Tag: Bessie Smith

It’s Tuesday Bluesday With the Ladies, Live Johnny Winter, and a Brand New Howlin’ Wolf ‘Spotlight,’ September 30, 2025

We close out the month with a Tuesday Bluesday featuring the women of the blues, Johnny Winter, and new Howlin’ Wolf!

ANN ARBOR – CIRCA 1969: Photo of Howlin’ Wolf performing in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Circa 1969 (Photo by Tom Copi/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)

Here’s your Tuesday Bluesday lineup:

9:00 a.m. Ladies Sing the Blues: Various Artists

We open up with the women who sing the blues, including Billie Holiday, Big Mama Thornton, Ruth Brown, Nina Simone, Janis Joplin, Koko Taylor, Bonnie Raitt, Christine McVie, Marcia Ball, Ellen McIlwaine, Susan Tedeschi, Irma Thomas, Tracy Nelson, Etta James, Linda Ronstadt, Sippie Wallace, Bessie Smith, Shawn Murphy, Angela Strehli, Aretha Franklin, The Blues Broads and more!

4:00 p.m. Johnny Winter Live at The Bottom Line, New York, NY, September 5, 1978

Mr. High Energy Blues drops by this afternoon for a great live performance.

8:00 p.m. In the Spotlight: The Music of Howlin’ Wolf NEW!

This one has been on the “to do” list for a while, and it’s finally done! We close it out with one of the greats this evening.

We’re here. We’re free. We don’t run any advertising, require a subscription, or collect any personal information from anyone. We’re all about the music. Just hit the button below!

Tuesday Bluesday!

On Tuesday Bluesday, the Ladies Open It Up, The Allman Brothers Sing the Blues, and Muddy Waters & The Rolling Stones are Live in Chicago, On August 26, 2025

Good morning and welcome to another Tuesday Bluesday! Today we’ve got ‘Ladies Sing The Blues’ to open things up, then we move on to The Allman Brothers Band, and Muddy & The Stones together at the Checkerboard Lounge!

Here’s your Tuesday Bluesday lineup:

9:00 a.m. Ladies Sing The Blues: Various Artists

From old time to the newer artists, we give you the blues female-style with Billie Holiday, Big Mama Thornton, Ruth Brown, Nina Simone, Janis Joplin, Koko Taylor, Bonnie Raitt, Christine McVie, Marcia Ball, Ellen McIlwaine, Susan Tedeschi, Irma Thomas, Tracy Nelson, Etta James, Linda Ronstadt, Sippie Wallace, Bessie Smith, Shawn Murphy, Angela Strehli, Aretha Franklin, The Blues Broads, and more!

4:00 p.m. The Allman Brothers Band Sings The Blues, Volume One

From the excellent Martin Scorcese documentary about the blues, we give you the Allman Brothers Band takes on the classics.

8:00 p.m. Muddy Waters & The Rolling Stones Live at The Checkerboard Lounge, Chicago, IL, November 22, 1981

We close with a legendary union of Muddy and The Stones at the blues club on the South Side of Chicago established by L.C. Thurman and Buddy Guy in 1972.

The programming is all blues all day, but before, in between, and after it’s our big, wide Open Stream of 27,000+ song across all genres. Join us. The button is below.

Tuesday Bluesday

On Tuesday Bluesday It’s ‘Ladies Sing The Blues,’ Live Howlin’ Wolf, and a Jimmy Reed ‘Spotlight’ Feature, On July 15, 2025

Good morning, bluesologists! We open it up with the ladies of the blues large and in charge, then it’s live Howlin’ Wolf, and a Jimmy Reed ‘Spotlight’ feature!

Here’s your Tuesday Bluesday lineup:

9:00 a.m. Ladies Sing The Blues: Various Artists

Music from long ago combined with current abounds here with Billie Holiday, Big Mama Thornton, Ruth Brown, Nina Simone, Janis Joplin, Koko Taylor, Bonnie Raitt, Christine McVie, Marcia Ball, Ellen McIlwaine, Susan Tedeschi, Irma Thomas, Tracy Nelson, Etta James, Linda Ronstadt, Sippie Wallace, Bessie Smith, Shawn Murphy, Angela Strehli, Aretha Franklin, The Blues Broads, and more!

