Juke In The Back

Matt The Cat

At the end of the Second World War, economics forced the big bands to trim their once great size and thus, the Jump Blues combo was born. Between 1946-1954, rhythm and blues laid the tracks for what was to become Rock n’ Roll. So how come, 75 years later, this vibrant and influential music is still so unknown to so many? Matt The Cat is going to change that with the radio program, “Juke In The Back.” These were the records that you couldn’t hear on the jukebox in the front of the establishment. To hear all this great 1950s rhythm & blues, you had to go to “Juke In The Back.”

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  1. 2시간 전

    Episode #835 – Imperial Records, Pt. 8 – 1956, Pt. 1

    Air Week: May 4-10, 2026 Imperial Records, Pt. 8 – 1956, Pt. 1 Imperial Records was a major player among the indie labels of the late 1940s and the entirety of the 1950s. Started in Los Angeles in 1946 by Lew Chudd, a Canadian raised in Harlem, Imperial began filling the ethnic and cultural voids left by the majors at the time. Chudd knew there was a large market for Latino Music in America, so he headed to Mexico City and recorded some Mexican jump bands that sold very well. He then included square dance records which also racked up sales as now square dances could be held without callers. He began recording Rhythm & Blues in 1947 and by ’49, he had hired Dave Bartholomew to scout talent in fertile New Orleans. The Braun Brother had beat him to The Crescent City by recording Paul Gayten and Annie Laurie first, but with Bartholomew’s help, Chudd was able to sign Fats Domino, Smiley Lewis, Archibald and Jewel King, dominating the New Orleans R&B scene. This week, we continue our Imperial series with part eight, focusing on Imperial’s R&B releases from the first half of 1956. Fats Domino keeps the momentum going after breaking through to the Pop Charts in 1955 with “Ain’t It A Shame.” In early ’56, he scores with “Bo Weevil, “My Blue Heaven” and “I’m In Love Again” and will have the biggest hit of his entire career later in the year. Bobby Mitchell leaves to The Toppers to become a solo star and scores the only charting record of his entire career this year with “Try Rock and Roll.” Dave Bartholomew is behind Mitchell’s breakout record as well as 2 charting singles for Smiley Lewis the year and more great releases from The Spiders, who are now being billed at Chuck Carbo & The Spiders. Out in LA, Imperial is still making some great vocal group records with the Jewels and The Barons and Matt The Cat keeps those records spinning as he features part eight of the Imperial Records Story on this week’s “Juke In The Back.” LISTEN BELOW

    59분
  2. 4월 26일

    Episode #834 – Imperial Records, Pt. 7 – 1955, Pt. 2

    Air Week: April 27-May 3, 2026 Imperial Records, Pt. 7 – 1955, Pt. 2 Imperial Records was a major player among the indie labels of the late 1940s and the entirety of the 1950s. Started in Los Angels in 1946 by Lew Chudd, a Canadian raised in Harlem, Imperial began filling the ethnic and cultural voids left by the majors at the time. Chudd knew there was a large market for Latino Music in America, so he headed to Mexico City and recorded some Mexican jump bands that sold very well. He then included square dance records which also racked up sales as now square dances could be held without callers. He began recording Rhythm & Blues in 1947 and by ’49, he had hired Dave Bartholomew to scout talent in fertile New Orleans. The Braun Brother had beat him to The Crescent City by recording Paul Gayten and Annie Laurie first, but with Bartholomew’s help, Chudd was able to sign Fats Domino, Smiley Lewis, Archibald and Jewel King, dominating the New Orleans R&B scene. This week, we continue our Imperial series with part seven, focusing on Imperial’s R&B releases from the second half of 1955. Last week in the first part of 1955, Matt The Cat alluded to Fats Domino’s big crossover breakthrough and in June it happened when “Ain’t It A Shame” topped the R&B chart and crossed over to a whopping #10 on the Pop chart. It became the biggest selling R&B record of 1955 and along with Chuck Berry’s “Maybellene” helped to usher in Rock n’ Roll. Though 1955 was a strong year for Fats, Dave Bartholomew, The Spiders and Imperial’s New Orleans roster, the Los Angeles vocal groups were also making a dent with The Barons and The Jewels having a few solid releases. Blues legend Roosevelt Sykes stops by Imperial for a quick few singles, while guitarist Jimmy Nolen gives us a glimpse of his future greatness. Matt The Cat keeps those records spinning as he features part seven of the Imperial Records Story on this week’s “Juke In The Back.”  LISTEN BELOW

