His first professional gig came with his brothers as the Charles Ford Blues Band when they backed Charlie Musselwhite. From there Robben played with Jimmy Witherspoon, Miles Davis, Joni Mitchell, George Harrison, The L.A. Express, and others — all the while building his solo career.

Robben Ford is back with a new live CD called Soul on Ten. Recorded at San Francisco’s Independent Theater, it contains 8 tracks, plus two new songs recorded live in-studio.

In this podcast, Robben walks us through Soul on Ten.

Download the Robben Ford Soul on Ten Podcast or click player below to stream it now.

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Inspired in part by Sly Stone, in 1973 Herbie Hancock set out to make a funk album. With a heavy use of early synthesizers and no guitars, the jazz/funk hybrid became the first platinum jazz album (U.S. 1 million in sales). This podcast was originally produced for NPR when the album was inducted into the National Recording Registry at the Library of Congress.

Herbie Hancock Head Hunters

Mamie Smith was the first black performer to record the blues. Before 1920, it simply had not occurred. And the song, Crazy Blues, became a hit for Mamie after the originally scheduled performer, Sophie Tucker missed the session due to illness. The song sold 10,000 copies its first week and 75,000 within a month, paving the way for black musicians, and the black entertainment industry.

This podcast was originally produced for NPR and the Library of Congress when the song was inducted into the National Recording Registry in 2006.

In this podcast, we explore Are You Experienced, the first album from The Jimi Hendrix Experience. Featuring commentary from engineer Eddie Kramer, among others, the podcast was originally produced for NPR, when the album was inducted into the National Recording Registry at the Library of Congress.

Jimi Hendrix: Are You Experienced

Starting out as a gospel singer, Sam Cooke crossed over to the mainstream charts, landing sixteen Top 20 hits before he was killed at age 33. This podcast, featuring a conversation with Aretha Franklin, tells the story of A Change is Gonna Come. The podcast was originally produced in 2007 for NPR after the song was inducted into the National Recording Registry at the Library of Congress.

Download Sam Cooke: A Change is Gonna Come and click player below to stream.

Photo Courtesy Alligator Records

Koko Taylor, Queen of the Blues, passed away June 3 in Chicago. The cause was complications from surgery to stop gastrointestinal bleeding. She was 80 years old.

Daughter of a Tennessee sharecropper, Taylor got her big break in 1962 when Willie Dixon landed her a recording contract with Chess Records. Three years later, she sold a million copies of signature tune Wang Dang Doodle.

In this clip, from the House of Blues Radio Hour, Koko talks with Elwood Blues about how she got her nickname.

Koko Taylor: Queen of the Blues, Passes at Age 80 Podcast

Photo: Robert Krones/PBS

The Protest Singer: An Intimate Portrait of Pete Seeger

Celebrate the 90th birthday of American icon Pete Seeger with a brand new exclusive interview. Pete discusses his career, the view from 90, how music can still change the world, and his new book The Protest Singer. The book’s author, The New Yorker’s Alec Wilkinson, offers insights into the remarkable career of this national treasure — a man who took on red-baiters, racists, war-mongers, and polluters. Hosted by WFUV’s Rita Houston.

Pete Seeger : The Protest Singer Podcast

Image courtesy of the Library of Congress.

With free society, fascism, and racism among the many subtexts, the 1938 boxing match at Yankee Stadium is believed to be the largest radio audience in history – with some 70 million people tuning in on NBC Radio. This Podcast was produced for NPR after the song was inducted into the National Recording Registry at the Library of Congress.

In 1973, with the Wailers were on the verge of breaking up, they released Burnin’, an album that would indeed feature the final Wailers performances of Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer. Chris Blackwell and Rita Marley tell the story of Burnin’, an album that helped change how the world viewed reggae. This Podcast was produced for NPR after the album was inducted into the National Recording Registry at the Library of Congress.

Bob Marley and the Wailers Burnin’ Podcast

photo by Alan Light

Conan O’Brien, Bob Newhart, and others tell the story of the comedian’s debut album. Newhart was signed to Warner Bros. Records before he had ever performed a club date. This Podcast was produced for NPR after the album was inducted into the National Recording Registry at the Library of Congress.

Bob Newhart: The Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart Podcast