Echoes of Indiana Avenue

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Echoes of Indiana Avenue

Echoes of Indiana Avenue is an audio documentary focused on the cultural achievements of Black artists and musicians connected to Indiana Avenue.

27/09/2026

This week on Echoes of Indiana Avenue, we'll explore the music of Johnny Dial an the Organ-Nizers — a legendary Naptown soul-jazz combo, featuring Johnny Dial on Hammond organ, Hank Hankerson on sax, Ralph Hankerson on drums and Robert Coleman.

Hank and Johnny have been performing together for over 50 years in Naptown, and both played extensively in Avenue clubs.

Join host Rodney Stepp for an hour of music and conversation with The Organ-Nizers - recorded live at the Jazz Kitchen.

(Air times/dates in the comments section.)

20/09/2026

This week on Echoes of Indiana Avenue, explore the life and music of Winston Walls, one of the most remarkable Hammond B-3 organists to emerge from the golden age of soul jazz.

Born in 1942 and raised in West Virginia, Walls became a major presence on the national jazz circuit during the 1960s. From the mid ‘60s into the ‘80s, Winston was a regular in the Naptown scene — spending extended periods of time, living and performing in the city. Winston became part of the Naptown jazz lineage, performing with local players like Billy Wooten, Bobby Watley, Everett Greene, Jozelle Carter, Mad Harold Cardwell, Clifford Ratliff, and James Bell’s Naptown Players.

Winston made his earliest known appearance in Naptown at the Hub-Bub jazz club in 1966. He’d go on to play at Indianapolis clubs including The Nineteenth Whole, Surfside Seven, Topper Lounge, Place to Start, The Excalibur, and the Barrington Lounge. And Winston appeared often in the Avenue neighborhood — playing gigs at The Queen of Clubs, The West End, and Walker Theatre.

Join host Rodney Stepp, for an hour of music from Winston Walls, including never-before-heard performances recorded live in Indianapolis.

(Air times/date in the comments section.)

13/09/2026

He was a towering presence on the Indiana Avenue music scene — a big man with a big sound, and one of the most respected baritone sax players to come out of Naptown. His name was Les Taylor — but jazz fans knew him as the "Bear”.

Born in Naptown in 1931, Taylor started his career on the Avenue, where he played with local legends like Erroll Grandy, Jimmy Coe, Wes Montgomery, and many others.

During the late 1950s and early '60s, Taylor toured the country with Lloyd Price and Bill Doggett.

Taylor was a fixture in the Naptown jazz scene until his untimely death in 1983 at the age of 52.

This week on Echoes of Indiana Avenue, join host Rodney Stepp for an hour of music from Les "Bear" Taylor, featuring his work with Ella Fitzgerald, Bill Doggett, Floyd Smith, Mel Rhyne, Larry Clark, Bill Myers, and more.

(Air times/dates in the comments section.)

06/09/2026

Before he became a celebrated figure in Philadelphia’s jazz scene, drummer Edgar Bateman spent part of the 1950s playing alongside legendary musicians in Naptown, including Jimmy Coe, Mel Rhyne and Pookie Johnson.

This week on Echoes of Indiana Avenue, join host Rodney Stepp for an hour of music featuring Edgar Bateman — from his Indianapolis years to his collaborations with some of modern jazz’s most influential musicians, including Eric Dolphy, Herbie Hancock, Walt Dickerson and Khan Jamal.

The photo below was taken by Larry Goshen during the recording session for Jimmy Ganzberg's 1959 single "Hang Out." From left to right: Edgar Bateman, William Boyd and Jimmy Coe.

(Air times/dates in the comments section.)

30/08/2026

This week on Echoes of Indiana Avenue, celebrate the music and remarkable career of Dawn Hampton. A member of Indianapolis’ legendary Hampton Family Band, Dawn was a gifted singer, saxophonist, dancer and jazz whistler who grew up in the Indiana Avenue neighborhood.

After years of performing with her family on the Avenue, Dawn moved to New York City in 1958, where she became a celebrated cabaret singer.

Join host Rodney Stepp, as we share rare recordings spanning Dawn Hampton’s career — from her early work with the Hampton Family and Hampton Sisters, to her performances on Broadway and in New York’s cabaret scene.

