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Blue Ballads with Charles Brown.

A live concert with songwriter and pianist Charles Brown. Charles Brown is one of the most original artists in blues history. He's credited with creating an expressive style of blues that blended rough Texas blues with the soft glamour of Hollywood. This approach was dubbed "Club Blues." Between 1946 and 1952, Brown recorded 20 hits, nine on his own, the rest as part of Johnny Moore's Blazers. These include "Driftin' Blues," "Black Night," "Merry Christmas, Baby" and "I Want to Go Home," which Sam Cooke later reworked with "Bring It On Home To Me." Musicians who have been influenced by Brown, or paid homage to him, include Ray Charles, Otis Redding, James Brown, Sam Cooke, Billy Eckstein and Bruce Springsteen. Brown's featured role in the PBS documentary on the history of rhythm and blues have brought him back into the public eye. (Rebroadcast. Original date 6/22/89).

23:47
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Other segments from the episode on November 23, 1989

Fresh Air with Terry Gross, November 23, 1989: Interview with Charles Brown; Commentary on TK Studios; Interview with Rick Bass; Review of the film "Back to the Future II."
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06:56

Miami Was the Home of an Early Disco Label.

Rock critic Ed Ward profiles Miami's TK Studios. In the mid-70s, TK cranked out some of the biggest hits of the disco era, such as "Rock Your Baby" by George McCrae and "That's the Way I Like It" by K.C. and the Sunshine Band.

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11:10

The Thrill of Finding Oil.

Author Rick Bass. His new book, Oil Notes, is a journal based on Bass' experience as a geologist looking for oil throughout the American West. Bass has also written short stories, essays, and environmental journalism. (Rebroadcast. Original date 7/11/89).

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27:39

Blue Ballads with Charles Brown

A live concert with songwriter and pianist Charles Brown. Brown is credited with creating an expressive style of blues that blended rough Texas blues with the soft glamour of Hollywood. Between 1946 and 1952, Brown recorded 20 hits, nine on his own, the rest as part of Johnny Moore's Blazers. He is featured in a new PBS documentary on the history of rhythm and blues.

Interview

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