Jazz Articles about Louis Jordan

About Louis Jordan

Groove Orbit

The !!!!Beat: The Rise And Fall Of The "Hippest Show On Television"

by Kyle Simpler
February 25, 2026

During the mid-1960s, American television programming often featured syndicated music variety shows. While many of the programs featured country and western artists, performers like Porter Wagoner and The Wilburn Brothers did not completely dominate the airwaves. In fact, there were plenty of rock and roll programs like Sump'n Else, Shivaree or Upbeat, showcasing rock and pop artists who were getting airplay on radio stations. While some r&b and soul musicians made appearances, the artists featured were predominantly white.

Radio & Podcasts

Bebop’s Twin: Rhythm and Blues (1939 - 1951)

by Russell Perry
April 16, 2019

Some of the same forces that launched Bebop as a break from Big Band Swing, also fueled the birth of Rhythm and Blues—the rise of independent labels in the wake of the recording ban of 1942— 1944, the economic infeasibility of touring with 16-member orchestras, the decline of dance halls in the aftermath of the war, and the rise of juke boxes and radio as primary entertainment media. Bebop and R&B also shared the big bands as a common pool ...