Throughout each calendar year, The Soul Show presents tribute shows to honor musicians who have left us. Soulful Departures brings them all together for a grand celebration. Join Mike Canton as he remembers Sly, Roberta, Angie Stone, Sam Moore and the other legends. There’s even some Ozzy, and yes, it fits.
A witness to the Band of Gypsys
Jim Korekach, a Pittsburgh steelworker, went to Times Square to celebrate New Year’s Eve 1969. Here’s his story.
This is a new feature of the soulshowmike.org website. Skim recent episode descriptions, then go to the Archives.
New item: The Soul Show index
| TSS Episode | Publish Date | Title | Description | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TSSAAPR260128 | 2026-01-28 | Minneapolis, Brothers Johnson at 50 | TSS, host Mike Canton spotlights Minneapolis, the modern midwestern music mecca. Lizzo, Prince, Jesse Johnson and Brother Ali are some of the artists featured. Also, Mike presents the Quincy Jones-produced freshman album of The Brothers Johnson; it’s another installment of his ongoing semicentennial celebrations. | |
| TSSAAPR260121 | 2026-01-21 | The Soul Show: Stephen “Cat” Coore of Third World, plus Niecy | On TSS this week, Mike Canton honors Stephen “Cat” Coore of the fabled reggae-fusion band Third World. He passed away in January 2026. One highlight is Mike’s interview from the mid-2010s in which Cat recalls the development of one of reggae’s most legendary tracks. Also, the 50th Anniversary lookbacks move forward to 1976, beginning with Deniece Williams’ debut album, produced and instrumentally supported by members of Earth, Wind & Fire. | |
| TSSAAPR260114 | 2026-01-14 | Early Offerings | ||
| TSSAAPR260107 | 2026-01-07 | 2025 Top Ten Albums | ||
| TSSAAPR251231 | 2025-12-31 | Soulful Departures | Throughout each calendar year, The Soul Show presents tribute shows to honor musicians who have left us. Soulful Departures brings them all together for a grand celebration. Join Mike Canton as he remembers Sly, Roberta, Angie Stone, Sam Moore and the other legends. There’s even some Ozzy, and yes, it fits. | |
| TSSAAPR251224 | 2025-12-24 | (re-run) | Re-run | |
| TSSAAPR251217 | 2025-12-17 | War’s “Why Can’t We Be Friends” at 50 | Join Mike Canton for possibly the last semi-centennial tribute of 2025. War’s “Why Can’t We Be Friends?” includes their biggest hit of all time. | |
| TSSAAPR251210 | 2025-12-10 | Jimmy Cliff, Chubby Tavares, Jellybean Johnson; & 50 years of “Rufus feat. Chaka Khan” | Mike Canton honors two guitarists in this episode: Steve Cropper of Stax Records fame, and the ubiquitous Phil Upchurch. Steve of Memphis was instrumental in defining the southern soul subgenre, while Chicagoan Upchurch recorded with luminaries such as Minnie Riperton, Curtis Mayfield, George Benson. | |
| TSSAAPR251203 | 2025-12-03 | Steve Cropper and Phil Upchurch | Join Mike Canton for a trio of tributes: Jimmy Cliff of reggae and film stardom, Chubby Tavares of the 5-sibling 70’s R&B vocal group from southeastern Mass., and Jellybean Johnson of The Time from Minneapolis. Also, a dive into Jazz Is Dead #25 from Carlos Dafé and Adrian Younge. The 50th-Anniversary retrospectives continue with the 1975 album “Rufus feat. Chaka Khan.” Enjoy. | |
| TSSAAPR251126 | 2025-11-26 | Re-run | ||
| TSSAAPR251119 | 2025-11-19 | “Gratitude,” Earth, Wind & Fire’s live masterpiece | Also, The Soul Show presents a new folk-derived album, with Ugandan influences, no less, by Pittsburgh outfit Kinetic. | |
| TSSAAPR251112 | 2025-11-12 | Funkadelic’s “Stage” of 1975 | ||
| TSSAAPR251105 | 2025-11-05 | A Tribute to Leslie Wilson, lead vocalist of The New Birth | Also, as 2025 nears its close, Mike revisits some releases of a fine year, with tracks from Omar, Sudan Archives and Ebi Soda. | |
