American Routes (Roots)

As the muddy Mississippi winds its way past us in New Orleans, we're reminded of the power and place of these waterways in American culture. First, we seek the source of the mighty river in Minnesota. Then learn about New Orleans own relation to the river with Tulane professor Richard Campanella. Plus river tales from Captain Doc Hawley, Aaron Neville and Al Green.

American Routes?celebrates Mother's Day with?Marty Stuart and his mom, Hilda. We'll talk about their shared love of photography and a certain girl singer, Connie Smith. Then we'll hear stories about mothers from Fontella Bass, Sonny Rollins, Bo Diddley, and Geno Delafose, among others.

The Campbell Brothers, from Rochester, NY, are masters of sacred steel. We'll talk about growing up in the church and playing gospel blues on the guitar. Then, New Orleans bluesman Walter "Wolfman" Washington stops by the American Routes studio for a conversation about his life in the music.

New York City pioneer of Afro-Latin Soul,?Joe Bataan, tells us about his boogaloo beginnings, melding latin beats with soulful sounds and his move toward "salsoul" and rap. And a conversation with?Stanton Moore?and?Ben Ellman?from New Orleans'?Galactic?about their love of all things funky from the Crescent City and beyond.

We sit down with noted blues scholar?Bill Ferris?to talk about his lifelong obsession with the Magnolia state, and visit with Delta piano blues chanteuse?Eden Brent. We set out north for Holly Springs and some Hill Country family jams. Then we head towards home to hang out with the master of gut-bucket blues,?Little Freddie King.

A visit with two native sons of the Texas Gulf Coast. Guitar slinger Johnny Winter grew up listening to the blues in Beaumont, Texas. We talk with Winter about his Texas youth and his blues milestones. Jazz pianist Jason Moran started out in Houston playing classical music. We'll learn more about his adventures in the NYC jazz scene.

Join us for the 25th annual Festival International for performances in Cajun, Creole, Latin and Blues, including Keb' Mo', Sonny Landreth, and Steve Riley. Cumbia with Miami's Locos Por Juana, two-steps with Yvette Landry and Cajun waltzes with the Lost Bayou Ramblers. Plus an all-star tribute to the best of swamp pop, Cajun classics and zydeco.

From their humble North Carolina beginnings to their triumphs on the world stage, we'll trace their individual and inspired paths to creativity. And we'll visit with the musicians who played with the greats, including McCoy Tyner and Pharoah Sanders, and the next generation, TS Monk and Ravi Coltrane.

This week we toe, walk and cross the blurry line between country and blues. Charlie Musselwhite tells us about his lifetime journey from Mississippi to Memphis to Chicago to California; and Charley Pride talks about his upbringing in Sledge, Mississippi, his baseball career, and being an African-American country singer with 29 number one hits to his name.

Sarah Lee Guthrie and Johnny Irion are folk musicians who met in the alt-country scene in LA. Today, with two daughters and a successful career sharing the stage, they sing for families and clubs around the country. Leroy Jones is a trumpet player from New Orleans and his wife, Katja Toivola is a trombone player from Finland. We'll visit their home in the Treme to find out more about their love of bringing New Orleans jazz to world.

The Drive-By Truckers have been up and down the highways since the mid-90s, delivering their unique mix of old-fashioned storytelling and rock 'n' roll. We sit down with the band in uptown New Orleans. Then we head backatown to catch up with New Orleans' own Troy Andrews, a.k.a. Trombone Shorty.

Join us and cruise the Gulf Coast Highway with Deep South singer, songwriter Lucinda Williams as she talks about her connection with traditional music, her writing style and sense of place. Plus, Lafayette, Louisiana R&B chanteuse and pianist Carol Fran comes by the studio for conversation and a special live set.

We'll sit down with Joel and Ethan Coen, writers/directors of such iconic films as "True Grit," "O Brother Where Art Thou?" and "The Big Lebowski." Then, conversation with cinema-verite masters D. A. Pennebaker and Chris Hegedus, who'll detail the craft of their 'glorified home movies' such as Dylan's "Dont Look Back" and "The War Room," and their latest feature "Kings of Pastry."

We're hitting the streets this week to celebrate - what else? - Mardi Gras! We'll meet parade float builders, visit the Backstreet Cultural Museum in Treme, discover a skull and bone gang and baby dolls, follow Mardi Gras Indians and learn why flamingos flock to Baton Rouge this time of year.

Jazz pianist?Herbie Hancock?joins us to talk about keeping his hardcore jazz credentials while breaking the pop barrier with "Watermelon Man." Hancock recalls famous associations with Miles and more, including those on hisRiver: the Joni Letters, a collection of Joni Mitchell tunes. Plus the four faces of New Orleans' Mount Rushmore, the?Neville Brothers. Since 1954, when Brother Art hit with the ultimate carnival classic "Mardi Gras Mambo," the Nevilles have been on the scene, solo or as a...