4:00 p.m. Howlin’ Wolf Live at Alice’s Revisited, Chicago, IL, January 26, 1972

This is rarity here, and we’re on the hunt for more live Howlin’ Wolf, but today we have him live from Alice’s Revisited in Chicago.

8:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of Jimmy Reed

The son of a sharecropper, Jimmy Reed’s amazing guitar style made the blues accessible to a wide audience.

Remember, before, in between, and after we give you our big, wide Open Stream. We’re on 24/7, 365 days a year at no charge to our listening public. Give it a try. The button is below!

Ladies Sing The Blues!

The Ladies Are In Charge on Tuesday Bluesday, Then It’s Live John Mayall, and a Marcia Ball ‘Spotlight’ on June 17, 2025

Good morning, blueologists, and welcome to another Tuesday Bluesday. We open with five hours of bluesy women, then it’s John Mayall live from the UK, and an interlude of swamp blues with a Marcia Ball ‘Spotlight.’

Here’s your Tuesday Bluesday lineup:

9:00 a.m. Ladies Sing The Blues: Various Artists

We start off with the ladies, some of them blues legends, some those who simply respected the blues and kept the genre fresh and current. You’ll hear Billie Holiday, Big Mama Thornton, Ruth Brown, Nina Simone, Janis Joplin, Koko Taylor, Bonnie Raitt, Christine McVie, Marcia Ball, Ellen McIlwaine, Susan Tedeschi, Irma Thomas, Tracy Nelson, Etta James, Linda Ronstadt, Sippie Wallace, Bessie Smith, Shawn Murphy, Angela Strehli, Aretha Franklin, The Blues Broads, and more!

4:00 p.m. John Mayall Live at Leicester Square Theatre, London, UK, November 1, 2010

A true blues master visits us this afternoon, live from Leicester Square Theatre.

8:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of Marcia Ball

Marcia Ball is simply teriffic, an award-winning blues singer, songwriter and superb pianist whose music was described by The Boston Globe as “an irresistible celebratory blend of rollicking, two-fisted New Orleans piano, Louisiana swamp rock and smoldering Texas blues from a contemporary storyteller.” You’ll enjoy her ‘Spotlight’ feature.

We start and end the day with the ladies today, and that is always a good thing. We’re on 24/7 without commercial interruption, and with no chatty DJs to spoil the flow. The button is, as always, below!

The Button

On Tuesday Bluesday the Ladies are in Charge, Then It’s Big Mama Thornton and Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac, May 13, 2025

Good morning, bluesologists! Did you know that Fleetwood Mac had two lives? Before the addition of Buckingham-Nicks, they were a true blues band under the leadership of the late, great Peter Green. We give you that version today, and more!

Here’s your Tuesday Bluesday lineup:

9:00 a.m. Ladies Sing The Blues: Various Artists

Some blues legends and some who simply paid homage to the genre, all legitimate. You’ll hear Billie Holiday, Big Mama Thornton, Nina Simone, Janis Joplin, Koko Taylor, Bonnie Raitt, Christine McVie, Marcia Ball, Ellen McIlwaine, Susan Tedeschi, Irma Thomas, Tracy Nelson, Etta James, Linda Ronstadt, Sippie Wallace, Bessie Smith, Shawn Murphy, Angela Strehli, Aretha Franklin, The Blues Broads and more!

4:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of Big Mama Thornton

From blues to rock n’ roll, Big Mama Thornton was a pioneer. She made the first version of Lieber & Stoller’s Hound Dog. Elvis made it famous, but Big Mama Thornton had a monster hit that stayed at number one for seven weeks on the R & B charts and sold 2 million copies at a time when women (let alone black women) were an afterthought in music.

8:00 p.m. Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac Live at The Warehouse, New Orleans, LA, January 30, 1970

Before Big Mac became a big pop-rock music entity, it was a blues band co-founded with John McVie by the late, great bluesman, Peter Green. That’s the version you get on Tuesday Bluesday.

Day two of another work week. We’re on 24/7 and we’re totally free. No need to worry about being tracked or sent emails asking for you to buy anything. We’ve got nothing for sale. We give away great music for free. The button is below.

