Tag: Bo Diddley

On Tuesday Bluesday It’s ‘Best of Chicago Blues,’ Live Freddie King, and Nina Simone Sings the Blues, October 28, 2025

Welcome to another Tuesday Bluesday, kids. We’ve got some great stuff for you today starting out with some windy city blues!

Here’s your Tuesday Bluesday lineup:

9:00 a.m. The Best of Chicago Blues: Various Artists

We kick it off with some windy city blues from Otis Rush, Willie Dixon, Albert King, Muddy Waters, Little Walter, Bo Diddley, Koko Taylor, Lowell Fulson, Howlin’ Wolf, Buddy Guy, Magic Slim, Sonny Boy Williamson, Son Seals, James Cotton, Paul Butterfield, Elmore James, Jimmy Reed, Otis Spann and more!

4:00 p.m. Freddie King Live at The Fillmore West, San Francisco, CA, September 30, 1970

We spend some time with one of the “kings” of the blues this afternoon live from The Fillmore!

8:00 p.m. Nina Simone Sings the Blues

Nina Simone’s career was marked by mastering many musical styles for sure, but she could really belt out the blues. We’ll show you tonight.

We’re here playing the best music on the planet every single day at no cost to the people. We’re anti-capitalist. We’re all about the music. See for yourself by hitting the button below.

Tuesday Bluesday!

At Midweek It’s ‘The Founders,’ Live Bonnie Raitt, and a Buddy Holly ‘Spotlight’ Feature, On Wednesday, September 17, 2025

Good morning, musicologists, and welcome to the midweek! Today we start by paying tribute to the pioneers of rock and roll, the founding fathers and mothers!

Here’s your midweek musical lineup:

9:00 a.m. The Founders: Various Artists

We start off the day with the musicians who made it all possible, including Chuck Berry, Fats Domino, Little Richard, Bo Diddley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Elvis Presley, The Everly Brothers, Buddy Holly, Big Mama Thornton, Big Joe Turner, Hank Williams, Bill Haley & His Comets, Ray Charles, The Drifters, Roy Orbison, Robert Johnson, Carl Perkins, Eddie Cochran, Johnny Cash, Muddy Waters, and more!

4:00 p.m. Bonnie Raitt Live at The Troubadour, W. Hollywood, CA, February 15, 1972

This afternoon, we’ve got some early Bonnie Raitt at an iconic musical location where many of her generation graced the stage early in their careers.

8:00 p.m. In the Spotlight: The Music of Buddy Holly

Speaking of rock and roll pioneers, we close with a singer-songwriter whose music influenced so many musicians, including The Beatles.

We’re here and we’re totally free. We run no advertising. We ask for no personal information. Before, in between, and after our programming, we run our big, wide Open Stream of more than 27,000 songs. Just hit the button below.

The Button!

Thursday Brings ‘The Founders’ EP, a Bee Gees ‘Spotlight’, and Live Emmylou Harris & The Nash Ramblers, On August 14, 2025

Good morning, music lovers! We’re headed for the weekend once again, and we will help get you there with the best music on the planet!

Here’s your Thursday lineup:

9:00 a.m. The Founders: Various Artists

We start off the day with the folks who helped to build what we call rock and roll. These are the pioneers, the founders, the innovators and the playlist includes Chuck Berry, Fats Domino, Little Richard, Bo Diddley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Elvis Presley, The Everly Brothers, Buddy Holly, Big Mama Thornton, Big Joe Turner, Hank Williams, Bill Haley & His Comets, Ray Charles, The Drifters, Roy Orbison, Robert Johnson, Eddie Cochran, Johnny Cash, Muddy Waters, and more!

4:00 p.m. In the Spotlight: The Music of The Bee Gees

Yes, the Bee Gees who started out as one of the most innovative rock bands on the planet before drifting into sell-out disco stardom. We skip the entire disco thing here. After Saturday Night Fever, it was all downhill. They are the Jekyll & Hyde band of rock music. However, before Saturday Night Fever, they were fantastic.

