Backtracks

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-time music. He was the first to broaden the genre by incorporating other forms such as blues, rock and roll, and rhythm and blues. Despite the addition of electric instruments and new forms, his accordion-driven music never strayed far from it's origins of creating a place for working people to leave their troubles behind and let the good times roll.Interview with Chris Strachwitz:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGUqnOYUi1ASongs:J’Ai Conet, C’Est Pas Me Femme (I Know She’s Not My Woman)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GwioXT2UDW4Someone Told Me it was Over:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cIhc4CQFah8&list=RDcIhc4CQFah8&start_radio=1Release Me:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-Q2kKsNNS8A Tribute to the King of Zydeco. "Release Me", featuring Lucinda Williams, Tommy McLain, and Keith Frank is available through a variety of services: https://orcd.co/releaseme1"A Tribute to the King of Zydeco" available for pre-sale now: https://linktr.ee/valcourrecordsReserve your limited-run vinyl copy of "A Tribute to the King of Zydeco" now: https://www.valcourrecords.com/vinyl/... 100% of profits benefit the Clifton Chenier Memorial Scholarship Fund, created by Valcour Records with the Center for Louisiana Studies at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Learn more about the fund here: https://www.givecampus.com/campaigns/...Grand Mamou (Big Mamou):https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jh9NhkWWVswI'm Coming Home (to See my Mother):https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_06Ig59jo8

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 himself on the "quills" a pan flute-like instrument probably fixed in a brace around his neck. Often using the name "Ragtime Texas" Thomas was born in east Texas and was known to travel by train as a hobo, Otherwise his life is a mystery.Songs:Fishing Blueshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OilNFHa1AOcBull Dog Blueshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VcLgJ-K49a8Arkansas:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JdtoZzctg1cVideo: Otha Turner cane fife player in the Mississippi fife and drum tradition:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9MgK8RtFWQY&list=WL&index=11Sid Hemphill - Devil's Dreamhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gP3GKaX_Kz8Video of African Quill playingRitual dance nsambo and panflutes Nyanga (Mozambqie)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLLX_xqoK_0&list=WL&index=11Possible video of Henry Thomas playing guitar and quills:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75v6uwO5tVADon Flemmons, contemporary songster, demonstrates the quills and "hooting" technique:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqIdB9cNt5Q

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 embraced his Native American roots and produced a strong body of work that ranged from acoustic blues to southern rock.Documentary: Rumble | The Indians that Rocked the Worldhttps://www.pbs.org/independentlens/documentaries/rumble/Youtube interview:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ql_4wAinGig

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 genius who could do it all.” But as popular tastes shifted away from rhythm and blues, Hinton refused to crossover to pop music and his career faded. He continued to perform and record but his rough and tumble life style took its toll and died at 51 in his mother’s home.Audio of Eddie Hinton singing She Caught the Katy at the Poretta (Italy) Soul Festival 1991. Video footage at his mother's house in Alabama circa 1994.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jdXqmCJvPEg

The quintessential outsider artist, Washington Phillips composed unique ethereal gospel and morality songs that have influenced artists including Sister Rosetta Tharp, Ry Cooder. and Ralph Stanley.Phillips, an eccentric "jack-leg preacher" made his living selling wares from his mule cart in central Texas. He eventually recorded his music in the late 1920's but remained in obscurity until other artists discovered his songs.Special thanks to the major sources for this episode:Dust to Digital Recordshttps://dust-digital.com/Michael Corcoranhttps://www.michaelcorcoran.net/juneteenth-wash-phillips-son-of-slaves-makes-music-for-the-ages/