This week, Roy journeys back to the dawn of recorded sound, via the RRR shellac archives, for a salute to some early African American musical pioneers. Things kick off with a 1909 78 of “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot” from the Fisk Jubilee Singers. The show winds up in 1935 with Cleo Brown’s Decca disc of “When Hollywood Goes Black And Tan”.
In the middle, you’ll hear gems from Bert Williams (1921), Kokomo Arnold (1934), Jelly-Roll Morton’s Red-Hot Peppers (1926), Viola McCoy with Fletcher Henderson’s Jazz Five (1924), Cannon’s Jug Stompers (1928), Bill ‘Bojangles’ Robinson (1932), and more.
Tune in on Sunday for a salute to some Black musical pioneers at 78 rpm on Rooooy’s Record Room, the show that revolves and reveals. Fifteen years and counting.