American Routes

American Routes
Show name	American Routes
Format	Public radio music and culture
Runtime	120
Country	United States
Language	English
Home station	WWNO
Syndicates	Public Radio International
Presenter	Nick Spitzer
Creator	Nick Spitzer
First aired	1998

American Routes American Routes is a weekly two-hour public radio program showcasing American music, cultural history, and interviews. The program mixes field recordings, archival material, studio performances, and journalistic interviews to explore regional traditions, genre crossovers, and cultural intersections across the United States. It foregrounds musicians, scholars, and community leaders from blues, jazz, country, folk, gospel, R&B, hip-hop, and world music traditions.

History

Created in 1998 by Nick Spitzer at WWNO in New Orleans and distributed nationally, the program emerged in the context of late-20th-century public radio expansion and cultural heritage initiatives. Early influences included the archival practices of the Library of Congress and the documentary ethos of Alan Lomax, as well as regional music programming on stations such as WFMT, WNYC, and KEXP. The show developed amid conversations shaped by institutions like the Smithsonian Institution, National Endowment for the Arts, and the American Folklife Center. Post-2005, after Hurricane Katrina, production intersected with recovery efforts involving FEMA, Mayor Ray Nagin’s municipal response, and cultural organizations including the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and the Preservation Hall Foundation. Collaborations and archives grew through partnerships with Tulane University, Louisiana State University, and the University of New Orleans.

Format and Content

Episodes combine music, interviews, and field recordings, drawing from traditions represented by artists tied to New Orleans Jazz, Delta Blues, Appalachian Folk, Cajun, Creole, and Gospel lineages. The program features artists ranging from historic figures like Louis Armstrong, Bessie Smith, Robert Johnson, and Lead Belly to contemporary performers including Wynton Marsalis, Derek Trucks, Norah Jones, Alison Krauss, and Kendrick Lamar. Scholars and cultural commentators such as John Lomax, Amiri Baraka, Henry Louis Gates Jr., Greil Marcus, and Ben Ratliff have informed episodes. Thematic shows have covered events like the Great Migration, the Civil Rights Movement, World War II, and the Vietnam War, connecting music to social history and institutions including the National Museum of African American History and Culture and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Hosts and Personnel

The primary host and creator is Nick Spitzer, an anthropologist and cultural historian who has held positions at Tulane University and served in advisory roles with the National Endowment for the Humanities. Production and editorial staff have included producers, archivists, and engineers associated with WWNO, Public Radio International, and independent production houses that have worked with distributors such as NPR Music and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Guest hosts and contributors have included artists and scholars like Rhiannon Giddens, Elvis Costello, Brandi Carlile, Cornel West, and Terry Gross.

Production and Distribution

Produced at WWNO studios in New Orleans with field production across regions like the Mississippi Delta, the Ozarks, and East Texas, the program has utilized partnerships with archives including the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress and collections at Smithsonian Folkways. Syndication moved through networks such as Public Radio International and drew carriage on stations including KEXP, WFUV, KEX, and college stations like WXYC. Digital distribution has leveraged platforms like iTunes, Spotify, and station podcasts, while collaborations extended to festivals and venues including the Newport Folk Festival, the Monterey Jazz Festival, Preservation Hall, and Lincoln Center.

Notable Episodes and Series

The program has produced themed series spotlighting regional scenes—episodes on New Orleans Jazz and Mardi Gras Indian traditions; deep dives into Delta Blues, Texas Country, and Cajun/Zydeco; and profiles of movements including Harlem Renaissance and Beale Street history. Special broadcasts have honored figures such as Mahalia Jackson, Fats Domino, Professor Longhair, Allen Toussaint, Dr. John, and commemorated events like the Bicentennial and anniversaries of Hurricane Katrina. Collaborations with institutions led to archives and tribute episodes involving the Louis Armstrong House Museum, Preservation Hall, and the American Musicological Society.

Reception and Impact

Critics and scholars have noted the program’s role in public humanities, oral history preservation, and music education. Reviews in outlets like The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, The Village Voice, and features on PBS and BBC Radio highlighted its contribution to documenting regional cultures. The show has influenced museum exhibitions at institutions such as the Historic New Orleans Collection and curriculum at universities like Tulane University and Louisiana State University, while impacting festival programming at Newport Folk Festival and advocacy by organizations including the Americana Music Association.

Awards and Recognition

The program and its producers have received honors from bodies such as the Peabody Awards, Edward R. Murrow Awards, the International Bluegrass Music Association, and grants from the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities. Individual episodes and series have been cited by archives like the American Folklife Center and referenced in bibliographies by publishers including Oxford University Press and University of Mississippi Press.

Category:American radio programs Category:Music radio programs in the United States Category:Public radio