Mary McCann

In honor of Black History Month, we are taking a look into the career highlights of African American artists and their contribution to the world of jazz and blues.

A big talent and a big man took a long time to launch his music career. He was close to 40 when he started making records, and within eight years he’d been awarded two Grammy Awards and earned fans all over the world. He has made his mark with compassion and humor and a special jazz hat. Here’s a story about Gregory Porter. It starts in wretched poverty and there is no end to how far he’ll go.

Blues guitarist and vocalist Elvin Bishop recently stopped by the KPLU performance studios and, as is usual with an Elvin Bishop show, a good time was had by all.  

In the mid-1960s Elvin was a founding member of the highly influential Paul Butterfield Blues Band. Since then Elvin's made a number of recording as a group leader.  

His latest is called "Can't Even Do Wrong Right." In this performance/interview hosted by Mary McCann, Bishop performs that title track as well as another original composition, "Old School." The band also gave us their beautiful rendition of the Percy Mayfield classic, "River's Invitation."

Grammy Award-winning trumpeter and New Orleans native Terence Blanchard and his sextet stopped by the KPLU Seattle studios for a performance and interview hosted by jazz host, Mary McCann. 

Watch the group perform the title track off his latest album, Magnetic. 

During the 1960s there was a golden age of soul music in America. Some of the greatest songs from that era came from the Stax Recording Studio in Memphis, Tennessee. A short list of artists who recorded there could include Otis Redding, Rufus Thomas, Sam & Dave and the instrumental band led by Hammond organist, Booker T. Jones—Booker T. And The M.G.s.