America is celebrating its 250th birthday this year — marking 2½ centuries since the signing of the Declaration of ...

Sonny Bono began his climb to fame by playing the conga drums and singing at the post-football game dances at Inglewood High.

I've spent much of my writing career championing Houston music. And if you're not already, it's time you start listening. Local, my friends, does not mean amateur. Houston is full of singers, bands ...

Decades before Beyoncé’s “Cowboy Carter” dominated the charts, another Black woman from Texas transcended genres with her hit country songs. Her name was Esther Phillips, and she was best known for ...

For most of his career, Dr. Loco has been the life of the party. Now, celebrating his life is the point of the party. The saxophonist, accordionist, vocalist and leader of the Rockin’ Jalapeño Band, ...

No matter how talented a singer might be, more often than not, what Mom says goes—at least, that’s what Etta James was dealing with when she was figuring out how to get to Los Angeles to cut a record ...

Otis, who died in 2012, started out leading a big band. Later, as a talent scout, he discovered such performers as Big Mama Thornton, Esther Phillips and Etta James. Originally broadcast in 1989. This ...

James was discovered as a teen by talent scout Johnny Otis. Her career took off in the '60s with hits like "All I Could Do Was Cry" and "At Last." She died in 2012. Originally broadcast in 1994. This ...

Otis, who died in 2012, started out leading a big band. Later, as a talent scout, he discovered such performers as Big Mama Thornton, Esther Phillips and Etta James. Originally broadcast in 1989.

This is FRESH AIR. I'm Terry Gross. Today, we continue our archive series R&B, rockabilly and early rock 'n' roll. Before Elvis Presley recorded "Hound Dog," it was recorded by Big Mama Thornton. The ...

JOHNNY OTIS: Well, this goes back to the mid '40s, and it was my first record date with my own band, as I recall. And we did three things. I went to the producer after we had completed the third one ...