Singing the Blues

Glastonbury '24 - Seasick Steve / Paloma Faith
Both made it to the Pyramid stage on the Sunday, with the former including gems like Internet Cowboys and You Can't Teach an Old Dog New Tricks, whilst the latter managed much crowd interaction with tracks like God In A Dress and Sweatpants.

John Mayall - The Godfather of British Blues
This 2003 profile was repeated to mark his recent death. He famously gave breaks to Eric Clapton, Mick Taylor and others, and helped inspire other musicians of the time like Paul Jones and Mick Fleetwood. He had some troubles with alcohol, and marriage, but he remained in fine fettle for a long time, and patched up some fractious relationships at the time this was made.

Sister Blues
Joan Armatrading tells the story of Sister Rosetta Tharpe, to mark the 60th anniversary of a famous appearance on telly from a railway platform to sing "Didn't It Rain?" Joan talked to some who knew her, some who worked with her, some who were related to her, and some who admired her. She was inducted to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2017.

Great Lives - Bessie Smith
Matthew Parris talks to comedienne Jo Brand and expert Jackie Kay about the great blues singer.

Otis Rush and Freinds featuring Eric Clapton and Luther Allison - Live at Montreux
From July 1986, a lengthy showcase of favourites.

Sounding Out: BB King
He switched on to blues in the army. This 1972 profile saw him in a studio in Piccadilly in 1972. Sonny Boy Williamson got him a break. He learned from Blind Lemon Jefferson's style. He adapted jazz chords into his playing. He had a cousin named Booker White.

Bessie Smith, by Jackie Kay
The writer speaks from her biography, and the often sad story of how Bessie rose from Chattanooga, 1894, to become a huge star, but her husband treated her badly, and ended up taking her money after her early death after a car accident. She lay in an unmarked grave for over 30 years until a biography gave her story wider currency, and Janis Joplin co-funded a headstone for her.