Byway Blues
Currently on hiatus from production: stay tuned!
Byway Blues tells the stories of the untapped blues roots in northeast Louisiana. Host Lesli Rambin shares the lives and musical accomplishments of famous local artists and their families.
The series spotlights buildings and venues that served as host to many famous musicians—all in an effort to preserve and potentially restore these historic cultural landmarks.
In addition, the segment features artists currently performing in the region who trace their inspiration from blues artists they’ve admired for years.
Byway Blues is produced with the generous support of Washington Wine and Spirits, the Entergy Charitable Foundation, the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities, and the Northeast Louisiana Arts Coucil.
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Born in Tallulah, Louisiana, Blues guitarist and songwriter, Blind Joe Reynolds recorded eight songs with Paramount Records and Victor Records. Reynolds…
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One of northeast Louisiana's legendary Blues singers, Toussaint Mccall, was inducted into the Northeast Louisiana Music Award Hall of Fame in 2016.As a…
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Irma Thomas was born in Ponchatoula, Louisiana in 1941. Although she never achieved the same level of stardom that her contemporaries, Aretha Franklin and…
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Along the Red River and just north of Shreveport lies the town of Mooringsport, Louisiana. Out of this bucolic and unassuming community came a man who…
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Little Walter was a true pioneer of the blues. He helped bring the harmonica into a spotlight of its own. He became one of the great Chicago bluesmen,…
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One of the Elite Lounge's most memorable performances came from blues legend Bobby Blue Bland.In the final highlight installment of the Byways Blues…
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The African-American Business Enterprise established the Miller-Roy building in 1929.The building housed the Savoy Ballroom. Kirby and LesliRambin catch…
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Blind Joe Reynolds, who also recorded under the name of Willie Reynolds, was known to have a reputation in the years after losing his sight.Reynolds moved…
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In Part One of the Byway Blues Special, Kirby and Lesli Rambin feature the early days of Blind Joe Reynolds.Reynolds, born in Tallulah, Louisiana, also…