| TSSAAPR251029 | 2025-10-29 | The Reemergence of Nat Adderley, Jr. | Re-run of TSSAAPR250423 | |
| TSSAAPR251022 | 2025-10-22 | Anthony Jackson, D’Angelo, the Soulquarian Nation | The rest of the show, as usual, is an expansive look across the decades of soul. Enjoy. | |
| TSSAAPR251015 | 2025-10-15 | Miles of Fusion | ||
| TSSAAPR251008 | 2025-10-08 | Ledisi channeling Dinah, plus a Prophet and a Mothership | D’Angelo, the creator of three widely-spaced albums that are all considered masterpieces, was part of the Soulquarians, a collective that included Questlove, J. Dilla, Erykah Badu and Bilal. As part of the tribute, we dive into some of the collective’s works to add texture to the story. | |
| TSSAAPR251001 | 2025-10-01 | Betty Davis’ “Nasty Gal” at Fifty | The Seventies were a fertile time. Rolling Stone named “Nasty Gal” one of 1975’s best. The Queen of Funk was the wife of Miles Davis, and was instrumental in his migration to jazz/rock fusion. Mike presents several tracks of Betty’s third release, including the one that vilifies the media that didn’t appreciate her at the time. Also, we crack open 2025 music from Christopher McBride & the Whole Proof, Don Was and Mike Clark. And don’t forget the classics! | |
| TSSAAPR250924 | 2025-09-24 | Peace, Happiness, and a lil Fussin’ | This episode provides a hopeful, aspirational mix of Sheila E., Staple Singers, Curtis Mayfield and others. Hour Two features a few tracks that exemplify free speech toward chief execs from both sides of the aisle. Catharsis and reflection are real. | |
| TSSAAPR250917 | 2025-09-17 | The Soul Show: All Day Horns, Revisited | Every year or two, host Mike Canton presents a theme suggested by a longtime listener. “All Day Horns” is exactly what you’d expect and enjoy, so enjoy! | Last time 2023? |
| TSSAAPR250910 | 2025-09-10 | TSSAAPR250910 The Soul Show: Top Ten Albums (2018-2021) | Join host Mike Canton for a presentation of annual favorite albums from 2018 through 2021, as documented in Pittsburgh City Paper’s entertainment section and The Soul Show’s website, soulshowmike.orgKeeping with the usual wide music timeline of TSS, alternating sets will feature the Old School of Etta James, Gladys Knight, Al Green and more. | |
| TSSAAPR250903 | 2025-09-03 | Snapshots of Ages Past | As additional spice to the regular eclectic offerings, host Mike Canton revisits playlist segments from years 2017, 2018, 2020 and 2021. It’s a little bit of musical timecapsulin’. Enjoy. (Yes, Mikey is feeling a little nostalgic about the 30y history of TSS.) | |
| TSSAAPR250827 | 2025-08-27 | Ballads, Faves, ’25 jazzspeak | In this episode, The Soul Show delves into “Ballads,” a mini-presentation of slow love songs from Otis Redding, Aretha Franklin and other masters of this R&B subgenre. Also, in an ongoing celebration of the program’s 30th year, host Mike Canton presents some “Founder Faves” of early hosts Don Patterson and Stef Chatman. New music from Nori, led by Akina Adderley of the famous musical clan. Also, a 2025 jazzspeak piece from the contemplative Lisa Marie Simmons. Enjoy. | 2025 Akina and Lisa Marie Simmons; Founder Faves |
| TSSAAPR250820 | 2025-08-20 | Jazz Great Christian McBride with The Police and L.T.D. | Join Mike Canton as he cracks open Christian McBride’s new album, revisiting 70s/80s classics with Sting and Jeffrey Osborne. Also, don’t miss Hour 2’s segment of Psychedelic Soul. You many never have heard Bloodstone (“Natural High”) this way. | |
