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The Afrofuturist Pioneers of Indiana Avenue
November 19, 2021
This week we pay tribute to Afrofuturist pioneers of Indiana Avenue, including words and music from Bill Simmons of Midnight Starr, and James Spaulding, an original member of the Sun Ra Arkestra.
Naptown Slow Jams
November 12, 2021
R&B music has gone through many changes over the years - but the soul ballad has remained a timeless form of musical expression. Enjoy a selection of Naptown slow jams connected to the Avenue scene.
Soul Legend Lonnie Williams
November 4, 2021
This week our guest is soul vocalist Lonnie Williams, one of the unsung legends of Indianapolis music. Lonnie has been performing on the Naptown scene for over 50 years.
Phil Ranelin
October 29, 2021
This week, we're featuring an hour of words and music with the legendary Indianapolis jazz trombonist Phil Ranelin, best known for his work with the radical Detroit jazz collective known as Tribe.
A.J.’s Lounge
October 22, 2021
This week we're broadcasting from A.J.’s Lounge. A.J.'s is the oldest Black-owned bar in Indianapolis, and the only remaining nightclub connected to the historic Indiana Avenue neighborhood.
The Music of Melvin Rhyne
October 15, 2021
Enjoy an hour of music from keyboardist Melvin Rhyne, one of the greatest musicians to emerge from the Avenue scene. Rhyne is best known for his work with Wes Montgomery during the late 1950s.
Jerry Harkness and Father Boniface Hardin
October 8, 2021
Enjoy an archival conversation between two important figures in Indianapolis history: basketball legend Jerry Harkness and the late Father Boniface Hardin, the founder of Martin University.
Bill Jennings: A Tribute (Part 3)
October 1, 2021
Explore Naptown guitarist Bill Jennings' work in Jazz music. Jennings recorded with some of the top names in jazz - including Ella Fitzgerald, and Louis Armstrong.
Bill Jennings: A Tribute (Part 2)
September 23, 2021
On part two of our tribute to the late Naptown guitar great Bill Jennings, explore Jennings’ work in early rock and roll, and rhythm and blues music.
Bill Jennings: A Tribute (Part 1)
September 17, 2021
Echoes of Indiana Ave celebrates the late Naptown guitarist Bill Jennings in part one of a three-part series. This first instalment features early recordings from the 30s and 40s, featuring some of the legendary artists he worked with.
Remembering Joe Trotter of Amnesty
September 10, 2021
This week on Echoes of Indiana Avenue we look back on the life and music of vocalist Joe Trotter. Trotter is best remembered for his work with the legendary Indianapolis funk band Amnesty.
"Killer" Ray Appleton
September 1, 2021
Celebrate the life and music of drummer “Killer” Ray Appleton. Throughout his career, "Killer" Ray performed with jazz legends like Wes Montgomery, David Baker, Freddie Hubbard and John Coltrane.
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