Episode #733 – The Midnighters, Pt. 1 – 1952-54 (The Royals)

Air Week: July 22-28, 2024 Clyde McPhatter: 1955-59 Clyde McPhatter had one of the sweetest and most powerful tenor voices in all of Rhythm & Blues and early Rock n’ Roll. His issue throughout his 22 year recording career, was getting the recognition he thought he deserved. After singing memorable leads on many hit records […]

Air Week: July 15-21, 2024 Clyde McPhatter & The Drifters The Drifters would become the most successful vocal group in history, charting hit after hit for over 20 years, with no less than a dozen different lead singers. This week, the “Juke In The Back” spotlights The Drifters’ first chapter with the great high tenor […]

Air Week: July 8-14, 2024 Tommy Brown Tommy Brown is one of the unsung blues shouters of the Rhythm & Blues Era. His only two charting records were done with the Griffin Brothers on Dot Records in 1951. He’ll always be remembered for the #1 smash, “Weepin’ & Cryin’,” but Brown had so many tremendous […]

Air Week: July 1-7, 2024 4th of July R&B Picnic What’s more American than celebrating America’s birthday with some good ol’ red, white and Rhythm & Blues about THE Fourth of July staple: food? Dig in on an hour of classic R&B about hot dogs, cole slaw, potato salad, ribs and ice cream sung by […]

Air Week: June 24-30, 2024 Rudy Toombs: R&B Songwriter This week, The “Juke In The Back” features the songs of one of R&B’s greatest songwriters: Rudy Toombs.  This underrated cat wrote some of the most fabulous drinking songs of all-time for Amos Milburn, The Clovers, The Five Keys and a young Johnny “Guitar” Watson.  Beyond […]

Air Week: June 17-23, 2024 Oscar McLollie This week, the “Juke” is jumpin’ with the honey jumper himself, Oscar McLollie. Born Oscar Lollie, this Louisiana boy went from serving in the military during World War II to servin’ up jump blues in Los Angeles Clubs. Mercury Records hired him as one of their West Coast […]

Air Week: June 10-16, 2024 Memphis Slim Memphis Slim dubbed himself the “Ambassador Of The Blues” and for good reason. He spread the gospel of America’s music around the world during his almost 50 year career. This week, Matt The Cat and the “Juke In The Back” take a look at Slim’s prodigious contribution to […]

Air Week: June 3-9, 2024 The Midnighters, Pt. 3 – The Annie Songs This week, the “Juke In The Back” continues a 3 show look at The Midnighters, one of early R&B’s most successful groups. Before they topped the R&B charts with “Work With Me Annie” in 1954, The Midnighters were known as The Royals, […]

Air Week: May 27-June 2, 2024 The Midnighters, Pt. 2 – 1954-56 This week, the “Juke In The Back” continues a 3 show look at The Midnighters, one of early R&B’s most successful groups. Before they topped the R&B charts with “Work With Me Annie” in 1954, The Midnighters were known as The Royals, a […]

Air Week: May 20-26, 2024 The Midnighters, Pt. 1 – 1952-54 (The Royals) This week, the “Juke In The Back” begins a 3 show look at The Midnighters, one of early R&B’s most successful groups. Before they topped the R&B charts with “Work With Me Annie” in 1954, The Midnighters were known as The Royals, […]