Good Morning POU! Today's open thread is dedicated to the spirituals sung by slaves as a code to direct the passengers of The Underground Railroad. Perhaps the best known use of spirituals in the service of freedom during the slave period was the imbedding of “hidden” or coded messages in song lyrics for the purpose of clandestine (secret) communication on the Underground … [Read more...] about Sunday Open Thread: Songs of The Underground Railroad
Etta James
Wednesday Afternoon Thread: Your Blues Ain’t Like Mine
Big Mama Thornton - Ball and Chain … [Read more...] about Wednesday Afternoon Thread: Your Blues Ain’t Like Mine
Tuesday Afternoon Thread: Chess Records
In 1955, on a vacation trip to Chicago a young singer and guitar player from St. Louis named Chuck Berry met Muddy Waters, who encouraged him to see the Chess brothers. Chuck Berry auditioned for them with a song he had written called "Ida Red", Leonard and Phil liked the song but suggested a name change, the song was renamed "Maybellene" and became the first of his many Top 40 … [Read more...] about Tuesday Afternoon Thread: Chess Records
Sunday Open Thread: Sunday Jazz Brunch
GOOD MORNING P.O.U.! As you enjoy your Sunday breakfast/brunch, enjoy the sounds of the late, great Etta James singing "A Sunday Kind of Love": … [Read more...] about Sunday Open Thread: Sunday Jazz Brunch
Wednesday Open Thread
Good morning and Happy Hump Day P.O.U. Fam! The Chicago Soul series continues today with the legendary Etta James --- one of the most dynamic jazz, gospel, r&b, rock, and soul singers in music today. Etta James was born Jamesette Hawkins in Los Angeles in 1938. Though brought up in the church, she was drawn to rhythm & blues and rock and roll. By her mid-teens, … [Read more...] about Wednesday Open Thread