It’s Tuesday Bluesday!

On Tuesday Bluesday It’s ‘Ladies Sing the Blues’, Live Paul Butterfield Blues Band, and a Rory Block ‘Spotlight’, April 15, 2025

Good morning, bluesologists and welcome to another Tuesday Bluesday. We’ve got a full plate of great blues programming and we start with The Mermaid Lounge in the care of the blues women.

Here’s your Tuesday Bluesday lineup:

9:00 a.m. Ladies Sing The Blues: Various Artists

Five hours of the legendary blues women and those who keep it alive with Billie Holiday, Big Mama Thornton, Ruth Brown, Nina Simone, Janis Joplin, Koko Taylor, Bonnie Raitt, Christine McVie, Marcia Ball, Ellen McIlwaine, Susan Tedeschi, Irma Thomas, Tracy Nelson, Etta James, Linda Ronstadt, Sippie Wallace, Bessie Smith, Shawn Murphy, Angela Strehli, Aretha Franklin, The Blues Broads and more!

4:00 p.m. The Paul Butterfieid Blues Band Live at The Fillmore, San Francisco, CA, October 14, 1966

We’re headed for the Wayback Machine with this performance from The Fillmore, a legendary blues band in a legendary venue!

8:00 p.m. In the Spotlight: The Music of Rory Block

We close out the programming in style with a Rory Block ‘Spotlight’ featuring music over her long six-decade career.

Remember, before, in betwee and after our programming, we give you our big, wide Open Stream of more than 27,000 songs. It’s hard to find a repeat in a week, let alone a day. The button is below!

Da Blues. Da Button.

It’s Tuesday With the ‘Ladies Sing The Blues’, Then It’s Live Paul Butterfield in Boston, and Bloomfield, Kooper and Stills Together On March 11, 2025

Good morning, blueologists, and welcome to another great Tuesday Bluesday here in The Lounge. We start off with five hours of uninterrupted blues from the ladies, then we move to vintage live Paul Butterfield and a great trio of blues-rock artists ‘in session.’

Here’s your Tuesday Bluesday lineup:

9:00 a.m. Ladies Sing The Blues: Various Artist

From old to new, you’ll hear Billie Holliday, Big Mama Thornton, Ruth Brown, Nina Simone, Janis Joplin, Koko Taylor, Bonnie Raitt, Christine McVie, Marcia Ball, Ellen McIlwaine, Susan Tedeschi, Irma Thomas, Tracy Nelson, Etta James, Linda Ronstadt, Sippie Wallace, Bessie Smith, Shawn Murphy, Angela Strehli, Aretha Franklin, The Blues Broads and more! This playlist is also scheduled for an update, so stay tuned!

4:00 p.m. The Paul Butterfield Blues Band Live at The Unicorn Coffee House, Boston, MA, Spring 1968

We’re not sure of the exact date, but we know it happened because it’s right here. This is an iconic band in another of those iconic Boston music venues that is no more. It’s a Wayback Machine event.

8:00 p.m. Mike Bloomfield, Al Kooper and Stephen Stills Recorded at CBS Columbia Square Studios, Los Angeles, CA, May 1968

Another Wayback Machine event that took place after Bloomfield and Kooper had finished working with Bob Dylan on his Highway 61 Revisited album, and after they played in the backing band for Dylan’s 1965 performance at the Newport Folk Festival where he used electric instruments for the first time and ruffled quite a few feathers in the folk music world. The result was an album that peaked at number 12 on the Billboard 200, where it remained for 37 weeks.

Blah. Blah. Blah. I could give you the usual closing, but I’m in a bit of a rush this morning. Back to the retail work week for me. The Music Mermaid is in charge until I return. The button is below.

Tuesday Bluesday!

It’s Tuesday Bluesday With The Ladies, Live Stevie Ray Vaughan, and a Roomful of Blues ‘Spotlight’ Feature, on February 4, 2025

Happy Tuesday Bluesday, bluesologists! We’ve got some great blues programming today interspersed within our big, wide Open Stream. It all starts with the women of the blues.

