Soul and R&B

Rock historian Ed Ward looks at Smokey Robinson's early recordings, when he was the lead singer of Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, and one of Motown's top acts.

Rock Critic Ken Tucker reviews "Introducing The Hardline According to Terrence Trent D'Arby," the most recent album by British rock and soul singer Terrence Trent D'Arby.

Rock historian Ed Ward profiles Dike and the Blazers, a group that played in the mid-60s and put Phoenix on the Soul map.

Rock historian Ed Ward will explore the gospel roots of soul great Sam Cooke.

Rock Critic Ken Tucker reviews "Characters," the new album by Stevie Wonder on which he plays every instrument.

Rock historian Ed Ward profiles James Carr, the little-known 60s soul singer, thought to have been the equal of Otis Redding and Wilson Picket.

Musician Allen Toussaint. For over twenty years he's been a force in New Orleans rhythm and blues as a singer, songwriter and piano player. He wrote hits such as "Working in a Coal Mine," written for Lee Dorsey, and "Mother in Law," written for Ernie K. Doe.

Country blues guitarist Moses Rascoe will perform a few songs.

Rock historian Ed Ward plays songs by several top soul stars who got their start imitating Little Richard.

Chicago-based composer, arranger and tenor saxophonist Edward Wilkerson. He leads the big band Shadow Vignettes, whose 1986 album, "Birth of a Notion," was on most jazz critic's lists as one of the top ten albums of that year. In Wilkerson's newest album, titled "Eight Bold Souls," he leads a smaller group, an octet.

Rock critic Ken Tucker reviews "Letters from Mississippi", a new album from Eddie Hinton that blends rock, soul and rhythm and blues.

Country and blues guitarist Moses Rascoe returns to sing a few more songs.

Rock historian Ed Ward profiles Hank Ballard and the Midnighters, best known for their sexually suggestive songs in the 50s about "Annie," a woman of dubious reputation.

Rock historian Ed Ward profiles Little Willie John, an unrecognized rhythm and blues singer in the 50s who recorded the song "Fever" long before Peggy Lee made it a pop hit.

Rock historian Ed Ward profiles the career of versatile Texas rock n' roller Doug Sahm, including the night in 1952 when he performed while sitting on the lap of Hank Williams, and his escapades as the leader of The Sir Douglas Quintet, a group of southerners who tried to convince the public they were British.

Rock historian Ed Ward profiles the career of soul great Percy Sledge. Ed says there was much more to Sledge than his hit "When a Man Loves a Woman."

Rock historian Ed Ward profiles Louis Jordan. Between 1930 and 1950, Jordan spearheaded the rhythm and blues sound. He was one of the very first crossover artists, appealing to both blacks and whites. Ed focuses on the Louis Jordan who pioneered rap music.

Rock Critic Ken Tucker reviews three albums by older black male vocalists who are trying their hand at new genres, or trying to extend the traditions they first performed in. The albums are "Forever and Ever," the second solo album by Howard Hewett, a former singer with the black rhythm and blues group Shalamar, "On the Strength," by the rap group Grandmaster Flash, and "I Need Money Bad," by John Whitehead.

Rock historian Ed Ward profiles Alan Freed, one of the most famous, and most notorious, disc jockeys of the 50s and 60s. Freed was one of the first disc jockeys on a mainstream station (WJW in Cleveland) to play the black rhythm and blues that was the foundation of early rock and roll.

Rock historian Ed Ward profiles the work of TK Productions, the Miami recording company that in the mid-70s brought out acts like K.C. and the Sunshine Band ("That's the Way I Like it" and "Get Down Tonight"), George McRae ("Rock Your Baby") and Betty Wright ("Where is the Love"), musicians who combined classic southern rhythm and blues with the up-tempo beat of disco.