagoguery, all in reaction to barbarous and vile language from the highest quarters, the antidote has always been found in the music. This week on Deeper Roots, we are celebrating the nation’s 250th anniversary by stepping directly into the storm with a playlist designed to uplift, fortify, and remind us of what’s worth fighting for.  Count on sounds from Gillian Welch, Willie Nelson, Sam Cooke, Chet Baker and a few dozen more as we dive deep into a century of American music, bringing you powerful songs of the spirit from the gospel canon alongside timeless anthems of resistance that call on us to rise above the attacks on our shared democracy. This isn’t just a look back at history—it’s a toolkit for the present.

No.ArtistTitleAlbumYearStart At
1Mahalia JacksonI Will Move On Up A Little HigherFolk Blues & Gospel: Will the Circle Be Unbroken199900:00
2The Edwin Hawkins SingersI'm Going ThroughOh Happy Day: The Best Of The Edwin Hawkins Singers196908:19
3The Blind Boys Of AlabamaI Shall Not Be MovedI'll Find A Way201313:20
4Taj Mahal & Ry CooderI Shall Not Be MovedGet On Board202215:56
5Connie SmithFarther AlongConnie Smith 1965-1966201120:10
6Sam Cooke And The Soul StirrersFarther AlongThe Complete Specialty Recordings [Disc 3]195622:59
7Larry CampbellKeep Your Lamp Trimmed and BurningLarry Campbell & Teresa Williams201530:59
8The BrownsFair and Tender LadiesClassics 1963-1964 (Warped 6384)201034:59
9Willie NelsonHealing Hands of TimeWanted! The Outlaws [Bonus Tracks]199637:25
10Elvis Presley(There'll Be) Peace In The Valley (For Me)Elvis By The Presleys [Disc 1]195739:39
11The ImpressionsKeep On PushingUltimate Collection: The Impressions196442:58
12Joe ElyThe Road Goes On ForeverThe Best Of Joe Ely 20th Century Masters The Millennium Collection199250:29
13Sara EvansBorn To FlyLaying Tracks200354:56
14B.B. King & Dr. JohnThere Must Be A Better World SomewhereDeuces Wild199758:46
15The BronzemenHold On (Keep Yo' Hand On The Plow)The Bronzemen – Radio Transcriptions (1939)19391:03:24
16Mahalia JacksonKeep Your Hand on the PlowThe World's Greatest Gospel Singer19541:10:33
17Sam CookeA Change Is Gonna ComeHard To Find Jukebox Classics 1960-64: 30 Amazing Stereo Hits20161:12:58
18Curtis Mayfield & The ImpressionsPeople Get ReadyAkeelah And The Bee (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)20061:15:32
19Fats DominoWalking To New OrleansThe Rock 'n' Roll Era: 196019601:18:08
20The Four TopsReach Out I'll Be ThereThe Classic Sixties: 196619661:20:02
21Ray CharlesI Believe to My SoulGenius & Soul: The 50th Anniversary Collection Disc 119971:22:58
22Keb' Mo'Wake Up EverybodyPeace…Back By Popular Demand20041:30:06
23The Staple SingersI'll Take You ThereI'll Take You There19721:34:07
24Jo StaffordOn The Sunny Side of the StreetCandy19441:37:14
25Chet BakerLook for the Silver LiningChet Baker Sings19561:40:07
26Louis ArmstrongWhat A Wonderful WorldLifetime Of Romance: Falling In Love [Disc 2]19671:42:44
27The BandThe WeightNorthern Songs – Canada's Best And Brightest19681:44:59
28Sly & the Family StoneEveryday PeopleAnthology19811:52:11
29Bruce SpringsteenStreets of MinneapolisStreets of Minneapolis – Single20261:54:30