HARLEM: Week Of 5/29/06

THIS WEEK...Harlem warms up the BBQ and hits the shore...

HARLEM
HITS
THE
ROAD

This week, Matt The Cat gets away for Memorial Day as HARLEM takes to America's highways, skyways and oceans. We're featuring an hour of 1950s R&B songs about cars (Rocket 88), trains (The Train Kept A-Rolling), Boats (The Ship Of Love) and of course flying in a satellite (My Satellite by Jesse Belvin). It's all about gettin' to where you're going (Destination Love) and beyond. I just hope we don't get stuck (Flat Tire). So enjoy your Memorial Day Weekend on the road with HARLEM on the 50s on 5.

HARLEM airs on the 50s:
Monday 5/29 @ 1pm in the East
Tuesday 5/30 @ 9pm over LA & Midnight over The Bronx
Friday 6/2 @ 6pm over Cape Cod
Sunday 6/4 @ 11am over Pensacola, FL

Harlem prefers its burgers medium rare.

Burgess on Night Prowl

THIS JUST IN......
THE Sun Rockabilly Legend, SONNY BURGESS will be LIVE on the Night Prowl Show on Tuesday Night to speak with me about his life and music. We can all wish him a happy 75th birthday on The Tuesday Night Prowl Show. Don't miss this.

HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND!

I'm going to spend this holiday weekend up at a wedding on Long Island. I might just have to stop by and steal Long Island Bob's remaining 78 collection while I'm up there. You'll enjoy "Matt The Cat In A Can" on Monday and The Night Prowl will return LIVE on Tuesday for BLUESDAY TUESDAY! Have a great weekend, cats n' kittens and I'll catch ya on Tues.
-MTC

Weekend Record Finds

Hey Cats n' Kittens,

This was a good weekend for record hunting. I found so many beautiful 78s in great condition, that I almost lost my mind (like Ivory Joe). I couldn't buy 'em all, but I did manage to take a few back up to the satellite. Here are some picks of my finds.




If you ever go record hunting with me, don't even think about trying to swipe one of my finds. Especially if it's a Warren Smith single on Sun.

HARLEM: Week Of 5/22/06

Harlem

presents

Joe Liggins

&

Jimmy Liggins

Pianist/singer Joe Liggins and younger brother, guitarist/singer Jimmy Liggins didn't record together. They each had impressive and hit laden careers apart. Joe made history with "The Honeydripper" which sat at #1 on the R&B charts for over 10 weeks in 1945, while Jimmy's biggest R&B hit was "Drunk" in 1953. This week, Matt The Cat focuses on both brothers, who contributed greatly to the R&B scene of the late 40s and early 50s.

Harlem Airs On The 50s on 5:
Monday, 5/22 @ 1pm EST
Tuesday, 523 @ 9pm PST - Midnight EST
Friday, 5/26 @ 6pm EST
Sunday, 5/28 @ 11am EST

Instrumental Thursday & Big Joe Turner

Cats n' kittens rejoice as...

Instrumental Thursday RETURNS!

You'll dig in on some of the coolest sounds that are guarenteed to leave you "speechless". There are "no words" to describe these amazing instrumental sounds. Dig some B. Bumble & The Stingers, The Ventures, The Wailers, The Royaltones, Link Wray, Dick Dale, Duane Eddy and of course they'll be many songs you've never heard before.


PLUS: We will also honor BIG JOE TURNER, who was born on this day in 1911. We'll spin some of the greatest record by the biggest and best of the "blues shouters".

HARLEM: Week of 5/15/06

Johnny "Guitar" Watson

Johnny "Guitar" Watson is one of the most underrated R&B guitar players of the 1950s. He began his career as a piano player for Chuck Higgins' band before jumping ship as a solo performer for Federal Records in 1953. He scored his biggest hit of the '50s with the Bihari Brothers RPM Label in 1955 with his cover of Earl King's "Those Lonely Lonely Nights". This week, you'll hear the best of Watson's 1950s recordings, including a demo version of the infamous "Gangster Of Love", which at that time was called "Bandit Of Love". Don't miss it as Matt The Cat reveals the story behind the story on one of the original bad boys of R&B.

Harlem Airs On XM 5:
Monday 5/15 @ 1pm EST
Tuesday 5/16 @ 9pm over LA and Midnight over NYC
Friday 5/19 @ 6pm EST
Sunday 5/21 @ 11am EST

The Wonderful World Of Records

This week on the Prowl!

Here's what's happening this week on THE NIGHT PROWL SHOW!

Monday:
We celebrate those who had birthdays on Sunday, May 7th.
Johnny Maestro turned 67.
Jim Lowe turned 79
Teresa Brewer turned 75

RICKY NELSON would have been 66 today, so we will take a close look at Ricky contribution to early rock n' roll and play some of his greatest records.

Tuesday:
It's BLUESDAY TUESDAY!
I'll play an extra heaping helping of R&B and blues from the dawn of rock n' roll to get cha ready for HARLEM which features the most influential R&B records of all time at 9pm PST and Midnight EST tonight.

Wednesday:
It's WEST COAST WEDNESDAY!
The late Larry Williams would have been 71 today. He was born in Oakland in 1935 and fits perfectly into West Coast Wednesday.
The late Arthur Alexander would have been 66 today.

Thursday:
It's gonna be a surprise!

Friday:
We honor Ritchie Valens, who was born on May 13, 1941. You'll hear his biggest hits as well as some great demos that he cut of his greatest songs.

HARLEM: Week of 5/8/06

What Was The First Rock n' Roll Record?

This week HARLEM looks at the contenders for the first rock n' roll record by examining the most influential rhythm & blues releases between 1945 and 1955. Whether it's Illinois Jacquet's horn, Wynonie "Mr. Blues" Harris' voice, Fats Domino's piano or Louis Jordan's humor, one thing is for certain; these songs ROCK! Matt The Cat takes an in-depth look at how records like "It's Too Soon To Know", "Cadillac Boogie", "Rocket 88" and "Sixty Minute Man" changed the course of American Music. Authors Billy Vera, Steve Propes and Jim Dawson join Matt on his quest for R&B treasure.

Harlem Airs on the 50s on 5:
Monday 5/8 @ 1pm EST
Tuesday 5/9 @ 9pm PST and Midnight EST
Friday 5/12 @ 6pm EST
Sunday 5/14 @ 11am EST

Doo Wop Thursday + Guest

It's

Doo Wop Thursday!

Doo Wop Thursday returns to honor the greatest vocal groups of the 1950s. We'll dig on some hits, b-sides and rareties from the likes of The Cardinals, The Cadillacs, The Orioles, The Swallows, The Imperials, The Teenagers, The Chantels and so many more.

PLUS: Later on in the evening, I'll be joined by author Jay Warner, who has a new book out called "American Singing Groups: A History from 1940 to Today". It's published by Hal Leonard and is currently availible wherever fine and groovy books are sold.

This is destined to be a Doo Wop Thursday for the Night Prowl History Books.

-MTC

Matt The Cat Story

Hey Cats n' Kittens,

Long Island Bob (LIB) has created a modern day "cut in" record masterpiece. He put so much time creating this the old fashioned way. No computers! It was all done in analog. It's called The Matt The Cat Story and it's a classic "cut in" record in the fashion of Buchanan and Goodman's "Flyin' Saucer". Please check it out.

Click here for the Matt The Cat Story!

Thanks again LIB for your time and effort.

-Matt The Cat