Earl Hooker Feature (Aired 1/22/06, 1 hr 2 min.): It may sound like a cliche saying an artist was ahead of his time but just listen to Hooker's music over the course of this hour feature and decide for yourself. Among his peers, Earl Hooker is widely considered the greatest guitarist of his era. As his biographer Sebastian Danchin wrote: "...he became from the late forties the most creative and virtuosic electric blues guitarist of his generation." Hooker's reputation has grown since his untimely death at age forty in 1970. Hooker was the archetype of the rambling bluesman having spent most of his life on the road, cutting singles for a host of tiny labels that did little to get the word out, only receiving some measure of wider recognition shortly before he died. In this feature we play a wide swath of Hooker's recordings in variety of settings, including many lesser known items, he cut for labels such as Age, Chess, Cuca, Arhoolie and Bluesway

John Tefteller Feature/Interview (Aired 2/12/06, 1 hr 19 min.): John Tefteller is a record collector who's collection contains some of the rarest records on the planet. Of interest to blues fans is Tefteller's amazing collection of pre-war blues 78's including one-of-a-kind 78's by Son House, Tommy Johnson, King Solomon Hill and others. Tefteller has also amassed the world's largest collection of blues advertisements, mostly from Paramount, and has been presenting these gorgeous ads in his "Classic Blues Artwork Calendar" for the past few years. Prior to the interview we play sets of vintage blues by Son House, Charlie Patton, Willie Brown, Blind Joe Reynolds and others. In the fascinating interview Tefteller talks about some of the amazing rare records he's discovered, explodes some long held myths, talks about the famed Paramount label and much more.

James Hunter Feature/Interview (Aired 3/9/06, 41 min.): James Hunter's U.S. debut "People Gonna Talk" made a huge splash when it was released earlier this year. The record displays Hunter's remarkable grasp of 60's styled soul and R&B on this impeccably produced record that sounds like it could have been recorded forty years ago. On the eve of his Rochester gig we featured the new record extensively and talk to an upbeat James Hunter. Hunter talks about his London start some twenty years ago, his influences, songwriting and more. Oh and his Rochester gig was phenomenal!

Son House Feature/Dick Waterman Interview (Aired 3/26/06, 1 hr 4 min.): Along with Charlie Patton, House was one of the prime exponents of the Delta blues and few recordings match the sheer emotional impact of his first sides cut for Paramount in 1930. Despite his lofty stature House's recorded output is scanty with sides cut by Alan Lomax for the Library of Congress in 1941-1942 and, after a long gap, a full length album for Columbia in 1965. Dick Waterman, House's manager, put his place in blues history in perspective: "He was the mentor for both Muddy Waters and Robert Johnson, who are clearly acknowledged as two of the most influential bluesmen on not only urban blues but ultimately the modern music scene. If in his prime he had been recorded as much as Charlie Patton, Blind Lemon Jefferson or Robert Johnson, he would be considered the pre-eminent artist of his time. He would have his proper appreciation." In this feature we play a number of House's all-time classics and chat with his old manager Dick Waterman who also was one of the men to rediscover House right here in Rochester in 1964. Waterman talks passionately about the 60's blues revival, the long involved process of tracking down House here in Rochester, House's legendary partner Willie Brown, contemporaries like Skip James and Mississippi John Hurt and House's legacy.

Jazz Gillum Feature (Aired 8/13/06, 26 min): Jazz Gillum is usually treated with indifference among blues critics, looked upon as a rather generic performer who typified the mainstream Chicago blues style of the 1930's and 40's. Gillum recorded 100 sides between 1934-49 as a leader in addition to session work with Big Bill Broonzy, Curtis Jones and the State Street Boys. He was a very expressive, easygoing singer who penned a number of evocative songs backed by some of the era's best blues musicians. During this feature we spotlight some of Gillum's best numbers including "Gillum's Windy Blues", "Boar Hog Blues", "Gonna Take My Rap", "You Got to Run Me Down" and others. Hopefully this segment will raise Gillum's stature a bit and encourage blues fans to rediscover this often overlooked artist.

Big Bill Broonzy Feature (Aired 8/20/06, 44 min): Big Bill is one of the giants of the blues and we frequently play his music on Bad Dog Blues. This year we were lucky to get a the terrific import 2-CD set, "Amsterdam Live Concerts 1953." The concerts were recorded across two nights and includes nearly two hours of superb recordings that have never been released before. For our Big Bill feature we extensively feature a number of sides from this great set including the in between song banter that provides some great ambience. In the second part we play a number of great numbers Broonzy waxed in the 30's and 40's including "I.C. Blues", "When I Been Drinking", "Keep Your Hand Off Her" and others.

Jimmy McCracklin Feature/Interview (Aired 9/10/06, 1 hr 1 min): I've always been a fan of Jimmy McCracklin who is now in his 80's and still remains active. I decided to give him a call and he was gracious enough to chat with us about his lengthy career. In his heyday, from the late 40's through the 60's, he led one of the toughest, hardest rocking blues bands on the West Coast. He was a prolific and witty composer, a fine singer/pianist and was a real pioneer in defining the soul-blues style made so popular by Little Milton, Bobby Bland and others. Still he remains something of a neglected figure with a stature that seems to have always been higher in the black community. Prior to talking to Jimmy we played a batch of his early sides he cut for Modern and Mercury in the 1950's, great sides for Imperial in the 1960's like "Think", "Steppin' Up In Class" as well as some terrific newer material. During the interview Jimmy discusses his new record, penning the original version of "The Thrill Is Gone", his boxing days, hit records like "The Walk", songs he wrote for others like "Tramp" and much more.

