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.
Our featured artist is Percy Mayfield, who is often called “the poet of the blues.”
Mayfield was born in Minden, Louisiana, on August 12, 1910. An early gift for poetry led him to be a singer and songwriter. He first achieved success in 1947 with “Two Years of Torture” and had earned 10 Top 10 R&B hits by the mid-1950s. Although his performing career was cut short by an auto accident that left him disfigured, he continued recording and writing songs – and occasionally playing live – into the early 1980s. During the 1960s he was employed as a songwriter by Ray Charles, who recorded 15 of his compositions including “Hit the Road Jack.”
PERCY MAYFIELD RESOURCES
Biography @ Wikipedia.org
Discography @ discogs.com
Blues Foundation
Spontaneous Lunacy
Percy Mayfield @ Second Hand Songs
WRFG ROUTE 66 PLAYLIST FOR SUNDAY, AUGUST 9, 2026
Song
Artist
Original Album or Single & Date
Please Send Me Someone to Love
Hank Crawford
The Soul Clinic 1962
The River’s Invitation
Percy Mayfield & His Orchestra
Specialty Records 1953
Give Me Time To Explain
Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown
Alright Again 1981
Roland’s Theme Roland Kirk Triple Threat 1956
My Country Man Big Maybelle Okeh Records 1953
Ain’t That Loving You Bobby “Blue” Bland Duke Records 1962
Drinkin’ Wine Spo-Dee-O-Dee Stick McGhee Atlantic Records 1949
Mend Your Ways Ruth Brown Atlantic Records 1953
I’ve Found My Peace Of Mind Louis Jordan Mercury Records 1957
Prayin’ For Your Return
Percy Mayfield
Specialty Records 1951
Strange Things Happening
Guitar Slim
ATCO Records 1957
The Richest Guy In The Graveyard Etta Jones Victor Records 1947
You’re Drivin’ Me Crazy / Moten Swing Johnny Otis …Black Territory Bands 1992
Stormy Weather Tony Bennett w/ Natalie Cole …Sings The Blues 2001
At The Club
Ray Charles
ABC Paramount 1962
Loose Lips
Percy Mayfield
Specialty Records 1954
The Big Question
Roomful Of Blues
Hot Little Mama 1981
Lost Mind
Mose Allison
Mose Allison Sings 1957
Honky Tonk Bill Doggett King Records 1956
Wrong Woman Blues Roy Brown De Luxe Records 1951
Bartender’s Blues Roy Milton & His Solid Senders Specialty Records 1950
Never No More
Frank Bey
All My Dues Are Paid 2020
Stranger In My Own Home Town
Taj Mahal
Dancing the Blues 1993
Qualified Yates McKendree Buchanan Lane 2022
Ooh-Pop-A-Dah Dirty Dozen Brass Band w/ Dizzy Gillespie Voodoo 1989
Walking On a Tightrope
Diane Schuur
Running On Faith 2020
Lost Love (Baby, Please)
Percy Mayfield
Specialty Records 1951
Hit The Road Jack
Ray Charles
Live TV Concert 1981
(sign off)
Tag (You’re It) Little Charlie & The Nightcats Nine Lives 2005
WRFG Route 66 