Harlem

This week Harlem pays respect to the true originator of rock n’ roll, Bo Diddley. When Ellas McDaniel burst on the scene as Bo Diddley in 1955, he took the entire world by surprise. No one looked or sounded like that in the mid 1950s. Matt The Cat tells Bo’s story and plays some Diddley classics you’ve never heard before, such as the original “Love Is Strange”, which was written and originally recorded by Bo (a year before Mickey & Sylvia would have a #1 hit with it). Let’s remember Bo for what he was; a creator, a trailblazer and a man who wasn’t afraid to be himself and sound different. We get behind the beat, this week on Harlem.

Harlem Airs on The 50s on 5:
Monday, 6/9 @ 1pm ET
Tuesday, 6/10 @ 9pm PT – Midnight ET
Friday, 6/13 @ 6pm ET
Sunday 6/15 @ 11am ET

-Matt The Cat

This week, HARLEM salutes one of the most influential record labels in the development of rock n’ roll…

Lew Chudd formed IMPERIAL RECORDS in 1946 in Los Angeles to better serve the Mexican and ethnic community. By 1949 his sights were set on another musical form that was being ignored by the major labels, New Orleans rhythm & blues. He hired bandleader Dave Bartholomew to be his New Orleans A&R; man and producer and rest is R&B; history. Bartholomew signed Fats Domino, Smiley Lewis and The Spiders and Imperial had a soul bucket full of hit records that would end up becoming Rock n’ Roll staples. Get the story behind the story of IMPERIAL RECORDS with Matt The Cat, this week on HARLEM.

Harlem Airs On The 50s on 5:
Monday afternoon 6/2 @ 1pm over Baltimore, MD
Tuesday evening 6/3 @ 9pm PST and Midnight EST
Friday night 6/6 @ 6pm over Seaside Heights, NJ
Sunday morning 6/8 @ 11am over Philly, PA