General

One man became a cultural icon, the other a cult figure. But James Brown and Harry Crews have more in common than you might think.

Did the U.S. Government rig the NBA Finals? Do all bars now offer hand-crafted cocktails? Is Shriv-Rock still a thing? RCR has the answers, and more.

A playlist to perk you up: Aretha, Louis Jordan, Bob Wills, Howlin' Wolf, Derek Trucks, Little Feat, Devo, etc.

RCR chats with the woman behind a fascinating doc about The Piano Prince of New Orleans, James Booker.

Some of my favorite recordings from Miles' acoustic years: Bag's Groove, My Funny Valentine, Generique, Milestones, Solea, Teo, Masqualero, etc.

I had a pretty good gig selling frozen meat off the back of a refrigerated semi trailer -- until my boss accused me of grand theft.

RCR's happy place, with Johnny Carroll, Link Wray, Southern Culture on the Skids, Sleepy LaBeef, and Robert Plant tackling a song by Akron's Bill Allen.

A look back at the five-decade career of the original Jazz Messenger – with his own band and bringing the heat in some legendary sessions with other artists.

It’s hard to top the joyous sound of Cleanhead's asthmatic howl over some swingin’ horns and a hard-grinding rhythm section.

Moon Mullican was the vital link between R&B piano pounders like Amos Milburn and early rockers like Bill Haley and Jerry Lee Lewis.

In the "better late than never" category, RCR weighs in on the recent passing of two rock legends and an unsung hero from Akron.

Named by Rolling Stone as one of "The 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time," Akron native Robert Quine remains one of rock's most overlooked musicians.

Some of our favorite Beatles covers: Steve Earle, The Black Keys, Ollabelle (w/ Amy Helm), Tommy Emmanuel, Grant Green, Wilson Pickett (w/ Duane Allman), etc.

Rockin' the Holidays, with James Brown, Otis Redding, Brenda Lee, Commander Cody, Amos Milburn, The Sweet Inspirations, etc.

Four new releases this year unearthed some of Art Pepper's final live recordings. Seems like a good excuse to re-post this piece.

The Great American Train Song, with Johnny Cash, The Johnny Burnette Trio, The J.B.'s, Asleep at the Wheel, Tom Waits, The Wood Brothers, Solomon Burke, etc.

Overlooked blues by J.B. Lenoir, Jimmy Rogers, Johnny Shines, Big Maybelle, Robert Nighthawk, Roosevelt Sykes, Guitar Slim, Earl Hooker, etc.

Songs that go bump in the night, with The Cramps, Hasil Adkins, Laika and the Cosmonauts, the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band, Evan Johns and the H-Bombs, etc.

From Chuchito Valdes to The Claudettes to Huntertones: a memorable three-night run at Akron's finest music club.

New (and nearly new) releases from The Polyversal Souls, Patrick Sweany, The Arcs, Spanglish Fly, Alabama Shakes, Lana Del Rey, Keith Richards and more.

Another criminally overlooked master of blues and soul... and he turned Lonnie Mack on to his first Magnatone amp.