Echoes of Indiana Avenue, 1630 N. Meridian Street (2025)

09/11/2025

2025 marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of blues icon B.B. King. During his historic career, King made many appearances on the Avenue — including multiple dates at the Sunset Terrace and the Walker Theatre — and his music was deeply shaped by Avenue musicians.

This week on Echoes of Indiana Avenue, we’ll celebrate King’s 100th birthday by exploring his connections to Indiana Avenue.

King’s strongest connection to the Avenue was his association with pianist Milliard Lee. Born in Franklin, Indiana, in 1909, Lee began working on Indiana Avenue during the early 1940s. From the mid-1950s until his death in 1961, he worked as a keyboardist and bandleader for B.B. King. Lee played on many of King’s greatest recordings and released a series of solo singles on King’s record label.

One of King’s biggest musical influences was the Indianapolis guitarist Bill Jennings. Born in Naptown in 1919, Jennings recorded with artists including Brother Jack McDuff, Louis Jordan, Little Willie John, Bill Doggett, and Willis Jackson — helping to bridge swing, blues, R&B, and modern jazz.

King named Jennings as one of his favorite guitarists, praising his rhythm and technique: “He would start a groove, and then, whatever it took to keep that groove going, he would do it,” King said.

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02/11/2025

On October 26, 2025, the legendary jazz drummer Jack DeJohnette passed away at the age of 83. DeJohnette was one of the greatest drummers in modern jazz. He released more than 50 albums as a bandleader and appeared on hundreds of recordings as a sideman — including landmark sessions such as Miles Davis’ “Bitches Brew”, Wayne Shorter’s “Super Nova”, and Keith Jarrett’s “Standards”, among many others. DeJohnette also recorded six classic albums with Naptown jazz icon Freddie Hubbard. This week on Echoes of Indiana Avenue, we’ll share an hour of music highlighting Freddie Hubbard’s collaborations with Jack DeJohnette.

Born in Chicago in 1942, DeJohnette began his musical journey studying classical piano before switching to drums — a duality that shaped his melodic sensibility behind the kit. He rose to prominence in the 1960s through his work with jazz luminaries including Charles Lloyd, Chick Corea, Bill Evans, and Miles Davis. During his six-decade career, DeJohnette led numerous ensembles and recorded prolifically, creating a distinctive sound that fused jazz traditions with abstract and avant-garde influences. A National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master and Grammy Award winner, DeJohnette was a guiding force in the evolution of modern jazz.

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19/10/2025

This week on Echoes of Indiana Avenue, we’ll explore the music of Brooks Berry, an important Naptown blues vocalist and guitarist. Though she left behind just a handful of recordings, the artistry and emotional depth of her music have ensured that her legacy lives on. Brooks worked extensively, with the Naptown guitar master Scrapper Blackwell — and all of her recordings, feature Blackwell on guitar and piano.

Brooks Berry was born in April of 1900, in the small Kentucky town of Sturgis. As a teenager, Brooks left Kentucky and moved north to Indianapolis, joining a wave of Black southerners seeking better opportunities in the Midwest.

At the time she arrived in Naptown, the city was developing a thriving blues scene, centered around the Indiana Avenue neighborhood. Musicians like Leroy Carr and Scrapper Blackwell made Naptown an important hub for blues music. Brooks quickly found a place in this scene, and after the death of Leroy Carr in 1935, she formed an enduring creative partnership with Scrapper Blackwell.

During the 1920s and ‘30s, Brooks lived in the Avenue area, including addresses at 724 Torbett Street, and 802 West 11th Street. She spent her final years living at the Barton Tower at 555 Massachusetts Avenue.

Join this week for an hour of classic music from Brooks Berry.

12/10/2025

The legendary jazz saxophonist and flutist James Moody was born in Savannah, Georgia in 1925. This week on Echoes of Indiana Avenue, we’ll celebrate the 100th anniversary of Moody’s birth, by listening to his work with the jazz masters of Indiana Avenue.

Moody gave many performances on the Avenue, appearing at the Sunset Terrace in 1952, 1956, and 1957. He also recorded with legendary Avenue musicians, including Larry Ridley, Slide Hampton, Freddie Hubbard, and J.J. Johnson.

But Moody’s connection to the Avenue goes even deeper — his father James Moody Sr. lived in Naptown for decades. Moody Sr. was a trumpet player and bandleader. Moody Sr. played with local bands, including Bob Womack’s Bob Cats, Buchanan’s Dance-A-Pators, and the Showboat Orchestra. Moody Sr. lived near the Avenue and played in neighborhood venues like the Defense Worker’s Social Club.
Join us this week for an hour of music from the saxophonist and flutist James Moody — including rare, unreleased live recordings of Moody performing with the legendary Naptown jazz drummer Larry Clark.

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05/10/2025

On Friday, October 10 at 9pm, WFYI’s channel 20 will air a new documentary titled: “King of Them All: The Story of King Records”. The film tells the story, of the influential King Records label.

