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 & R&B 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
It’s different from our live show.
Contact: john.askins@wrfg.org
Many thanks to the Blues Professor for taking the wheel last Sunday.
We have two featured artists today:
Songbird Helen Humes was born in Louisville, Kentucky, on June 23, 1913 and
was the only child of Emma and John Henry Humes. Her father was one of the
first black attorneys in Louisville. Her mother was a school teacher.
Humes made her first records in 1927. She was 14 and had just won a talent
contest. But she did not hit the road, instead staying in Louisville to finish school,
worked in a bank, and then for her father.
But, in the 1930s, singing won out and she eventually ended up in New York,
where she became the featured singer with the Count Basie Orchestra.
Humes recorded her final album in 1980.
HELEN HUMES RESOURCES
Biorgraphy @ wikipedia.org
Discography @ discogs.com
Songwriter Cole Porter was born into a wealthy family in Peru, Indiana,
on June 9, 1891. Classically trained, he was drawn to musical theatre.
After a slow start, he began to achieve success in the 1920s,
and by the 1930s he was one of the major songwriters for the Broadway
musical stage. Unlike many successful Broadway composers, Porter
wrote the lyrics as well as the music for his songs.
COLE PORTER RESOURCES
Biography @ wikipedia.org
List of Songs Written by Cole Porter
WRFG ROUTE 66 PLAYLIST FOR SUNDAY, JUNE 22, 2025
Song
Artist
Original Album or Label & Date
‘Gator’s Groove Willis Jackson Atlantic Records 1952
Moanin’ at Midnight Howlin’ Wolf Chess Records 1951
Moanin’ for Molasses Sean Costello Moanin’ for Molasses 2001
Let Your Tears Fall Baby Wille Mae Thornton Peacock Records 1951
If You Can’t Smile & Say Yes… Nat King Cole Capitol Records 1945
Fever Ray Charles & Natalie Cole Genius Loves Company 2004
Rockin’ the Blues Pee Wee Crayton Modern Records 1950
Laziest Gal In Town
(Cole Porter)
Helen Humes Modern Records 1951
I’ve Got You Under My Skin
(Cole Porter)
Louis Prima & Keely Smith
Capitol Records 1959
Hard Head Louis Jordan I Believe In Music 1973
Jack, You’re Dead! B.B. King Let The Good Times Roll… 1999
I’m a Pilgrim Kid Ramos Strange Things Happening 2025
Pinetop’s Boogie-Woogie Gene Taylor Gene Taylor 2003
Let’s Do It Stick McGhee Atlantic Records 1950
I Didn’t Like It The First Time… Julia Lee Capitol Records 1949
I Concentrate On You
(Cole Porter)
Dinah Washington
Mercury Records 1955
Baby Baby Jimmy Witherspoon Modern Records 1953
Honey Rock Barney Kessel Tease! The Beat of Burlesque 1956
Be Baba Leba
Helen Humes w/ Bill Doggett Octet
Philo Records 1945
Rock Me To Sleep
Helen Humes & The Marshal Royal Orchestra
Capitol Records 1950
Today I Sing The Blues
Aretha Franklin & the Ray Bryant Trio
Aretha 1961
Pennies From Heaven Little Jimmy Scott Over the Rainbow 2001
Sunday Mornin’ Coleman Hawkins Soul 1958
I Get A Kick Out Of You
(Cole Porter)
Ella Fitzgerald
Sings The Cole Porter Song Book 1956
My Heart Belongs To Daddy
(Cole Porter)
Count Basie & His Orchestra w/ Helen Humes
Decca Records 1939
Please Don’t Go (Come Back Baby) Roy Brown De Luxe Records 1949
(Mama) He Treats Your Daughter Mean Ruth Brown Atlantic Records 1952
Big Boy Junior Watson Long Overdue 1994
Liittle Red Rooster Margie Day Dot Records 1951
Moon Dust Bill Dogett King Records 1953
Oil Man Blues Eddie “Cleanhead” Vinson Mercury Records 1948
Willie & The Hand Jive The Johnny Otis Show Capitol Records 1958
(sign off)
Tag (You’re It) Little Charlie & The Nightcats Nine Lives 2005
PLAYLIST FOR THE PODCAST
‘Gator’s Groove – Willis Jackson & His Orchestra
Laziest Gal In Town – Helen Humes
I’ve Got You Under My Skin – Louis Prima & Keely Smith
I Concentrate On You – Dinah Washington
Baby Baby – Jimmy Witherspoon
Honey Rock – Barney Kessel
Be Baba Leba – Helen Humes w/ Bill Doggett Octet
Rock Me To Sleep – Helen Humes & The Marshal Royal Orchestra
Today I Sing The Blues – Aretha Franklin & the Ray Bryant Trio
Pennies From Heaven – Little Jimmy Scott
Sunday Mornin’ – Coleman Hawkins
I Get A Kick Out Of You – Ella Fitzgerald
My Heart Belongs To Daddy – Count Basie featuring Helen Humes
Just One Of Those Things – Billie Holiday
Tag (You’re It) – Little Charlie & The Nightcats
WRFG Route 66 