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Back to: Echoes of Indiana Avenue
Image Info: The Pearls
The girl groups of Naptown
March 15, 2026
In the 1960s, girl groups like The Supremes, The Ronettes, and Martha and the Vandellas helped define the sound of rhythm and blues and shape the course of American popular music.
The Avenue was home to many legendary girl groups. This week on Echoes of Indiana Avenue, join guest host Debbie Nelson as we celebrate Women’s History Month with a tribute to Naptown’s own girl groups. Join us for an hour of words and music featuring the Pearls, the Indys, the Stovall Singers, the Chordelles, Joy Upton, Josephine Cheatham, Ethel McCane, and Pam Tanner.
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Exploring John Coltrane’s connections to Indiana Avenue
March 8, 2026
2026 marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of John Coltrane, one of the most influential...
Remembering Indianapolis gospel artist M.L. Allen Jr. of The Wandering Travelers
March 1, 2026
Celebrate the life and legacy of M.L. Allen Jr., a legendary Indianapolis gospel songwriter...
The original talking bass - Orville “Hoppy” Jones and the Ink Spots
February 8, 2026
Celebrate the life and music of Orville “Hoppy” Jones, a founding member of the...
Bandleader, teacher, and saxophonist Larry Liggett
January 25, 2026
Explore the music of the Indianapolis saxophonist, bandleader, and music educator Larry Leggett,...
The Naptown R&B pioneer Enoch “Sonny Boy” Wiliams
January 11, 2026
Listen to music from Enoch “Sonny Boy” Williams, a Rhythm & Blues pianist and...
Indiana Avenue’s Black Christmas Party
December 14, 2025
On December 19, 1970, the Indianapolis affiliate of the Southern Leadership Conference’s...
Celebrating Christmas at Sea Ferguson’s Cotton Club
December 7, 2025
Celebrate the Christmas holiday at Sea Ferguson’s Cotton Club — a legendary Avenue...
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...
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,...
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...
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