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Backbeat Radio
A radio show featuring Vintage Popular Music
They don't play on the radio

Broadcast on radio stations across Canada and the U.S.A. See below for a list.

Listen Live

on CKHA, Canoe-FM, Sundays at 10 AM Eastern Time. Link will take you to their site.

  • March 1, 2026

    Charlie RichThis week's show covers almost a full century of recording with country blues, bluesy country, bluegrass and gospel blues. We'll hear a Charlie Rich track recorded for Sun that the label considered too good for rock & roll, a cello and voice piece from Kevin Fox, Sinead X Sanders modern rockabilly and a 1950s tribute to Jerry Lee Lewis that didn't chart but is now considered a classic.

    SEE THE PLAYLIST -  LISTEN

     
  • February 22, 2026

    West NkosiMore of the same this week on Backbeat - except different, because you'll rarely hear anything repeated, there's just too much to play. Such as gospel from Clara Ward, jug band music from Clarence Williams, African jive on a pennywhistle from West Nkosi, a Japanese take on a classic Duke Ellington song, Eddy Arnold's first hit and a nice new one from Reid Jamieson.

    SEE THE PLAYLIST -  LISTEN

     
  • February 15, 2026

    Diana Braithwaite & Chris WhiteleyYour weekly dose of straight-from-the-heart music the way they used to make it, and some, like Diana Braithwaite & Chris Whiteley, still do. Tune in to hear blues, gospel, country, jazz, pop and international music from decades past up to now.

    SEE THE PLAYLIST -  LISTEN

     
  • February 8, 2026

    Muddy Waters (Source: Vocal Group Harmony web site)This week hear records made by Esther Phillips, Roy Acuff, Muddy Waters and Gregory Isaacs early in their careers. There's also a couple of obscure country singers, one so obscure nobody is sure when his record was made. You don't want to miss a beautiful bluegrass harmony record by Reno & Smiley, great blues from Matt Anderson and so much more

    SEE THE PLAYLIST -  LISTEN

     
  • February 1, 2026

    Slim GaillardThis week we've got legendary pioneers Tiny Bradshaw, Blind Willie Johnson, Arthur Crudup, The Boswell Sisters and a language lesson from the amazing Slim Gaillard, as well as new vintage music from Jake Vaadeland and Sinead X Sanders.

    SEE THE PLAYLIST -  LISTEN

     
  • January 25, 2026

    The King Cole TrioThis week's show has some old favourites such as the King Cole Trio, The Mills Brothers and The Harmonizing Four with recordings I haven't played before, George Jones gives us an example of great songwriting (and singing), Pat Johnson unleashes a new rockabilly-styled single with a message and more of the usual mix of blues, country and gospel not found anywhere else.

    SEE THE PLAYLIST -  LISTEN

     
  • January 18, 2026

    The FlamingoesHear LaVern Baker before she was famous, and Margaret Watkins, a popular live performer who never became famous on record. Then there's Thomas Wayne, who got famous right out of the gate but couldn't repeat the trick, The Flamingoes, whose ethereal sound took years to catch on and a 50s rockabilly artist who never had a hit but became famous 30 years later anyway.

    SEE THE PLAYLIST -  LISTEN

     
  • January 11, 2026

    Wild Jimmy SpruillThis week's comfort music is provided by Fats Waller, The Five Blind Boys of Mississippi, Jimmie Davis, Brandon Isaak, Jimmy Cliff, Stray Dawg and the Wolves, The Isley Bros. and some other less familiar names like acclaimed session guitarist Wild Jimmy Spruill.

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  • January 4, 2026

    Narmour and SmithBack to normal, serious frivolity this week as Backbeat features music from Wynonie Harris (and his son), Louis Prima, Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson, Magic Sam, old-timey music from Narmour & Smith, new-timey music from Brad Strang and a lot more.

    SEE THE PLAYLIST -  LISTEN

     
  • December 28, 2025

    Happy New YearBackbeat provides the soundtrack to your New Year's party with your requests, my favourites and music to celebrate the calendar change. Tune in to hear Rosetta Tharpe, The Louvin Brothers, Django Reinhardt, David Vest, Sinead X Sanders, Reid Jamieson, David Wilcox, Bobby Parker and lots more.

    SEE THE PLAYLIST -  LISTEN