What do the groundbreaking albums Nevermind, by Nirvana, and The Low End Theory, from A Tribe Called Quest, have in common? They were both released on the same day back in September of 1991. On the next World Cafe, radio host John Morrison stops by to tell the story of how these two records challenged and changed popular music. 

Morning Reflection at 6:25 AM: Brendan features a positive song to help get the day off on the good foot.

New Music feature at 7:25 AM: Brendan will play two new songs not yet heard on WUMB.

This Day in Music History at 7:50 AM: Albert Collins was born in 1932. We’ll play a 3-song set highlighting his legacy.

Local Spotlight at 8 AM: Billy Wylder.

Brandi Carlile knows how to draw an audience in, not just with her voice, but with her entire presence on stage. On the next World Cafe, she’ll share how Elton John taught her at a very young age about the importance of a good costume, and we’ll find out how she is working to change the face of country music. That, plus live recordings of songs from her new album, In These Silent Days.

This morning Albert O will feature sets of music for Artists celebrating Birthdays this week including two of the most recognized American songwriters ever…Paul Simon and Jackson Browne. There’s much more in store as well.

Today we remember the man Pete Seeger said was “more responsible than any other for the 20th-century folk song revival,” folklorist Alan Lomax, and how a Mississippi field hand who showed him his life’s purpose. Also, the secret codes in the songs, dances and games of enslaved people, and the iconic African-American singer who saved those secrets for us, Bessie Jones; the slave song that inspired “Blowin’ In the Wind;” and a Robert Burns song that may be the origin of the Mexican word “Gringo.”

We also have the Lone Star saga of songwriting legend Townes Van Zandt, including the classic song he wrote in his sleep. Also, how a little girl getting lost in a department store let the world hear finger-picking guitar legend Elizabeth Cotten; the song Tom Paxton wrote for the first Earth Day––and the first love song he wrote for his wife.

Alisa Amador is a connector. Her upcoming EP, Narratives, is a six-song snapshot in time. It’s a deep look at a person stumbling through life in two languages — English and Spanish — and in many states of mind about it all. Alisa’s crystal-clear vocals are so effortless throughout Narratives that it’s almost easy to forget how technically talented she is, until she moves from almost-spoken-word territory to a powerful chorus without hesitation or illustrates a repetitive refrain that’s so affecting it feels like you might want to live inside it for a little while.

Alisa has been learning these lessons since she began performing as a backup singer for her parents’ bilingual Latin folk band Sol y Canto at age five. This is where her ease with performing comes from; she and her twin brother grew up touring extensively with their parents’ band. Through their high school years, Alisa and her twin were often crammed into a minivan or backstage, loading in and out, and passing time by making styrofoam puppets out of coffee cups and stirrers.

Alisa began playing classical guitar at age 10, inspired by her father, and eventually found the electric guitar a decade later. The new instrument was versatile enough to honor her many influences and styles. “I was 19, and playing it felt like coming home.” When listening to Alisa’s music, her time spent immersed in Latin folk and jazz is undoubtedly present in her own songs, written in both English and Spanish. But there is also pop, funk, soul, and something uniquely her own. Alisa’s specialty is sparking connection, across both listeners and musical styles.

She’ll join Host Rob Hochschild and select the music for the entire hour.

This week live performances from Rodney Crowell, Amy Speace, Colin Hay and more.

We continue with eTown’s special 30th anniversary series, sharing highlights from each of our many seasons of programs. This week, we offer a full rerun of a very special show from 1999, featuring the iconic actor, musician and songwriter, Kris Kristofferson. Also sharing the etown stage this week is esteemed singer-songwriter Jesse Winchester. And we share an eChievement Award story from Binghamton, NY, chronicling the evolution of a clever, waste free and delicious way to feed the hungry

New Blues from Luther “Guitar Jr.” Johnson, Birthday tribute to Bob Margolin and much more.

Ray Charles, Junior Brown, Dale Watson, Justin Townes Earl, Loretta Lynn, Wanda Jackson are all featured.

As a global C-Suite level marketing star at 35yrs old, Annie Grace found herself drinking almost two bottles of wine a night.  Her life had become a daily battle for sobriety.   Her first book, “This Naked Mind”, broke down how alcohol changes us physically and mentally and how she was able to find freedom from alcohol.  Her latest endeavor, “The Alcohol Experiment”, aims to change problem drinking by teaching why we drink more than we want, how to change the expectations of drinking, and how to shift your mindset to control your drinking – if not alleviate it all together.

This Saturday Host Albert O. will pay tribute to Singer-Songwriter and Poet Leonard Cohen. Other triubtes include Ian Tyson, Bruce Springsteen, Roy Buchanan and more.

We continue to honor Scott Alarik’s legacy with Folk Tales. This week we take a further look at the life and impact of Lonnie Johnson.

Influential drummer Dave Mattacks joins us on this week’s episode of Guest Mix. He’ll select the music for an hour and select songs and artists that have influenced his career with Fairport Convention and more.

This week it’s live music from Drive By Truckers, Eilen Jewell, Charles Wesley Godwin and more

This week Holly Harris will pay tribute to the legendary Ray Charles along with Fenton Robinson, ZZ Hill and KoKo Taylor. Also New Blues from Willie J. Laws Jr., Bobby Rush and Mizz Lowe

Breakfast with the Beatles Album Side: Ram – Side 2

The great Texas river city is a mix of Mexican, German, Anglo and African American cultures, among others. Home to the Texas Conjunto Festival and the International Accordion Festival, San Antonio is best known for Tex-Mex or Tejano music played by squeeze box masters like Flaco Jimenez, Narciso Martinez and Mingo Saldivar among many. This week American Routes will speak with Flaco, who in collaborations with Doug Sahm, Ry Cooder, and Los Super Seven, has carried the music worldwide. “Chicano brown-eyed soul” performers like Sunny and the Sunliners and other groups describe music that connected New Orleans and Louisiana Swamp Pop with San Antonio and East Los Angeles.

American Routes will also talk with Vox organ legend Augie Meyers who worked in the high hippie era with Doug Sahm as part of the Sir Douglas Quintet and later in the Texas Tornadoes. The conversation comes full circle with Max Baca, the leader and bajo sexto player of Los Texmaniacs who was influenced by both Flaco and Doug Sahm. The Grammy-winning family band sticks with tradition, but finds ways to include country, blues and rock. Plus music from Sam the Sham, Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys, Freddy Fender and Willie Nelson. ¡Vamos!

This week Host Gail Gilmore will celebrate the birthdays of Eric Bogle and Dolores Keane.

Morning Reflection at 6:25 AM: Brendan features a positive song to help get the day off on the good foot.  

This Day in Music History at 7:30 AM: Ellie Greenwich was born on this day in 1940, Robert Plant and Alison Krauss released the Raising Sand LP on this day in 2007, and Speckled Red was born in 1892. 

Then and Now at 8:25 AM: Brendan will do a career spanning set featuring Nanci Griffith’s music.