    59분
  3. 4월 19일

    Episode #833 – Imperial Records, Pt. 6 – 1955, Pt. 1

    Air Week: April 20-26, 2026 Imperial Records, Pt. 6 – 1955, Pt. 1 Imperial Records was a major player among the indie labels of the late 1940s and the entirety of the 1950s. Started in Los Angels in 1946 by Lew Chudd, a Canadian raised in Harlem, Imperial began filling the ethnic and cultural voids left by the majors at the time. Chudd knew there was a large market for Latino Music in America, so he headed to Mexico City and recorded some Mexican jump bands that sold very well. He then included square dance records which also racked up sales as now square dances could be held without callers. He began recording Rhythm & Blues in 1947 and by ’49, he had hired Dave Bartholomew to scout talent in fertile New Orleans. The Braun Brother had beat him to The Crescent City by recording Paul Gayten and Annie Laurie first, but with Bartholomew’s help, Chudd was able to sign Fats Domino, Smiley Lewis, Archibald and Jewel King, dominating the New Orleans R&B scene. This week, we continue our Imperial series with part six, focusing on Imperial’s R&B releases from the first half of 1955. We’re splitting 1955 up into 2 parts to really focus on this pivotal year for Imperial and the world of music in general. Rhythm & Blues was really hitting the mainstream in ’55 and beginning to get its new name, Rock ‘n Roll. Before Fats Domino crossed over later in the year, he enjoyed a few million-sellers in early ’55 with “Thinking Of Your” and “Don’t You Know.” He’d soon score one of the first true Rock n’ Roll hits a few months later with “Ain’t It A Shame.” Dave Bartholomew kept busy producing Fats’ records as well as putting out great singles from relatively unknowns like Joan Scott, The Hawks and Billy Tate. The Spiders continued to score hits in ’55 and Pee Wee Crayton was releasing some solid sides that unfortunately missed the national R&B charts. Matt The Cat keeps those records spinning as he features part six of the Imperial Records Story on this week’s “Juke In The Back.”  LISTEN BELOW

    59분
  4. 3월 8일

    Episode #827 – Live 1951: Midnight Matinee

    Air Week: March 9-15, 2026 Live 1951: Midnight Matinee This week, the “Juke In The Back” presents a unique program designed to put the listener in a front row seat for a live rhythm review performance. So often, we wonder what a live program would have been like before the dawn of Rock n’ Roll? Well, thanks to the preservation of this 2 week program in Los Angeles from late September and early October of 1951, we can catch a glimpse. Promoter Bill Lester intended to hold weekly midnight concerts at the Olympic Auditorium in downtown LA, but after 2 weeks, the late-night shows were scraped, due to the fact that they were losing money. Lester hired LA disc jockey, Hunter Hancock, who was a trailblazer in playing R&B on the radio to emcee the shows. Some of the biggest names in West Coast R&B performed; Big Jay McNeely, Floyd Dixon, Maxwell Davis and Peppermint Harris. What’s spectacular is the lesser-known talent; Madelyn Perkins, Ernie Andrews, Smilin’ Smokey Lynn and the Gospel group, the Golden Keys. Radio station KMPC agreed to air the first half hour of these 2 hour concerts, which should have led to greater promotion of the event, but alas, after 2 weeks it was done. We are so fortunate that Bill Lester recorded portions of these shows, so that 75 years later, we can still experience the excitement and joy of the music. Sit back as Matt The Cat takes you to the Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles for the Midnight Matinee, an exciting jaunt into the world of the live R&B review show. LISTEN BELOW

    59분
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At the end of the Second World War, economics forced the big bands to trim their once great size and thus, the Jump Blues combo was born. Between 1946-1954, rhythm and blues laid the tracks for what was to become Rock n’ Roll. So how come, 75 years later, this vibrant and influential music is still so unknown to so many? Matt The Cat is going to change that with the radio program, “Juke In The Back.” These were the records that you couldn’t hear on the jukebox in the front of the establishment. To hear all this great 1950s rhythm & blues, you had to go to “Juke In The Back.”

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