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Indiana Avenue’s Black Christmas Party
December 14, 2025
On December 19, 1970, the Indianapolis affiliate of the Southern Leadership Conference’s Operation Breadbasket held a “Black Christmas Parade” on Indiana Avenue. Listen to a tribute to the parade, featuring an hour of music from Indianapolis funk bands that performed there.
Celebrating Christmas at Sea Ferguson’s Cotton Club
December 7, 2025
Celebrate the Christmas holiday at Sea Ferguson’s Cotton Club — a legendary Avenue nightclub that hosted the greatest stars in American music, from Ray Charles to Louis Armstrong.
Celebrating the musical collaboration of Wes Montgomery and Jimmy Smith
November 30, 2025
Celebrate the December birthday of the late, great jazz organist Jimmy Smith by listening to his recordings with the Avenue jazz guitarist Wes Montgomery.
ARCHIVES: Rap Songs that Sampled the Avenue
November 26, 2025
The music of Indiana Avenue has been sampled dozens of times, by famous artists including Jay-Z, Kendrick Lamar, A Tribe Called Quest, and many more. Listen back to this archived episode to hear some of the most sampled artists from the Avenue.
Thanksgiving night dances on the Avenue
November 23, 2025
Celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday by looking back at Thanksgiving night concerts and dances held on Indiana Avenue. For some Avenue residents, Thanksgiving didn’t end at the dinner table. Holiday gatherings often continued late into the night at neighborhood ballrooms and clubs, where music was as important as turkey and pumpkin pie.
The early rock and roll heroes of Naptown
November 16, 2025
Very few Hoosiers are aware of the Avenue’s important rock and roll history. This week on Echoes of Indiana Avenue, we’ll pay tribute to the early rock and roll heroes of Naptown, including music from Roosevelt Johnson, Toni Cavanaugh, Lois Blaine, Thurston Harris, Tiny Brown, Bobby Lewis and more.
ARCHIVES: The Avenue as a Birthplace for Rock and Roll
November 11, 2025
Revisit Indiana Avenue's history as the birthplace of Hoosier rock and roll. Hear live performances and recordings of artists like Chuck Berry, the Ink Spots, and Champion Jack Dupree.
B.B. King’s connection to Indiana Avenue
November 9, 2025
2025 marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of blues icon B.B. King. We'll celebrate his birthday by exploring his connections to Indiana Avenue and its musicians, including multiple dates at the Sunset Terrace and the Walker Theatre.
Remembering Jack DeJohnette through his work with Freddie Hubbard
November 2, 2025
On October 26, 2025, the legendary jazz drummer Jack DeJohnette passed away at the age of 83. DeJohnette was one of the greatest drummers in modern jazz. During his six-decade career, DeJohnette led numerous ensembles and recorded prolifically, including six classic albums with Naptown jazz icon Freddie Hubbard.
The sorrowful blues of Naptown's Brooks Berry
October 19, 2025
Explore the music of Brooks Berry, an important Naptown blues vocalist and guitarist. Though she left behind just a handful of recordings, the artistry and emotional depth of her music have ensured that her legacy lives on. Brooks worked extensively with the Naptown guitar master Scrapper Blackwell and all of her recordings feature Blackwell on guitar or piano.
James Moody and the jazz masters of Indiana Avenue
October 16, 2025
Celebrate the 100th anniversary of the birth of legendary jazz saxophonist and flutist James Moody Listen to his work with the jazz masters of Indiana Avenue, including rare, unreleased live recordings of him performing with the legendary Naptown jazz drummer Larry Clark.
Naptown musicians on King Records
October 8, 2025
Ahead of the new PBS documentary, “King of Them All: The Story of King Records,” enjoy an hour of music from Avenue artists who recorded for King, including The Hampton Family, Flo Garvin, Sarah McLawler, Bill Jennings, Thurston Harris, and more.
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