(Air times/dates in the comments section.)

23/08/2026

This week on Echoes of Indiana Avenue, we’ll celebrate the 90th anniversary of the birth of the late Fort Wayne, Indiana jazz pianist Jack Wilson.

During the 1960s, Wilson released acclaimed albums for labels including Atlantic Records and Blue Note. He recorded with iconic names in American music, from Dinah Washington to Roy Ayers, and worked with Indianapolis musicians including Henry Cain, Monk Montgomery, and Leroy Vinnegar.

Join host Rodney Stepp for an hour of music spotlighting Wilson’s work with the jazz masters of Indiana Avenue.

(Air times/dates in the comments section.)

16/08/2026

For the next two weeks on Echoes of Indiana Avenue, we’ll explore the music of Shirley Griffith, a Mississippi-born guitarist and singer who brought the raw sound of Delta blues to Indianapolis.

Throughout his life, Shirley lived near the Indiana Avenue neighborhood — including an address at 932 North California Street in the Ransom Place neighborhood.

Griffith celebrated the Avenue in his music, composing tunes like “Bright Street Jump”, “Naptown Boogie”, and “Indiana Avenue Blues.”

Born near Brandon, Mississippi, in 1907, Griffith learned blues guitar as a child, and came of age in Jackson, Mississippi — where he studied with legendary blues musicians including Tommy Johnson.

Griffith arrived in Indianapolis on Christmas Day of 1928. He soon developed friendships with the legendary Naptown blues musicians Leroy Carr and Scrapper Blackwell. He absorbed Blackwell’s sophisticated Indianapolis guitar style while preserving the haunting country blues tradition he learned in Mississippi.

Griffith remained in the Avenue neighborhood until his death on June 18th of 1974. He was 66 years old.

Join host Rodney Stepp as we take a deep dive into the music of Shirley Griffith, an unsung legend of Naptown blues.

(Air times/dates below.)

02/08/2026

Saxophonist Alonzo “Pookie” Johnson is a legend of the Indianapolis jazz scene. Pookie was a longtime collaborator of Wes Montgomery and performed with many other jazz luminaries, including Freddie Hubbard, J.J. Johnson, and Brother Jack McDuff.

But there’s another side to Pookie’s music that you may not know about unless you were there, watching him perform at Naptown clubs — Pookie also sang the blues.

This week on Echoes of Indiana Avenue, we’ll take you back to those intimate nightclub performances, where Pookie Johnson played and sang the blues. We’ll share never-before-heard recordings of Pookie performing live in Indianapolis.

Join host Rodney Stepp as we shine a light on a different side of one of Indiana Avenue’s greatest jazz icons.

(Air times/dates in the comments section.)

26/07/2026

This week on Echoes of Indiana Avenue, celebrate the extraordinary career of Herbie Hancock, one of the greatest living legends of American music.

Over the course of his remarkable career, Hancock has collaborated with some of Indiana Avenue’s greatest jazz artists, including the Indianapolis-born icons Wes Montgomery, J.J. Johnson, James Spaulding, and Freddie Hubbard.

Join host Rodney Stepp as Herbie Hancock reflects on his work with these legendary musicians.

(Air times/dates in the comments section.)

19/07/2026

This week on Echoes of Indiana Avenue, celebrate the remarkable career of vocalist Alfonzo Surrett, one of the greatest living legends of Naptown soul music.

A graduate of Crispus Attucks High School, Surrett began his musical journey singing gospel with his family before making a name for himself with Indianapolis groups including The Implements and the Pushers Show Band. After relocating to Chicago in the 1970s, he became part of a circle of musicians connected to Curtis Mayfield, contributing vocals to recordings by soul icons including Aretha Franklin, Mavis Staples, Curtis Mayfield, and Leroy Hutson.

Along the way, Surrett also established himself as a talented songwriter, co-writing Leroy Hutson's underground soul classic "Closer to the Source," later recorded by jazz legend Dizzy Gillespie. In 1980, Surrett released his debut album, Comin' Out, on MCA Records.

Join host Rodney Stepp for an hour of music celebrating one of Indianapolis's most accomplished and underappreciated vocalists — Alfonzo Surrett.

(Air times/dates in the comments section.)

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