Forest City Joe was born Joe Bennie Pugh in Hughes, Arkansas close to the town of Forrest City from which he took his name but with one "r". He taught himself harmonica and played locally... more

One of the cornerstone figures of R&B and R&R, ANTOINE "FATS" DOMINO recorded 'The Fat Man' - the first million-selling Rock & Roll record - in December 1949, at the tender age of twenty-one. His... more

Pianist/vocalist/songwriter Camille Howard first came to prominence as an ensemble member of Roy Milton's Solid Senders, in the 1940s. One of the very finest blues piano players of the era, she was... more

The 'boy/girl' duet partnership was an integral component of black American music in the 1950s and 1960s, and a continuous presence on the charts throughout both decades. Some duos paired existing... more

Pianist Roosevelt Sykes was a true star of both the pre and post war eras of rhythm & blues and there's little disagreement that Sykes was one of the most influential and pioneering of urban blues... more

The two-part jukebox smash "Gator Tail" gave this R&B sax blaster (and teenage prodigy) the nickname he'd keep all his life. These rocked the house well over half a century ago and you'd better... more

The latest instalment of Jasmine's blues and R&B musicians "In Session" presents the great Chicago saxophonist Oett "Sax" Mallard. Of the hundreds of recordings he made just 26 have been chosen... more

"I've been called a blues singer, a jazz singer, and a ballad singer - well, I'm all three, which means I'm just a singer". That is a quote that Helen Humes was fond of using throughout her career.... more