Join host Rodney Stepp for a tribute to Indianapolis rhythm and blues singer Iona Wade. A star of the Indiana Avenue scene during the 1940s, the Indianapolis Recorder called Wade Naptown’s “sweet songbird” and “the little girl with the big voice.” Born in Indianapolis in 1918, Wade began singing on Indiana Avenue in the late 1930s. By the early 1940s, she was performing at some of the city’s best-known clubs, including the Sunset Terrace, the Cotton Club, and the Chief Club. Over a career spanning more than 20 years, Wade performed with some of the greatest musicians in American music, including Quincy Jones, James Moody, Wes Montgomery, and Jay McShann. Tune in for classic rhythm and blues featuring the music of Iona Wade.
Naptown's sweet songbird Iona Wade
