The Thacker Mountain Radio Hour continues its spring 2024 season with a fascinating history of the song, “Hound Dog;” cool original tunes from New Orleans and beyond; a new soulful, R&B band PLUS, the first 2024 appearance of our Thacker Big Band:
Guests:
Author: Ben Wynne – “A Hound Dog Tale: Big Mama, Elvis, and the Song That Changed Everything”
Music: NOLA songwriter Shawn Williams and R&B with The New Eclipse Band
Hosts: Jim Dees with Paul Tate and the Yalobushwhacker Big Band with the Thacker Horns and vocalist Mary Frances Massey!
Air times:
Friday, Feb. 16 – 6 am (CT) WYXR 91.7 FM Memphis, TN
Saturday, Feb. 17 – 3 pm (ET) WUTC 88.1 FM Chattanooga, TN
7pm (CT) Mississippi Public Broadcasting
9pm (CT) Alabama Public Radio
Sunday, Feb. 18
3 pm (ET) WUOT | 91.9 FM, Knoxville
2 pm (MT) KNCE 93.5 | Taos, New Mexico
The release of the song “Hound Dog” in 1953 marked a turning point in American popular culture.
Ben Wynne’s A Hound Dog Tale (LSU Press) discusses the stars who made this rock ‘n’ roll standard famous, from Willie Mae “Big Mama” Thornton to Elvis Presley, along with an eclectic cast of characters, including singers, songwriters, record producers and even a gangster or two.
A Hound Dog Tale captures the imagination of anyone who has ever tapped a foot to the growl of a blues riff or the bark of a rock ‘n’ roll guitar.
Hailing from the melting pot of New Orleans, Shawn Williams, calls her music, “alt-rocka countrybilly, serial killer blues,” her own brand of Americana-noir.
Her latest album, her fifth, is Sulking in Love, produced by Grammy winner Mark Howard (Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Neville Brothers).
“… aching twangy southern soul.” – Glide Magazine
“swampy Americana meets late night, seedy underbelly vibe…” – The Slow Music Movement
Wallowin’ in the Night, her previous record, features The Iguanas and adds a new dimension to Williams’ musical mix, unfolding like a soundtrack to the long, lonely hours after midnight.
“I’ve always been drawn to dark themes,” she explains. “Maybe it comes from being in New Orleans. Maybe it comes from my love of the desert. It just flows out of me from somewhere else.”
The New Eclipse Band specializes in contemporary R&B, neo-soul, pop, Old School styles as well as strong originals.
Kim Youngblood (pictured) is the lead vocalist for this collective fronted by Jason Texada on keyboard with Tony Pegues (guitar), Mond Williams (bass) and Jaden Pegues (drums).