King Records was founded in 1943, by Syd Nathan, in Cincinnati, Ohio. King started as a country music label, recording artists like Moon Mullican and Cowboy Copas. King later expanded into R&B, gospel, and rockabilly. By the late 1950s, King Records had become a powerhouse in R&B and soul music, launching the careers of Little Willie John, Hank Ballard and the Midnighters, and most famously, James Brown.

Located just over 100 miles from Cincinnati, Indianapolis became a reliable source of talent for King Records. Many notable Indianapolis artists recorded for King — from the country music star Lattie Moore, to the jazz legend Jimmy Coe. This week on Echoes of Indiana Avenue, we’ll share an hour of music, from Avenue artists who recorded for King —- including The Hampton Family, Flo Garvin, Sarah McLawler, Bill Jennings, Thurston Harris, and more.

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28/09/2025

This week on Echoes of Indiana Avenue, listen to an hour of music celebrating the legacy of The Bebop Society of Indianapolis. Hear rare recordings from Avenue musicians who performed for the Bebop Society’s events, including Wes Montgomery, Carl Perkins, David Baker, Pookie Johnson, and more.

In the early 1940s, a new style of jazz music, known as bebop, began to emerge. Bebop marked a revolutionary shift in jazz, breaking away from the swing dance music of the 1930s. Bebop developed as musicians sought greater artistic freedom and technical challenge. Artists like Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, and Thelonious Monk pushed the boundaries of harmony, rhythm and improvisation. They created a style that featured fast tempos with complex melodies and chord progressions, transforming jazz into a modernist art form that focused on creativity, over commercial appeal.

Here in Naptown, the Avenue was the place to hear bebop music. In 1946, Dizzy Gillespie performed at the Avenue’s Sunset Terrace nightclub, and in January of 1948 Charlie Parker played there too. 1948 was also the year that a collective of Naptown musicians and music fans, formed The Bebop Society of Indianapolis.

At that time, bebop music had not yet gained, widespread acceptance among music fans. The Bebop Society held concerts and lectures to educate the public on the music’s importance Their events were not held in nightclubs, the society hosted gatherings in community centers, including, The Senate Avenue YMCA, The Phyllis Wheatley YWCA, The Flanner House, and the Crispus Attucks High School auditorium. Guest speakers at the Bebop Soierty’s events, included Crispus Attucks’ music teacher Norman Merrifield and Jack Tracey, an editor for Down Beat magazine.

The Bebop Society also fought against racial segregation at music events. In 1948, members of the Bebop Society desegregated a Stan Kenton concert, at Riverside Park. As headline, in the Indianapolis Recorder stated, “Youth Group Breaks Jim Crow and Attends Concert at Riverside”. The Society also provided scholarships for talented young musicians, including the future Avenue jazz star David Baker.

But The Bebop Society’s main focus was music, and their concerts featured the greatest jazz musicians in Naptown, including Pookie Johnson, Wes Montgomery, Carl Perkins, Buddy Montgomery, Monk Montgomery, Joe Mitchell, Maceo Hampton, Les “Bear” Taylor, Mary Parker, Benny Barth, Buddy Parker, Bill Cox, Tillman Buggs and Willis Kirk, who served as president of the Society in 1950.

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07/09/2025

For the next three weeks on Echoes of Indiana Avenue, we’ll celebrate the work of the bass player Leonard Wilson Swain Jr., better known as “Heavy” Swain, an unsung hero of the Avenue music scene. During his career, Swain performed with many, legendary jazz and R&B musicians, including Dinah Washington, Cootie Williams, Willis Jackson, Tiny Bradshaw and more. On this week’s show, we’ll focus on his recordings with “Champion” Jack Dupree and Eddie “Cleanhead” Vinson.

Swain was born in Nashville, Tennessee in 1916. By the 1930s, he was living in Indianapolis. The 1940 census listed his address as 2039 North Capitol. Swain began working professionally in music as a teenager, performing at Avenue venues like the Cotton Club, and Mitchellyne. During his time in Naptown, Swain worked with the city’s best musicians, including Jerry Daniels of the Ink Spots, Step Wharton, Bessie Moore, Baggie Hardiman, Eldridge Morrison, Fred Wisdom, Cleve Bottoms and many others.

Swain first gained notoriety on the six string guitar. A 1936 article in the Indianapolis Recorder called him the “best six string player in town.” By 1940, Swain had switched to the upright bass. He made his first recordings that set year, cutting a series of sessions with“Champion” Jack Dupree in Chicago.

The photo here shows Swain during his time with Tiny Bradshaw's band, to his left is the legendary Naptown drummer Earl "Fox" Walker.

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31/08/2025

This week on Echoes of Indiana Avenue, we'll share an hour of music from the legendary Naptown gospel keyboardist Ezra Bufford, known for his work with the Pentecostal Ambassadors.

Ezra Bufford was born in Indianapolis in 1952 and he’s been playing gospel music in Naptown for over 50 years, earning a reputation as one of finest keyboardists on the local gospel scene.

