Echoes of Indiana Avenue

John W. Bubbles and Todd Duncan had deep roots on the Indiana Avenue scene, and both were featured in the original cast of George Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess. Explore their lives and music on the latest episode of Echoes of Indiana Avenue. John W. Bubbles was a streetwise song and dance man who became a star of the vaudeville stage as a young man on the Avenue. Bubbles created the role of Sportin’ Life in Porgy and Bess. Todd Duncan was a classically trained vocalist who studied at Butler University and broke racial barriers in the world of opera. Duncan was George Gershwin’s original Porgy.

During the 20th Century, many African American musicians found greater interest and opportunity for their work in Europe. Some African American artists also found greater freedom in Europe, as they sought an escape from the Jim Crow racism of the United States. This week on Echoes of Indiana Avenue, listen to music and interviews from Indianapolis musicians who lived and worked in Europe. including Slide Hampton, Paul Weeden, Charles Tyler, Claudia Polley, George Chandler and The Presidents.

The I Made Rock and Roll festival is coming to Downtown Indianapolis this month. I Made Rock and Roll honors Black artistry and authorship in rock music by celebrating Black rock musicians of the past and present. Indiana Avenue played a significant role in the development of rock and roll. Chuck Berry, Little Richard, and Fats Domino played their first Indiana concerts on the Avenue. The Avenue music scene also produced homegrown rock and roll stars, including Thurston Harris and Bobby Lewis. Join us this week on Echoes of Indiana Avenue for a tribute to the Black rock and roll legends of Indianapolis, from the doo-wop sounds of The Counts, to the psychedelic funk of Ebony Rhythm Band.

This week on Echoes of Indiana Avenue, join us for the final episode in our three-part series celebrating the music of guitarist Steve Weakley, one of the greatest living legends of Indianapolis music, and a founding member of Funk Inc. On this week’s episode, Weakley will discuss his work in Lafayette, Indiana with artists including Tony Zamora, and the Sisters of Thunder. And he’ll share his thoughts on the legacy of Indiana Avenue.

This week on Echoes of Indiana Avenue, join us for the second episode in our three-part series celebrating the music of guitarist Steve Weakley, one of the greatest living legends of Indianapolis music. This week’s episode will focus on his work with the soul jazz band Funk Inc. Weakley was still a teenager when he joined the band around 1970. The music of Funk Inc. attained great popularity during the early '70s. Funk Inc. scored hits on both the jazz and R&B charts. Their 1973 album “Hangin’ Out” appeared on Billboard’s top 10 jazz albums chart. Funk Inc. are also one of the most sampled bands in the history of rap music. Their 1971 recording of "Kool is Back" has been sampled over 500 times by artists including Jay-Z, Ice T, Yes, Sting, Aphex Twin, Beastie Boys, TLC and more.

This week on Echoes of Indiana Avenue, join us for the first episode in our three-part series celebrating the music of guitarist Steve Weakley, one of the greatest living legends of Indianapolis music. Weakley grew up in the Indiana Avenue neighborhood and began playing in local clubs as a teenager. He’s best known for his work with the soul jazz band Funk Inc. The music of Funk Inc. attained great popularity during the early '70s. Funk Inc. scored hits on both the jazz and R&B charts. Funk Inc. are also one of the most sampled bands in the history of rap music. Their 1971 recording of "Kool is Back" has been sampled over 500 times by some of the most famous artists in hip-hop music. Outside of his work with Funk Inc., Weakley has recorded with artists including Billy Wooten, Rob Dixon, and Tony Zamora.

Earlier this year, the legendary Indianapolis jazz drummer and entrepreneur Albert Coleman died. He was 96 years old. During his career in music, Coleman played with legendary Avenue musicians, including Wes Montgomery, Leroy Vineggar and Jimmy Coe. But Coleman is best known for his work with The 3 Souls, a jazz trio he co-founded in the late 1950s. This week on Echoes of Indiana Avenue, we’ll celebrate the life of Albert Coleman with an hour of music from The 3 Souls. Albert Coleman was born in Indianapolis in 1927. He graduated from Crispus Attucks High School and studied music at the Jordan Conservatory. In addition to his work in music, Coleman was also a celebrated entrepreneur. He owned a vending machine company, a car wash and the Cole-Smith Manor motel. But Coleman’s best known business venture was Al’s British Lounge, an Indiana Avenue nightclub Coleman took ownership of in 1969. The British Lounge has been called the last great jazz club on the Avenue. Coleman also gave back to his community. In 1978, Coleman and his wife Anna opened the Jacer Inn Family Retreat in Rochdale, Indiana. The Jacer Inn retreat offered a variety of health and social services to inner-city residents.

This week on Echoes of Indiana Avenue, learn about the life and music of Enoch “Sonny Boy” Williams, a rhythm & blues pianist and vocalist from Indianapolis. Williams cut a series of popular R&B recordings for Decca Records during the early 1940s. He’s best remembered for his 1943 single “Reverse the Charges”. That song was a minor hit for Williams and was covered by artists including Bud Powell and Etta Jones. Williams was born in London, Kentucky in 1917, but he was raised in Indianapolis. Williams began performing in 1935. He appeared often at Avenue venues, including The Cotton Club, The Rhumboogie, and Sunset Terrace.

This week on Echoes of Indiana Avenue, learn about the history of Merging Traffic, an influential jazz fusion band that thrived in Indianapolis during the 1970s. Listen to interviews with Merging Traffic members Kenny Simms, George Benn, and Ricky Knox. Also, hear rare unreleased recordings from the group. Indianapolis music critics raved about Merging Traffic’s sound, and audiences packed local venues to hear the band. By all appearances, Merging Traffic were destined for national success, but the band split apart during the early 1980s. Merging Traffic will be reuniting for one night only at the Jazz Kitchen on April 10th.

This week on Echoes of Indiana Avenue, celebrate Women’s History Month with music from the “Boogie Woogie Queen” Christine Chatman. Chatman was born in Jackson, Tennessee in 1920 and she began playing piano at age 3. By age 15 Chatman was performing professionally and at 18 she was touring the midwest with the Leake Brothers Combo. During the early 1940s Chatman began living and working in Indianapolis. She started her own band and signed a contract with the Ferguson Brother’s Talent Agency, an artist management company based in the Indiana Avenue neighborhood. In 1944 Chatman released her debut single “Naptown Boogie”, a tribute to the city that helped launch her career. Join us this week to learn more about the life and music of Christine Chatman.