Barrelhouse Chuck Feature/Interview (Aired 9/17/06, 1 hr 11 min): I've always been a huge piano blues fan, unfortunately piano blues seems to be something of a dying tradition. One guy who's keep the piano blues alive is Barrelhouse Chuck who's been issuing terrific records for many years. Chuck has paid his dues the time honored way by apprenticing with piano masters such as Sunnyland Slim, Pinetop Perkins, Lafayette Leake and Little Brother Montgomery. He honed his craft working and recording with a who's who of Chicago legends like Louis Myers, Jimmy Rogers, Jimmy Dawkins, Billy Boy Arnold, Detroit Jr. and Big Smokey Smothers and many, many others. Chuck's last two records, 2005's "Slowdown Sundown" and 2006's "Got My Eyes On You" made our top ten list both years. Chuck's blues are deeply rooted in tradition, he's a real historian of the music and one of the most enthusiastic and friendly guys you'll ever talk to. In this feature we place the spotlight on his most recent records plus throw in a few older numbers as well. Chuck literally knew every piano player of note. Listen as Chuck reminisces about Johnny "Big Moose" Walker, Sunnyland Slim, Little Brother Montgomery, Blind John Davis, Lafayette Leake, Detroit Jr. and others. In addition Chuck talks about his new recording, talks movingly about old pals who've passed like Floyd Jones, early influences, following around Muddy Waters and much more.

Joe Hill Louis Feature (Aired 9/24/06, 41 min): One man bands are usually treated as a novelty but there used to be some fine blues players in that style like Dr. Ross and the great Joe Hill Louis. Louis died tragically at the age of 35 but managed to cut some marvelous down-home blues sides between 1949 through 1957. By the late '40s, his one-man band was a popular attraction in Handy Park and on WDIA, the groundbreaking Memphis radio station where he hosted a 15-minute program billed as The Pepticon Boy. Also known as the Be-Bop Boy, he waxed sides for Modern, Sun, Checker, Meteor, Big Town and House of Sound. In this feature we play many of his memorable sides like "She Treats Me Mean and Evil", "We All Gotta Go Sometime", "Hydromatic Woman", Boogie In The Park" and many others.

William Clarke Feature/J. Clarke Interview (Aired 11/12/06, 1 hr 13 min): After years of working the Los Angeles blues scene and cutting albums for a slew of tiny labels, William Clarke became a sensation in blues circles during the late 80's and early 90's, helped immeasurably by his joining the Alligator roster in 1990. He cut four well received, innovative records for the label, won a batch of awards and toured widely before his untimely death at age 45 in 1996. Thankfully his wife Jeanette has kept the torch burning by forming Watch Dog Records a label devoted to issuing previously unreleased material from her late husband. She's released several well received records including "The Early Years Vol. 1 & 2", "Live In Germany", "Now That You're Gone" as well as some DVD's. For this feature we spotlight about 45 minutes of these fabulous recordings prior to chatting with Jeanette. Jeanette was with her husband during his entire career and talks about his early days playing in the L. A. clubs with Smoky Wilson, George "Harmonica" Smith, Shaky Jake Harris, her own Watch Dog label, some of the recordings she still has in the can and plans to release, her late husband's legacy and much more.

Ruth Brown Feature (Aired 11/26/06, 1 hr 50 min): We lost many great artists this year including the legendary blues singer Ruth Brown on Nov. 17th. Brown made her mark at Atlantic Records which was once dubbed "the house that Ruth built" due to the two-dozen R&B hits she had during the 50's that really established the label. After taking some time off she began a comeback in the 70's and in 1985 appeared in the film Hairspray, and in 1989 starred on Broadway in Black and Blue (which won her a Tony Award). In 1993 Brown was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and 1995 saw the release of her autobiography, "Miss Rhythm." In the 80's and 90's she cut records for Fantasy plus well regarded records for Bullseye in the late 90's. We pay extensive tribute to "Miss Rhythm" playing her first six hits in chronological order, other great early hits like "(Mama) He Treats Your Daughter Mean", "It's Love Baby (24 Hours A Day)", some fine lesser known gems for Atlantic plus latter day material for Fantasy, Bullseye, guest spots with B.B. King and Shemekia Copeland and much more.

Robert Lockwood Jr. Feature (Aired 12/3/06, 2 hr 27 min): The year ended on a particularly sad note with the passing of Robert Lockwood, a true musical giant. Lockwood had a remarkable 60+ year career. He learned his blues from the immortal Robert Johnson and in fact was the only one to be taught directly by Johnson as he related: "I was the only one who Robert taught to play the music. I sat down with him in our house and we went over the songs note by note, exactly the way he played them." Lockwood's never been one to linger in the past for long, continuing to hone his style and has developed a unique swinging, jazzy style often played on his 12-string electric guitar. Lockwood didn't record much under his own name early on but did cut classic sides for small labels in the 40's and 50's and recorded extensively as a session guitarist in the 50's and 60's backing Little Walter, Sunnyland Slim, Sonny Boy Williamson II, Jimmy Rogers, Eddie Boyd and others. From the 70's on he cut prolifically for a variety of labels. In this in depth feature we kick off by playing several hit songs by Sonny Boy Williamson II, Little Walter, Jimmy Rogers all featuring Lockwood. In addition we play great sides Lockwood did with Otis Spann and Sunnyland Slim, classic sides he waxed in the 40's and 50's for Bluebird, J.O.B. and Mercury plus later sides for Trix, Rounder, Black & Blue, Verve and others. As a bonus we have guitarist Steve Grills in the studio who was a close friend of Lockwood's for over 25 years and relates some great stories about him as well as putting Lockwood's vast legacy in perspective.