8:00 p.m. Emmylou Harris & The Nash Ramblers Live at The Ryman Auditorium, Nashville, TN, April 30-May 2, 1991

When I was young, my friend and I took to the road and headed off to see The Grand Ole Opry in Nashville. Our parents were in a panic because we were do young and hitting the road with no actual experience and probably not enough money. We saw the show at The Ryman. In 1991, Emmylou Harris and her newly-formed acoustic band showed up and was literally the impetus for the Ryman, then run-down and no longer the home of the Opry, for the Ryman’s restoration and rebirth. It reopened to a new generation of musicians in 1994.

We’re here 24/7 with no commercial interruption and no disc jockeys who talk through the beginning and endings of songs. No lie. Best of all, we’re totally free. The button is below.

The Button!

Sunday It’s Live John Hiatt in Between ‘The Founders’ EP, and a Little Richard ‘Spotlight’ Feature, On July 13, 2025

Good morning, musicologists, and welcome to The Mermaid Lounge. Today we jump into action with the artists who pioneered rock and roll, as well as rock and roll icon Little Richard. In between, it’s a bit of live John Hiatt.

Here’s your musical lineup:

9:00 a.m. The Founders: Various Artists

Rock and roll was born of the blues and country music, pioneered by artists like Chuck Berry, Fats Domino, Little Richard, Bo Diddley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Elvis Presley, The Everly Brothers, Buddy Holly, Big Mama Thornton, Big Joe Turner, Hank Williams, Bill Haley & His Comets, Ray Charles, The Drifters, Roy Orbison, Robert Johnson, Carl Perkins, Eddie Cochran, Johnny Cash, Muddy Waters, and more! You’ll hear them all today.

4:00 p.m. John Hiatt Live at The Bottom Line, New York, NY, October 7, 1988

This afternoon we feature an underappreciated artist, a man called a songwriter’s songwriter. He is a Nashville hall of famer and his music has been recorded by Bonnie Raitt, Willie Nelson, Three Dog Night, Bruce Springsteen and many more. Give him a listen this afternoon.

8:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of Little Richard

There’s not enough we can say about Richard Wayne Penniman, better known as Little Richard. He was like a stick of dynamite who laid the foundation for rock and roll. This incredible singer, songwriter and pianist influenced the music and culture of America for seven decades. We put him squarely ‘In the Spotlight’ this evening.

It’s Sunday and it’s a day of rest. Sit back and enjoy the best music on the planet. We’ve got it. What we don’t have is commercial advertising or DJ’s who chat endlessly. See for yourselves. The button is below.

The Button.

On Tuesday Bluesday We Head to Chicago, Then It’s Koko Taylor, and Rick Danko & Paul Butterfield, On June 24, 2025

We’ve got another Tuesday Bluesday on our hands today, and some great music on tap for the day. If you live in the northeast, stay cool, my friends. This one’s going to be ugly.

Here’s your Windy City lineup:

9:00 a.m. The Best of Chicago Blues: Various Artists

We hear the windy city blues artists today: Otis Rush, Willie Dixon, Albert King, Muddy Waters, Little Walter, Bo Diddley, Koko Taylor, Lowell Fulson, Howlin’ Wolf, Buddy Guy, Magic Slim, Sonny Boy Williamson, Son Seals, James Cotton, Paul Butterfield, Elmore James, Jimmy Reed, Otis Spann, and more!

4:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of Koko Taylor

This afternoon we’ve got the Queen of The Blues, Koko Taylor, ‘In the Spotlight.’

8:00 p.m. Rick Danko & Paul Butterfield Live at The Blue Note, Boulder, CO, December 13, 1979

We close it out with Rick Danko of The Band performing live with the great Paul Butterfield at The Blue Note.

Nothing but the blues today for our programming, but before, in between and after, we give you our big, wide Open Stream of 27,000 songs. We’re on 24/7 and we’re totally free with no commercial interruption. The button is below.

Windy City Blues!

On Sunday It’s ‘The Founders,’ a New Playlist Called ‘Ladies of The Canyon,’ and a Beach Boys ‘Spotlight’ In Memory of the Brilliant Brian Wilson, June 15, 2025

Good morning, musicologists! We’ve got a huge day today as we expand our women’s playlist collection, and pay tribute to one of the most incredible songwriters in pop music history as we pay tribute to Brian Wilson.