In addition to his work with the Pentecostal Ambassadors, Ezra has performed with Al Hobbs and the Indianapolis Mass Choir, the Indianapolis Pentecostal Mass Choir, Donald Watkins, and many others. He's worked in secular music too, performing with Queen Delphine, Simply United, and Music Box.

Tune in for an hour of words and music from Ezra Bufford.

Air times/dates in the comments section.

17/08/2025

This week on Echoes of Indiana Avenue, listen to the final episode in our two part series of exploring the music of Rapture, a legendary Indianapolis funk band led by keyboardist Rodney Stepp. During the late 1970s, Rapture was a dominating force in the Indianapolis club scene. A new compilation of Rapture’s music was recently issued by Now Again Records in California. The album features previously unreleased music Rapture recorded in 1977.

Hear interviews with Rapture’s Rodney Stepp, Lonnie Williams and Greg Russell. The Indianapolis soul music legend Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds will also share his memories of Rapture. Edmonds’ band Manchild was one of Rapture’s biggest rivals.

Rodney Stepp was born in Indianapolis in 1952. He was raised in the historic Flanner House Homes neighborhood, directly adjacent to Indiana Avenue. Stepp rose to prominence in the Naptown music scene as a teenager, during the 1960s. His high school band the Diplomats performed with major R&B stars and scored a local hit with the song “Hum-Bug”, issued by Lamp Records in 1969. Stepp’s follow-up recording “Young Girl” was issued in 1970 under the name Jazzie Cazzie and the Eight Sounds. During the early 1970s, Stepp toured the world as a keyboardist and assistant music director for The Spinners. Stepp eventually grew tired of working as a sideman with The Spinners. Yearning to explore his own musical concepts, he returned to Indianapolis in the late 1970s to form Rapture.

10/08/2025

Nearly 50 years after their debut recording session, the music of Rodney Stepp's Rapture has finally been released.

This week on Echoes of Indiana Avenue, Rodney will join us to share the history of Rapture, a legendary Naptown funk band that thrived during the late 1970s.

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20/07/2025

This week on Echoes of Indiana Avenue, we'll share the first episode in our three part series celebrating the music of Gilbert "Honey" Hill, an important Indianapolis blues pianist known for his work with Little Bill Gaither and Bumble Bee Slim (all three are pictured together on the left.)

Hill was born in Indianapolis on January 8, 1912. His parents, Frank and Emma Hill migrated to Indiana from Kentucky. Hill spent much of his childhood living on the city’s Eastside, including an address at 1508 Yandes Street.

Honey Hill entered into adulthood at a time when the Indianapolis blues duo of Leroy Carr and Scrapper Blackwell were dominating the blues scene, both locally and nationally. Hill partnered with the Indianapolis blues singer and guitarist Bill Gaither to start his own duo, modeled on the music of Carr and Blackwell. They made their first recordings together during the winter of 1935 — just a few months after the untimely death of Leroy Carr. Many of their recordings were issued under the name “Leroy’s Buddy”, a reference to their strong connection to Carr.

From 1936 to 1940, Hill and Gaither recorded over 70 songs together. During that time, they also cut over a dozen sides with the blues singer Bumble Bee Slim, who is speculated to have maintained a residency in Naptown during the 1930s.

During his career, Hill recorded only one session under his own name. Issued in 1939, his piano instrumentals "Boogie Woogie" and "Set 'Em" received national attention. In 1940, Hill's recording of "Boogie Woogie" was featured on a Decca Records compilation alongside legendary pianists, Albert Ammons, Mary Lou Williams, and Meade "Lux" Lewis.

By the 1940s, Hill had retired from the music business, and began working as a truck driver for the Indianapolis school system, a job he kept until his death on June 24, 1953. Hill's cause of death was listed as Cerebral Thrombosis. He was just 41 years old. Hill was living at 1121 E. 19th Street at the time of his death.

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13/07/2025

This week on Echoes of Indiana Avenue, we’ll celebrate the life of the Indianapolis teacher and vocalist Lexie Webster, she passed away earlier this year at the age of 96.

Lexie Webster was the widow of the acclaimed Indianapolis jazz saxophonist Russell Webster. In 2023, she appeared on Echoes of Indiana Avenue, along with her daughter Bonita Webster-Coleman, to discuss Russell’s musical legacy. On this week's show, we'll share excerpts from that interview, along with classic recordings from Russell Webster.

Lexie Webster was born in Indianapolis on June 20, 1929. Her parents, James and Iva Staples, migrated to Indiana, from Tennessee. Webster attended Crispus Attucks High School, graduating with honors at age 16. ‘ From there, she attended Knoxville College and later earned a Master’s Degree in Education from Indiana University. Webster worked as a kindergarten teacher for the Indianapolis Public School system for 35 years. During that time, she also performed as a vocalist with the Indianapolis Opera Company, Witherspoon Presbyterian Church and many other organizations.

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Echoes of Indiana Avenue