Listen to the radio companion series to Martin Scorcese's PBS documentary on the blues, every Sunday at 6 p.m. through December 28.In honor of 2003, the Year of the Blues, 89.1, WEMU, is broadcasting The Blues: The Radio Series, the companion series to Martin Scorcese?s PBS documentary, Sundays at 6:00 p.m., through Sunday, December 28. Portraits in Blue, which is normally carried at that time, has temporarily moved to Fridays at 11:00 p.m. Beale Street Caravan, regularly broadcast Friday nights, is on hiatus through the end of the year.
The thirteen-part series is hosted by Grammy Award-winning bluesman Keb? Mo? and produced by Robert Santelli, EMP Radio, and Ben Manilla, Ben Manilla Productions. The series is presented by WGBH Radio, Boston.
Each episode of this comprehensive chronicle includes a visit to a celebrated blues location. Venues such as the Delta Blues Museum, the Chess Studios in Chicago, and Beale Street in Memphis emphasize the music?s contemporary connections and establish a firm sense of place. Each program breathes life into blues history and culture with new and archival interviews from prominent artists, historians, and modern-day blues recordings. Each episode ends with a performance of a seminal blues song from a contemporary artist.
For details on the Year of the Blues, go to www.yearoftheblues.org.
Following is a list of each program and its air date on 89.1, WEMU:
Episode 1: ?The Birth of the Blues? September 28
Episode 2: ?Goin? Up the Country: October 5
Episode 3: ?Tain?t Nobody?s Business If I Do? October 12
Episode 4: ?Standin? at the Crossroads? October 26*
Episode 5: ?Mystery Train? November 2
Episode 6: ?Sweet Home Chicago? November 9
Episode 7: ?Key to the Highway? November 16
Episode 8: ?Blues Power? November 23
Episode 9: ?Bring it On Home: November 30
Episode 10: ?Gimme Back My Wig? December 7
Episode 11: ?Texas Flood? December 14
Episode 12: ?When Love Comes to Town: December 21
Episode 13: ?Future Blues? December 28
*Note: due to the WEMU pledge drive, the program will not air on October 19