WRFG’s Route 66 celebrates a time when blues, jazz, and R&B were on the same
page and, often, in the same song. Our primary focus is on the music of the
Jump Blues Era of the 1940s which blended into the early Rock & Roll Era
of the 1950s, and follow on how those styles and artists have evolved over
the years. We also bring you jazz from the era along with the occasional page
from the Great American Songbook.
Listen to Route 66 Sunday from 7:00 to 9:00 A.M. Eastern (U.S.) on
Atlanta’s WRFG 89.3FM. Your independent community radio station is
streaming worldwide over our free mobile app and WRFG.ORG.
Become a WRFG Route 66 Supporter
Follow us on Facebook @ WRFG Route 66 Jumps
Subscribe to our weekly podcast @ MixCloud.Com
You’ll find the podcast for this week at the bottom of this post.
Contact: john.askins@wrfg.org
Today, we celebrate the 115th anniversary of Big Joe Turner, the Boss of the Blues.
Born Joseph Vernon Turner, Junior, in Kansas City, Missouri, on May 18, 1911 Turner began his musical career as a singing bartender at Piney Brown’s legendary Sunset Club. Pete Johnson was Brown’s piano player and soon became
Turner’s musical partner.
In December 1938 Turner and Johnson traveled to New York to perform at the first
From Spirituals to Swing concert at Carnage Hall. During that visit they made their
first record, “Roll ’em Pete,” which became their signature song.
Always well respected by the jazz and blues audience, Turner’s greatest fame was
from his rock & roll records in the 1950s. According to songwriter Doc Pomus,
“Rock and roll would have never happened without him.”
BIG JOE TURNER RESOURCES
Biography @ wikipedia.org
Discography @ discogs.com
ROCK & ROLL HALL OF FAME
WRFG ROUTE 66 PLAYLIST FOR SUNDAY, MAY 24, 2026
Song
Artist
Original Album or Label & Date
The Tout Sam Butera Groove Records 1954
Roll ‘Em Pete
Joe Turner & Pete Johnson
Vocalion Records 1938
Someday After Awhile (Joe Turner)
Coco Montoya
Gotta Mind to Travel 1995
Mama Don’t Allow It Julia Lee & Her Boyfriends Capital Record 1951
Is You Is Or Is You Ain’t My Baby Taj Mahal Savoy 2023
Hallelujah, I Love Him So Kieran Brown Loving You 2025
The Richest Guy In The Graveyard Etta Jones Victor Records 1947
My Gal’s A Jockey
Big Joe Turner w/ Wild Bill Moore’s Lucky Seven Band
National Records 1946
Milk and Water Amos Milburn Aladdin Records 1954
Quiet Whiskey Catherine Russell Inside This Heart of Mine 2010
My Baby’s Barrel House Wynonie “Mr. Blues” Harris Apollo Records 1946
Let’s Do It Billie Holiday Columbia Records 1941
Caravan Billy Eckstine MGM Records 1948
Down But Not Out Joe Houston & Otis Grand The Return Of Honk! 1994
Let’s Have a Natural Ball Jump 66 Every Dog Has His Day 2026
Shake, Rattle & Roll
Big Joe Turner
Atlantic Records 1954
Flip, Flop And Fly
Van Morrison
Accentuate The Positive 2023
Wee Baby Blues (Joe Turner)
Lynwood Slim
Last Call 2006
My Mother Told Me Nat King Cole Capitol Records 1950
Rocket 88 Boogie, Pt 1
Pete Johnson
Swing Time Records 1947
Rocket 88 Jackie Brenston & His Delta Cats Chess Records 1951
Hop, Skip and Jump Kim Wilson My Blues 1997
Standing On The Corner Ruth Brown Atlantic Records 1950
TV Mama (Joe Turner)
Champion Jack Dupree
From New Orleans to Chicago 1962
Switchin’ in the Kitchen (Joe Turner)
Roomful Of Blues
Under One Roof 1997
Piney Brown (K.C.)
Big Joe Turner, Sonny Stitt, Pee Wee Crayton
Every Day I Have the Blues 1975
(sign off)
Tag (You’re It) Little Charlie & The Nightcats Nine Lives 2005
WRFG Route 66 