PigzFromaGun

Episode 12: Black Night by Charles Brown

Charles Brown sang the blues and sympathized with the "brothers in Korea" in this 1951 R&B hit. Learn all about it in this episode!

Episode 10: Cold Cold Heart by Hank Williams

We started this podcast off with Hank Williams, and for episode 10 we return to his tragic tale. And one of his most gut-wrenching songs just happens to be this one, where marital bliss turns into marital heartbreak.
Note: Apologies for any minor audio glitches, I'm working through some issues with my mic right now)

Episode 9: My Reverie by The Larks

How does a gospel group flip their image and become an R&B act? And how does a man who caught a horrible break early in life go on to become an underrated singing legend? All of that is discussed in this week's episode on The Larks.

Episode 8: Rocket 88 by Jackie Brenston and His Delta Cats

The group known as Jackie Brenston and His Delta Cats are often credited as making the first "rock 'n roll" song. In this episode, I explore just how true that claim is! I discuss both "Rocket 88", and other songs in early rock history.

Episode 7: Sixty Minute Man by Billy Ward and His Dominoes

While it was recorded in December of 1950, no R&B song defined 1951 quite like this smash from Billy Ward and his Dominoes. Its salacious lyrics and vocal harmonies meant that the early brewings of both rock 'n roll and doo music were entering the mainstream. Here's the story of how the Dominoes were formed and made this song!

Episode 6: Goodnight Irene by The Weavers

How do you go from a #1 hit for 13 straight weeks to being completely blacklisted within a couple years? Well, just ask The Weavers about that. They had some controversial political beliefs, yet were very musically knowledgable folkies. And they drew inspiration from a lot of places!

Episode 5: Good Morning Judge by Wynonie Harris

The original wild child of rock 'n roll is one Wynonie Harris. He started the rock revolution in 1948 with his tune "Good Rocking Tonight", which happens to be my intro song! But he was cooking up something even more spicy just a couple years later.

Episode 4: If You've Got The Money (I've Got The Time) by Lefty Frizzell

As they say in "A Boy Named Sue", Lefty Frizzell grew up quick and he grew up mean! He was performing in honky tonks around the South, drinking and partying, and even getting into trouble for being a creep. But his redemption arc came when as a 23-year old budding star, he had this #1 country hit.

Episode 3: Count Every Star by The Ravens

While the start of my podcast is in the year 1950, The Ravens owe a lot to their vocal group forefathers. These include The Ink Spots, The Mills Brothers, and even the Orioles. With their powerful bass singer Jimmy Ricks leading the way, they had a great start to their career in the late 40s. But it's this pop song made into an early doo masterpiece that gets the spotlight in today's episode. 

Episode 2: Mona Lisa by Nat King Cole

Is she warm, is she real, or is she just a cold and lonely, lovely work of art? The "she" in question is the Mona Lisa. And the singer trying to figure that out is the legendary Nat King Cole. This episode tells the story of that song, as well as the early career of Cole throughout the 1940s.