Here’s your Tuesday Bluesday lineup:

9:00 a.m. Ladies Sing The Blues: Various Artists

From modern-day blues singers to the earliest times when technology was sparse, you’ll hear from Billie Holiday, Big Mama Thornton, Nina Simone, Janis Joplin, Koko Taylor, Bonnie Raitt, Christine McVie, Marcia Ball, Ellen McIlwaine, Susan Tedeschi, Irma Thomas, Tracy Nelson, Etta James, Linda Ronstadt, Sippie Wallace, Bessie Smith, Shawn Murphy, Angela Strehli, Aretha Franklin, The Blues Broads and more!

4:00 p.m. Stevie Ray Vaughan Live at The Austin Opera House, Austin, TX, April 15, 1984

Gone far too soon, Stevie Ray Vaughan nevertheless left his indelible mark on modern-day blues. Today we have him live from Austin.

8:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of Roomful of Blues

Roomful of Blues is a horn-fueled bigass blues band that has stood the test of time, playing and recording for over fifty years with a slew of music awards under its belt. Although their lineup goes through changes, the band remains in a class by itself. If you don’t know them, get to know them. You can read more about them here.

The blues train keeps rolling along and we roll along with it. This is one of our most popular days here and there’s room for everyone. We’re free and we do not air commercial advertising. in these trying times, we are beacon of light. Join us. We’re all going to need it over the next four horrible years. You can punch your ticket below.

It’s Tuesday Bluesday!

It’s Tuesday Bluesday With The Ladies in Charge, The Allman Brothers Band, and Koko Taylor, December 3, 2024

Good morning, bluesologists! Our first Tuesday Bluesday of the month always belongs to the women of the blues and today is no exception!

Here’s your bluesy lineup:

9:00 a.m. Ladies Sing the Blues: Various Artists

The ladies are large and in charge for the first five hours. You’ll hear Billie Holliday, Big Mama Thornton, Ruth Brown, Nina Simone, Janis Joplin, Koko Taylor, Bonnie Raitt, Christine McVie, Marcia Ball, Elllen McIlwaine, Susan Tedeschi, Irma Thomas, Tracy Nelson, Etta James, Linda Ronstadt, Sippie Wallace, Bessie Smith, Shawn Murphy, Angela Strehli, Aretha Franklin, The Blues Broads and more!

4:00 p.m. The Allman Brothers Band Live at The Fillmore East, New York, NY, March 12-13, 1971

The Brothers air it out at The Fillmore.

8:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of Koko Taylor

Taylor’s strong, brash blues voice has earned her the title of The Queen of The Blues. For good reason.

You’ve heard it all before. Music 24/7. No advertising. No charge. No tracking. No personal information required. No strings. No lie. We’re all about the music. The button is below.

Tuesday Bluesday!

On Tuesday Bluesday The Ladies Lead The Way, Then It’s Live Johnny Winter and a Marcia Ball ‘Spotlight’, November 5, 2024

Good morning, bluesologists! We’ve got ‘Ladies Sing The Blues’ for starters, then it’s live Johnny Winter and Marcia Ball ‘In The Spotlight’ later!

Here’s your bluesy lineup:

9:00 a.m. Ladies Sing The Blues: Various Artists

Paying tribute to the women of the blues and those who have added the blues to their repertoire. You’ll hear Billie Holiday, Big Mama Thornton, Ruth Brown, Nina Simone, Janis Joplin, Koko Taylor, Bonnie Raitt, Christine McVie, Marcia Ball, Ellen McIlwaine, Susan Tedeschi, Irma Thomas, Tracy Nelson, Etta James, Linda Ronstadt, Sippie Wallace, Bessie Smith, Shawn Murphy, Angela Strehli, Aretha Franklin, The Blues Broads and more!

4:00 p.m. Johnny Winter Live at The Bottom Line, New York, NY, September 5, 1978

We’ve got Mr. High Energy Blues himself live from The Bottom Line this afternoon.

8:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of Marcia Ball

Singer, songwriter and pianist extraordinaire Marcia Ball closes out our Tuesday Bluesday programming. If you haven’t yet heard her, stick around.

We’re always busy on Tuesday Bluesday and today is no exception. There’s plenty of room for everyone in The Mermaid Lounge. Join us. The button is below.

Tuesday Bluesday!