Here’s your Sunday Funday lineup:

9:00 a.m. The Founders: Various Artists

We take a trip in The Wayback Machine to pay homage to the innovators and pioneers of rock and roll, including Chuck Berry, Fats Domino, Little Richard, Bo Diddley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Elvis Presley, The Everly Brothers, Buddy Holly, Big Mama Thornton, Big Joe Turner, Hank Williams, Bill Haley & His Comets, Ray Charles, The Drifters, Roy Orbison, Robert Johnson, Carl Perkins, Eddie Cochran, Johnny Cash, Muddy Waters, and more!

4:00 p.m. Ladies of The Canyon: Joni Mitchell, Judy Collins, and Joan Baez NEW!

While working on ‘Festival Week’ recently, I found some info on social media and someone asked if these three were ‘friends.’ Turns out, they were. In fact all three ladies spent time in Laurel Canyon perfecting their craft. That’s when I decided I’d make this playlist and call it ‘Ladies of The Canyon,’ which also happens to be the name of a Joni Mitchell album.

8:00 p.m. In the Spotlight: The Music of The Beach Boys

Suffice it to say that Brian Wilson was the genius and force behind The Beach Boys, a man with incredible musical vision and compositional skills. For me, and for many others, Pet Sounds was the moment when we realized his genius. However, when I went back after hearing Pet Sounds, I realized it didn’t start there. It certainly didn’t end there either. Brian Wilson passed on last week, and today we pay him tribute.

‘No Kings’ was massive, invigorating, and inspiring yesterday. We cannot let up. However, today I’m rejuvenating myself with some music as we prepare for the next round of the fight. We’re here 24/7. We’re totally free. We’re without commercial interruption. We play the best damned music on the planet. The button is below.

The Button.

On Friday It’s an Isley Brothers ‘Spotlight’, Then ‘The Founders’ EP, and Closing With Dusty Springfield, May 16, 2025

Good morning, music lovers and welcome to the end of the work week. We’ve got a great lineup today starting with a brand new ‘Spotlight’ featuring The Isley Brothers!

Here’s your Friday musical lineup:

9:00 a.m. In the Spotlight: The Music of The Isley Brothers NEW!

The Isley Brothers’ career spanned seven decades and they are known as one of the most influential and diverse artists in R & B. They rose to prominence in 1959 with their song Shout, which has been covered by many artists. From there it was Twist & Shout, This Old Heart of Mine (Is Weak For You) before they released the Grammy Award-winner It’s Your Thing on their own record label. Today they’re in our ‘Spotlight.’ Enjoy.

1:00 p.m. The Founders: Various Artists

We spend the afternoon with the pioneers of rock n’ roll, including Big Mama Thornton, Elvis Presley, Bo Diddley, Hank Williams, Chuck Berry, Fats Domino, The Everly Brothers, Buddy Holly, Big Joe Turner, Hank Williams, Bill Haley & His Comets, Ray Charles, The Drifters, Carl Perkins, Roy Orbison, Robert Johnson, Eddie Cochran, Johnny Cash and more!

8:00 p.m. Dusty Springfield: The Lost British Recordings

We haven’t aired this one in a while. It’s a collection of songs recorded by Dusty in London, but never released in the U.S. until 1999, the year of her death. We think you’ll love it.

We’re almost at the weekend. One more day to get through, and we’ll be here with all this great music. Don’t forget, before, in between and after our programs, we’ve got our big, wide Open Stream! The button is below.

The Isley Brothers!

We Start Tuesday Bluesday in The Windy City, Then It’s Buddy Guy & SRV, and a Tedeschi Trucks ‘Spotlight’, April 22, 2025

Happy Tuesday Bluesday! We start the day with ‘The Best of Chicago Blues’, then it’s on to Buddy Guy & Stevie Ray Vaughan live in NY, and Tedeschi Trucks ‘In The Spotlight.’

Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi (center) are the musical power couple at the core of Tedeschi Trucks Band.

