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.
You’ll find the one for this week at the bottom of this post.
Today we celebrate the centennial of the legendary B.B. King, who was born
Riley B. King near Berclair, Mississippi on September 16, 1925.
We also delve into the songbook of Charles Brown, one of the most
popular balladeers of the 1940s and early 1950s. Brown was born
Tony Russell Brown in Texas City, Texas, on September 13, 1922.
B.B. KING RESOURCES
Biography @ wikipedia.org
Discography @ discogs.com
BLUES HALL OF FAME
ROCK & ROLL HALL OF FAME
OFFICIAL RHYTHM & BLUES HALL OF FAME
(Bill) Clinton Digital Library
CHARLES BROWN RESOURCES
Biography @ wikipedia.org
Charles Brown discography @ discogs.com
Johnny Moore’s Three Blazers discography @ discogs.com
Charles Brown obituary – Los Angeles Times
WRFG ROUTE 66 PLAYLIST FOR SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2025
Song
Artist
Original Album or Label & Date
Spider Rock Tab Smith Premium Records 1951
Shake It Up & Go
B.B. King
R.P.M. Records 1952
Summertime
Mark Hummel w/ The Sue Foley Band & Charles Brown
Up And Jumpin’ 1989
Daddy, Daddy Savannah Churchill Manor Records 1945
Turn the Lamps Down Low Little Esther & Little Willie Federal Records 1953
Palomino Hop Big Jay McNeely Honkin’ & Jivin’ at the Palomino! 1989 3:21
It’s Later Than You Think Roy Milton & His Solid Senders Specialty Records 1951
Groovy Movie Blues Johnny
Moore’s Three Blazers / Charles Brown
Exclusive Records 1948
Driftin’ Blues
Johnny Moore’s Three Blazers w/ Charles Brown
Philo Records 1945
Moonlight & Shadows
(Charles Brown)
Diane Schuur
Blues for Schuur 1997
Story From My Heart & Soul
B.B. King
R.P.M. Records 1952
Why I Sing the Blues
(B.B. King)
Aretha Franklin
Spirit In The Dark 1970
East Of The Sun Billie Holiday Billie Holiday Sings 1952
Solitude Kenny Burrell Ellington Is Forever, Vol 2 1975
The Midnight Hour Count Basie Orchestra & Robert Cray …Swings the Blues 2023
Help Me Some Memphis Slim & His House Rockers Miracle Records 1949
3 O’clock Blues
B.B. King
R.P.M. Records 1951
Ain’t Nobody’s Business
Ruth Brown & B.B. King
The Blues Summit Concert 1993
Let the Good Times Roll
Tony Bennett w/ B.B. King
Playing With My Friends – Bennett Sings The Blues 2001
Old Mother Hubbard Ella Fitzgerald Decca Records 1949
Cool Rage Illinois Jacquet Mercury Records 1952
Tell Me You’ll Wait For Me
(Charles Brown)
Ray Charles The Genius 1959
Black Night
Charles Brown
Aladdin Records 1951
Seven Long Days
(Charles Brown)
Janiva Magness
My Bad Luck Soul 1999
Get Yourself Another Fool
(Charles Brown)
Sam Cooke
Nightbeat 1963
Onions Louis Jordan & His Tympany 5 Decca Records 1949
Somebody Done Stole My Cherry Red Eddie “Cleanhead” Vinson King Records 1949
I’m Beginning to See the Light The Birdland Big Band Live 2018
Don’t You Want A Man Like Me?
B.B. King & Calvin Owens Big Band Blues Orchestra
True Blue 1993
My Story Chuck Willis Okeh Records 1952
(sign off)
Tag (You’re It) Little Charlie & The Nightcats Nine Lives 2005
PLAYLIST FOR THIS WEEK’S PODCAST
38th Street Blues – B.B. King
Shake It Up & Go – B.B. King
Summertime – Mark Hummel w/ The Sue Foley Band & Charles Brown
Groovy Movie Blues – Johnny Moore’s Three Blazers / Charles Brown
Driftin’ Blues – Johnny Moore’s Three Blazers w/ Charles Brown
Moonlight & Shadows – Diane Schuur
3 O’clock Blues – B.B. King
Ain’t Nobody’s Business – Ruth Brown & B.B. King
Let the Good Times Roll – Tony Bennett w/ B.B. King
Story From My Heart & Soul – B.B. King
Why I Sing the Blues – Aretha Franklin
Tell Me You’ll Wait For Me – Ray Charles
Black Night – Charles Brown
Seven Long Days – Janiva Magness
Get Yourself Another Fool – Sam Cooke
Don’t You Want A Man Like Me? – B.B. King & Calvin Owens Big Band Blues Orchestra
Tag (You’re It) – Little Charlie & The Nightcats
WRFG Route 66 