| TSSAAPR250813 | 2025-08-13 | The Soul Show: Eddie Palmieri, an Astronaut, and three Bettys | Join The Soul Show’s Mike Canton for a tribute to Latin jazz legend Eddie Palmieri, with focus on his landmark album Harlem River Drive. Also, an Hour 2 trilogy of songs by Betty(e)s LaVette, Swann and Davis. TSS also honors Apollo 13’s Jim Lovell with one of Mike’s essential space-themed tracks. Otherwise, it’s the usual cornucopia of fine music. Come and enjoy. | Tribute |
| TSSAAPR250806 | 2025-08-06 | TSSAAPR250806 The Soul Show | Join host/producer Mike Canton for another eclectic brew of R&B-centric music. 2020s tracks from Savants of Soul, Jake Blount and Jyoti are in the mix, along with feel-good classics from Jean Knight and The Commodores. Also, in Hour Two there’s a focus on the music of 1970s label juggernaut, Philly International (O’Jays, Bunny Sigler, …). Enjoy. | Philadelphia International |
| TSSAAPR250730 | 2025-07-30 | 25 Lakecia Benjamin, a Fistful of P-Funk | Join TSS host/producer Mike Canton for another delve into the R&B expanse. New music includes a ‘25 single from Lakecia Benjamin, the jazz saxophonist on an otherworldly trajectory. Also, just for the groove of it, Hour 2 of 3 offers an extended set from the P-Funk Empire. Enjoy. | |
| TSSAAPR250723 | 2025-07-23 | Theo and Ozzy | Join Mike Canton for tributes to Malcolm-Jamal Warner and Ozzy Osbourne. You’ll be awestruck by the covers of Sabbath tunes by R&B artists, and you might not know of Warner’s spoken-word work in the Black Radio trilogy. | |
| TSSAAPR250716 | 2025-07-16 | Omar’s 2025 “Brighten The Days” | On The Soul Show this week, host Mike Canton presents music from UK neo-soulster Omar. His 2025 album release in “Brighter The Days.” Also, we dig into the usual cornucopia of modern and classic and mainstream and slightly divergent. It’s always a creative, thoughtful mix. | |
| TSSAAPR250709 | 2025-07-09 | Sweet Honey | Join host Mike Canton for a rebroadcast of his Bernice Johnson Reagon tribute episode, originally aired in July 2024. Dr. Reagon was the founder of the a capella female ensemble Sweet Honey In The Rock. | Rerun |
| TSSAAPR250702 | 2025-07-02 | Walter Scott of The Whispers, plus Road Trippin’ music | On The Soul Show, Mike Canton pays tribute to Walter Scott of The Whispers. There’s also new music from funk/rock’s NASH.V.ILL. Mike brings end-to-end music for the road in Hour Two of TSS, including Eddie Kendricks, Merry Clayton (of “Gimme Shelter” fame), and Sheila E. | |
| TSSAAPR250625 | 2025-06-25 | Kiwi Soul from Evan Silva, and more | ||
| TSSAAPR250618 | 2025-06-18 | The War and Treaty, Otis Redding, more | Before the new craze, there were artists like Ray Charles (“Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music”), Lionel Richie/The Commodores (“Easy,” “Sail On”), Charlie Pride, and The War and Treaty, who released their fifth album in 2025. The Soul Show features “Plus One” this week. We’ll also sample a new live Alicia Olatuja/Sean Jones release, in which they honor 70s/80s R&B star Angela Bofill. Of course, there will be some original Bofill as well.Host Mike Canton takes you back to the Sixties, and recounts Otis Redding’s last performance, supplemented by archival materials and interviews at his SOULSHOWMIKE.ORG website. | Country |
| TSSAAPR250611 | 2025-06-11 | Sly | This episode of The Soul Show is all about Sly Stone: origins, breakout solo work, The Family Stone, Woodstock, spawnings, homage. It’s an evergreen presentation for the ages.Also, we remember Wayne Lewis, a founding member of the R&B outfit Atlantic Starr.Evergreen hints of Dad Day are sprinkled through the show: The Winstons, Gil Scott-Heron, Also, Nori, the Austin-based group fronted by Akina Adderley of the famous clan, has a 2025 single | 2025 Nori |
