Episode 41: The Rise of Soul Music

12/06/24 • 119 min

Soul music’s roots come from the urbanization and commercialization of rhythm and blues in the late fifties and early sixties. Young black musicians, often nurtured in black churches, enjoyed and listened to R&B sounds and began a fusion of R&B, blues and gospel that would later take on the moniker “soul music”. The term “soul” had been used in African American culture, particularly among musicians, to emphasize the feelings of power, spirit and creativity found in its culture. Regional acts and labels took this genre into different directions that included, among other things, vocal interplay, gospel rhythms and themes that were translated from the sacred to the secular, all with mix heavy on standard rock or brass rhythm sections. The blend and variety brought out the contrasting tones of grit and pop-infused sounds. From Sam Cooke to James Brown and Etta James to Brenda Holloway...we’ll take a journey through the rise of soul music.

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Episode 40: Spinnin' The Fifties

The 1950s were an incredibly vibrant decade for music, clearly a reflection of a post-war energy and relief. Urban jazz, the bright lights of broadway, and the crooning magic moments that lept off the silver screen were a paradox to the golden age of country music, the passionate rhythm of swing and R&B and, of course, the new audiences celebrating youth at sock hops, malt shops and sleepovers. It was an age of celebration and discovery if you were young; an age of culture shock if you weren’t. This week on Deeper Roots, we’ll tiptoe through the sounds of Dave Brubeck, Dion, Johnny Cash, Chuck Berry and a host of others who planted their flag in the decade of the fifties. An unusual playlist for sure. Drop on by and try to get past the fact that Black Friday will soon be over and holiday madness gets into full swing.

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Episode 42: Heaven and Hell

On this Friday the 13th, our show takes on the constructs of heaven and hell as its chosen theme. Songs that explore the debatable and sometimes fantastical concepts that, while they vary significantly across cultures and tradition, still remain human constructs rather than universal truths. Or are they? I sure don’t know and I doubt that you do. They have no doubt been formed as symbolic or metaphorical ideas formulated to help humankind find a straight path to that ‘great morning’...or something like that anyway. We’re not here to practice heresy or blasphemy, only to observe...and there’s plenty of music to call this theme one of mixed metaphors. Tune in for some Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Eric Clapton, Solomon Burke, Bill Neely and a whole crowd of other sinners and saints pounding out the concepts of heaven and hell in song with melodies both fierce and solemn. Tune in for quite the time.