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Back to: Echoes of Indiana Avenue
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.
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Thanksgiving night dances on the Avenue
November 23, 2025
Celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday by looking back at Thanksgiving night concerts and dances...
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...
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...
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...
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....
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...
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...
Naptown musicians on King Records
October 8, 2025
Ahead of the new PBS documentary, “King of Them All: The Story of King Records,”...
The Bebop Society of Indianapolis
September 28, 2025
Listen to an hour of music celebrating the legacy of The Bebop Society of Indianapolis. Hear...
Celebrating the music of Naptown bassist Heavy Swain – Part 3
September 21, 2025
This is the final episode in our three-part series celebrating the work of the bass player...
Celebrating the music of Naptown bassist Heavy Swain – Part 2
September 14, 2025
This is the second episode in our three-part series celebrating the work of the bass player...
Celebrating the music of Naptown bassist Heavy Swain – Part 1
September 7, 2025
Celebrate the work of the bass player Leonard Wilson Swain Jr., better known as “Heavy”...
The legendary Naptown gospel keyboardist Ezra Bufford
August 31, 2025
Listen to an interview with the legendary Indianapolis gospel keyboardist Ezra Bufford, known...
Oscar Peterson and the masters of Indiana Avenue jazz
August 24, 2025
August of 2025 marks the 100th birthday of the late jazz pianist Oscar Peterson. Listen to...
The history of Rodney Stepp’s legendary Naptown funk band Rapture – Part 2
August 17, 2025
Listen to the final episode in our two-part series exploring the music of Rapture, a legendary...
The history of Rodney Stepp’s legendary Naptown funk band Rapture – Part 1
August 10, 2025
The keyboardist and bandleader Rodney Stepp is among the greatest living legends of the Avenue...
The music of Naptown blues pianist Honey Hill – Part 3
August 3, 2025
Listen to the final episode in our three-part series exploring the music of Gilbert “Honey”...
The music of Naptown blues pianist Honey Hill – Part 2
July 27, 2025
The second episode in our three-part series exploring the music of Gilbert “Honey”...
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