Century Songs

On opening night of "Shuffle Along" in 1921, the creators of a groundbreaking Broadway musical stood by the backstage exit, terrified their show would spark a riot. Their gamble? A tender love song — “Love Will Find a Way” — sung between two Black leads, something Broadway audiences had never seen. The crowd didn’t protest. They cheered and demanded an encore.

In Episode 10 of Century Songs, we explore that groundbreaking cultural milestone and its Indiana connection through Noble Sissle, the Indianapolis-born lyricist and musician who co-wrote the show with Eubie Blake. We sit down with saxophonist, composer, and bandleader Jared Thom...

Century Songs Ep. 9 |  What You Don’t Know About “Makin’ Whoopee” (1928), Mike Kessler Interview 

Century Songs Episode 9 explores the 1928 Broadway novelty song “Makin’ Whoopee,” tracing how a scandalous Jazz Age slang term was used in Florenz Ziegfeld’s revue Whoopee, introduced by Eddie Cantor, and later reinterpreted by artists including Louis Armstrong, Ray Charles, and Willie Nelson. 

The episode features a conversation with educator, musician, and bandleader Mike Kessler about steel pan gig experiences, keeping the instrument in tune, why he took up vibraphone and steel pan, and his regular work on dru...

Rediscovering a Jazz Classic: "Look for the Silver Lining" with Candice Tugby

Introduction

Century Songs has reached its eighth episode, diving deep into the tapestry of American standards in the public domain. In this episode, we explore the resilient journey of Jerome Kern's masterpiece, "Look for the Silver Lining." With a profound history spanning over a century, this song connects generations through its timeless message and universal appeal. Our guest this week is the talented educator and musician, Candice Tugby, offering her insights and anecdotes about the song and her contributions to...

In this episode of Century Songs, we explore the story behind "On the Banks of the Wabash, Far Away" — the 1897 ballad by Paul Dresser that sold half a million copies of sheet music in its first year and became Indiana's state song. We're joined by jazz vocalists Emma Hedrick, Amy Azzara, and Gabe Schonman, who were commissioned by Century Songs to create and perform a custom arrangement of the song, which debuts in this episode! Amy, Emma and Gabe discuss their Summer 2026 residency at Avaloch Farm Music Institute, their Lambert, Hendricks & Ross-inspired vocal group, and the Indiana imagery that ri...

In Episode 6, we trace the remarkable transformation of "Softly, As in a Morning Sunrise" — from a 1928 Broadway operetta tango into a cornerstone of modern jazz. Saxophonist Rich Cohen joins us to share gig stories and musical influences, then Eric Baker faces our three-question quiz covering the song's origins in Sigmund Romberg and Oscar Hammerstein II's The New Moon, its surprisingly dark original lyrics, Artie Shaw's swing-era reinvention, and John Coltrane's 1961 soprano sax masterpiece that made it a bebop rite of passage. Plus, a rarely-heard Bing Crosby tango recording.

Century Songs is a podcast about American standards in...

Century Songs — Episode 5: What You Don't Know About Back Home Again in Indiana

In this episode of Century Songs, hosts Eric Baker and David Poncé explore the surprising history behind "Back Home Again in Indiana" — a song with "borrowed" melodies and lyrics, a bebop rebirth, and a legendary home at the Indy 500. Special guest Dr. Shawn O'Connor joins the show to share gig stories, discuss her journey from aspiring doctor to jazz educator, and introduce Boss Pitches, one of Indiana's first-ever all-women big bands. Then, Eric faces a three-question quiz covering the song's original title, its Hoosier-born compo...

On a cold December night in 1926, a Broadway producer and leading lady secretly inserted a rival composer's song into Rodgers and Hart's new musical — and the audience went so wild they stopped the show with 24 encores. That song was "Blue Skies" by Irving Berlin, and the backstage betrayal behind it is just the beginning of the story.

This week on Century Songs, co-host and musician Eric Baker joins the show to talk about his musical journey — from singing in church at age four, to discovering Nat King Cole and Harry Connick Jr. on vinyl, to b...

This week on Century Songs, we explore the 1918 standard "After You've Gone" — written by the pioneering Black songwriting duo Turner Layton and Henry Creamer, and immortalized by Vaudeville superstar Sophie Tucker. We sit down with educator and musician Oliver Nelson Jr. to discuss his father's remarkable legacy as a composer and arranger (from Blues and the Abstract Truth to The Six Million Dollar Man), the realities of making a living as a musician today, and the magic of the Indianapolis Monday jam scene. Then, Eric faces the three-question quiz on the song's hidden history, we dig into Ella Fitzgerald's se...

Century Songs — Episode 2: What You Don’t Know About Love for Sale

In 1930, Broadway critics were scandalized by a white actress portraying a streetwalker in Cole Porter’s The New Yorkers. When producers moved the scene to Harlem and recast it with a Black singer, those same critics applauded. This week, we dig into the double standards, radio bans, and genius behind one of Cole Porter’s most controversial songs.

Indianapolis jazz vocalist Sandy Lomax performs “Love for Sale” and shares stories from her career — a Wayne Newton phone mix-up, her six-year residen...

Explore the origins, legacy, and enduring magic of "Stardust," written by Indiana native Hoagy Carmichael with lyrics by Mitchell Parish. Plus, Jazz Kitchen owner David Allee joins us to discuss the 2026 Indy Jazz Fest and the 30+ year history of Indy's famous Monday Night Jam Sessions.

Chapters:

00:00 - Stardust Origins Tease

00:34 - Stardust Theme Intro

00:56 - Stardust Performance Clip

05:35 - Meet Jazz Kitchen Owner

06:15 - Indy Jazz Fest Plans

07:50 - Monday Jam Session Mission

09:37 - Building a Jazz Community

12:57 - David Allee...