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Detroit singer Janiva Magness chats to Cerys about her seventeenth album Back for Me.

Cerys' weekly round up of the blues you need to hear, from all around the world and in all shapes and sizes! This week, Cerys chats to Detroit singer Janiva Magness about her seventeenth album Back for Me.

Her life changed when she went to see Otis Rush in concert in Minneapolis, noting how he played as if his life depended on it. She started recording backing vocals for artists like R.L. Burnside before forming her own band in the mid 80s. She's been releasing solo albums since 1991, and in 2009 she was awarded the B.B. King Entertainer of the Year in 2009 by B.B. King himself. Janiva became the second woman, after Koko Taylor, to be honoured with the award.

To listen on most smart speakers, just say “ask BBC Sounds to play The Blues Show with Cerys Matthews".

10 days left to listen

57 minutes

Last on

Mon 7 Apr 2025 21:00
BBC Radio 2

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Music Played

  • Karen Macleod

    Alberta

  • Jack Browning

    James Alley Blues

    • Digital Single.
    • Self Released.

  • GA‐20

    Stranger Blues

    • Stranger Blues.
    • Colemine Distribution Services.
    • 1.

  • Galactic & Irma Thomas

    How Glad I Am

  • Harare Mambos

    Shanga Yangu

    • Roots Rocking Zimbabwe: The Modern Sound Of Harare' Townships 1975-1980.
    • Analog Africa.

  • Janiva Magness & Jesse Dayton

    Hittin' On Nothin'

  • Janiva Magness

    I'm Glad You're Mine

  • B.B. King

    Green And Lucky Blues

  • Janiva Magness

    Do I Need You

  • Billie Holiday

    Stormy Blues

  • Melba Liston

    Blues Melba

  • Shawn Pittman

    Low No More

Broadcast

  • Mon 7 Apr 2025 21:00
    BBC Radio 2