Swear to Tell the Truth for Tuesday, September 13th (1:00 to 2:30pm)
We’ve tried to cover the classic R&B of the forties and early fifties on this radio program as much as, or even more than, other periods in blues history. For us, R&B was the important blues of its era even as other forms of blues persisted and evolved alongside the new amalgam of blues and jazz music. On this week’s feature we will try to trace the direction of the music from the pre-war years, through the wartime period when two particular circumstances–the musicians strike of 1942-1944 and the wartime shortage of shellac needed for pressing 78 discs–combined to limit the amount of recording that took place; then, with the resumption of recording activity, through to the end of 1946. On the program some of the biggest names in R&B, some recognized during the years 1939-1946, others not established as stars of the music until 1947 or later The end of 1946 is an appropriate time to stop. 1947 was something of a breakout year for R&B music and for the independent labels marketing it, even if the end of the year turned out to be another stopping point for the recording industry as James Petrillo’s American Federation of Musicians attempted to impose a second ban on recording, in defence of live music, commencing on January 1st, 1948.
On the Show:
Joe Liggins & His Honeydrippers – Buddy Johnson & His Orchestra – Joe Turner – Saunders King – Four Vagabonds – Hot Lips Page – Julia Lee – Wynonie Harris – Ivory Joe Hunter – Jack McVea’s All Stars -Johnny Moore’s Three Blazers – and others
Listen to the program at FM 93.3 in Hamilton, live on Cogeco Cable 288 or on CFMU online at cfmu.msumcmaster.ca. The program will be available to stream or download until October 11th.
Contact Us:
To reach us with comments or queries, write us at sweartotellthetruth@gmail.com.
You can also follow the program at sweartotellthetruth@nosignifying on Twitter.
Next week (September 13th)
TBA
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