The Blues Alley Podcast

Before Rosa Parks, there was another Rosa Parks, a Memphian named Ida B Wells. Wells was a school teacher - turned journalist - turned activist. Predictably her anti-lynching articles, and speeches enraged southern whites. We’ll tell you the whole amazing story on this Special Rabbit Hole Edition of AEWorks Blues Alley Podcast.

Blues music has been around for well over a hundred years. In the 21st century, we have the same relationship to W.C. Handy, that he had to Beethoven. It’s time to begin looking at the founders of blues as the American corollaries of Bach, Beethoven, and Mozart. The Blues Alley Podcast, is more than just the story of the founders. It’s also about the places and environment that they lived in, because art, literature, science, technology, even economics – all influence music and vice versa. The Blues Alley takes a look at all of these elements, and how they each contributed to the rise of American Music. It’s an inspiring story. One you won't believe, but one you will love.

Did you know that the story of American music, as we know it today, began at a tiny train station in a now mostly forgotten town called Tutwiler, MS? We’ll tell you the whole amazing story on AEWorks Blues Alley Podcast.

Just like the legendary crossroad in the Mississippi delta, the corner of Main Street and Madison Avenue in Memphis, TN, is its own kind of crossroad. It’s also one of the most important places in the history of American music. We’ll tell you the whole amazing story on the AEWorks Blues Alley Podcast.

Department stores are a waning institution in 21st century American culture. But, without them there might not be American music at all. We’ll tell you the whole amazing story on the AEWorks Blues Alley Podcast.

Handy had written a hit in Memphis Blues, but could he keep it? There’s a fine line between business and theft in Jim Crow Memphis. We’ll tell you the whole amazing story on the AEWorks Blues Alley Podcast.

Handy had a hit… but could he write another? And, why was he still playing gigs for six dollars a night? We’ll tell you the whole amazing story on the AEWorks Blues Alley Podcast.

Broadway bound, Handy faced a whole new set of problems. We’ll tell you the rest of his amazing story on this episode of AEWorks Blues Alley Podcast.

Founded by Chester Pond, the Yazoo & Delta Railway began service in 1897, running from Ruleville, Mississippi - population 336, to an empty spot in the middle of the delta. So why would a tiny town need it’s own railroad? And why was it called the Dog? We’ll tell you the whole amazing story on the AEWorks Blues Alley Podcast.