Here’s your Tuesday Bluesday lineup:

9:00 a.m. The Best of Chicago Blues: Various Artists

We hit the Windy City once again and listen to the tunes of Otis Rush, Willie Dixon, Albert King, Muddy Waters, Little Walter, Bo Diddley, Koko Taylor, Lowell Fulson, Howlin’ Wolf, Buddy Guy, Magic Slim, Sonny Boy Williamson, Son Seals, James Cotton, Paul Butterfield, Elmore James, Jimmy Reed, Otis Spann and more!

4:00 p.m. Buddy Guy & Stevie Ray Vaughan Live at The Lone Star Cafe, New York, NY, April 14, 1986

We’ve got Chicago Blues meeting Texas Blues today at NYC’s Lone Star Cafe!

8:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of The Tedeschi Trucks Band

We close out Tuesday Bluesday with the biggest, baddest-ass blues band on the planet, powered by the dynamic duo of premier blues vocalist/guitarist Susan Tedeschi and the best damned blues-rock guitarist on the planet in Derek Trucks. Always a stand-out and always a pleasure.

It’s a great day here in The Mermaid Lounge once again from beginning to end. Before, in between and after it’s our big, wide Open Stream. The button is below.

Tuesday Bluesday!

On Monday It’s ‘The Founders’, a Gordon Lightfoot ‘Spotlight’ and Traffic Live at The Fillmore East, March 17, 2025

Good morning, working class! We’re here on another Monday to brighten your day with some great music, starting off with the folks who helped deliver rock n’ roll!

Here’s your musical lineup:

9:00 a.m. The Founders: Various Artists

We start off by paying tribute to the founding artists of rock n’ roll, including Chuck Berry, Fats Domino, Little Richard, Bo Diddley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Elvis Presley, The Everly Brothers, Buddy Holly, Big Mama Thornton, Big Joe Turner, Hank Williams, Bill Haley & His Comets, Ray Charles, The Drifters, Roy Orbison, Robert Johnson, Carl Perkins, Eddie Cochran, Johnny Cash, Muddy Waters and more!

4:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of Gordon Lightfoot

Our friend from the north drops by this afternoon. He is one of the 20th century’s most respected songwriters and is a national hero in Canada. His songs have been covered by many artists over the years, but it’s always great to hear him sing them.

8:00 p.m. Traffic Live at The Fillmore East, New York, NY, November 18, 1970

We close out the day’s programming with a great performance by Steve Winwood and Traffic live at The Fillmore East.

And so we begin another week. The weekend always seems to blow by so quickly and the week drags on and on, particularly in these trying times. But we’re here to try to make it just a bit more tolerable. The button is below.

The Button.

Thursday Brings The Pioneers of Rock n’Roll, an Elton John ‘Spotlight’ and Live Townes Van Zandt, February 13, 2025

Here we go, folks, headed for the weekend. We celebrate ‘The Founders’, give EJ a ‘Spotlight’ feature and live Townes Van Zandt!

Here’s your Thursday lineup:

9:00 a.m. The Founders: Various Artists

The artists that forged the birth of Rock n’ Roll are with us today, including Chuck Berry, Fats Domino, Little Richard, Bo Diddley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Elvis Presley, The Everly Brothers, Buddy Holly, Big Mama Thornton, Big Joe Turner, Hank Williams, Bill Haley & His Comets, Ray Charles, The Drifters, Roy Orbison, Robert Johnson, Carl Perkins, Eddie Cochran, Johnny Cash, Muddy Waters and more!

4:00 p.m. In The Spotlight: The Music of Elton John

I sat up and took notice as soon as I heard Your Song, to this day one of the most incredible songs ever recorded. His career has stood the test of time.

8:00 p.m. Townes Van Zandt Live at The Old Quarter, Houston, TX, July 20, 1973

Many say that Townes Van Zandt is the only songwriter who can be mentioned in the same breath as Bob Dylan. I don’t get into those discussions. There have been many great songwriters. Townes Van Zandt is truly one of the greats.

Here we are once again as fascism knocks on our door louder every day. Tune us in, folks, for a break but, please, continue to fight and organize. Do not sit this one out. We’re on 24/7 and we’re totally free. We do not carry advertising. We do not support the oligarchy.

The Founders.