| TSSAAPR250604 | 2025-06-04 | 2025 Adrian Younge and Kandace Springs, plus the Gamut | This episode of The Soul Show features a couple of 2025 releases: (1) Adrian Younge’s melding of past cinematic and Brazilian projects into “Something About April III” (2) Kandace Springs’ lush “Lady In Satin” homage to Billie Holiday. | 2025 Adrian Younge, Kandace Springs |
| TSSAAPR250528 | 2025-05-28 | TSSAAPR250528 The Soul Show: ’25 Daptone releases, classics, dub, Duke to Zappa | 2025 music from Daptone stablemates Thee Sacred Souls and Ngonda, classics from The Womack Brothers and Aretha, Sa-Roc and Sudan Archives of the modern era. A dub coma from Barrington Levy, and extended live tracks from War, Auger, Robert Randolph. Lots in between. Enjoy. There’s even a thread from G. Duke to Zappa. | 2025 Thee Sacred Souls, Ngonda; live tracks |
| TSSAAPR250521 | 2025-05-21 | A Real Doozy | 2025 music that includes a track from the inimitable Brian The reissuance of a 1973 jazz-funk “cult” album by Hammond specialist Charles Kynard, longtime Gil Scott-Heron collaboratorA celebration of Stevie Wonder at 75 in ‘25, with a track from ‘85’s “In Square Circle,” his 20th albumA tribute to 1985’s eponymous freshman release by Alexander O’Neal, with links to Mike’s interviews with O’Neal and collaborators Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. O’Neal was one step away from being the lead singer of The Time. | Stevie Wonder 75, 1985 Alexander O’Neal |
| TSSAAPR250514 | 2025-05-14 | ’25 Freedom Affair, ’75 Average White Band | ||
| TSSAAPR250507 | 2025-05-07 | Celestial | ||
| TSSAAPR250430 | 2025-04-30 | Rerun? | ||
| TSSAAPR250423 | 2025-04-23 | The Reemergence of Nat Adderley, Jr. | Join TSS host/producer Mike Canton for a presentation of 2025 music by Nat, Jr. of the Adderley music dynasty. As icing on the cake, Nat sits down for an interview with Mike, covering the trajectory from the 1970s with his teen band, Natural Essence; the explosive success of the Luther Vandross years; and now, his explorations into jazz. To add the necessary spice, we’ll play tracks from all three eras, plus a Nat, Sr. composition, and a piece from 3rd-gen Akina Adderley. | |
| TSSAAPR250416 | 2025-04-16 | Remembering Brass Construction’s 1975 Debut, and more | Join host & producer Mike Canton for a new episode of The Soul Show. In its usual 50- or 60-year span of presentation, one highlight is 1975’s debut of Brass Construction. Also, check out an ongoing dive into 2025’s latest releases. Enjoy. Read the full description. Piece Audio | 1975 Brass Construction |
| TSSAAPR250409 | 2025-04-09 | Reeling In 2025 (evergreen) | Following a busy BHM and WHM (and many artist tributes), TSS catches up on many of the releases that happened in Q1 of 2025: Butcher Brown, Yukimi, Haviah Mighty, Branford Marsalis, Adrian Younge and more. | 2025 Butcher Brown, Yukimi, Haviah Mighty, Branford Marsalis, Adrian Younge |
| TSSAAPR250402 | 2025-04-02 | The Soul Show: The Unusual & Eclectic | Join Host/Producer Mike Canton for another episode of The Soul Show, aired on WYEP for almost 30 years, and now airing across the US and Caribbean. | |
| TSSAAPR250326 | 2025-03-26 | The Soul Show: Women of Funk, Rock and Psychedelia | Join veteran host/producer Mike Canton for another professionally eclectic brew of soul, fusion, reggae and more. The Soul Show was founded at WYEP Pittsburgh in 1995. | Rerun, originally 23.03.01 |
| TSSAAPR250319 | 2025-03-19 | Women of Instruments | For WHM Weekend Four, we celebrate female intrumentalists: Aretha, Barbara Lynn, Rhiannon Giddens and more. One highlight of the episode is Cynthia Robinson on extended trumpet solo with Sly at the Fillmore. Join me. | |
| TSSAAPR250312 | 2025-03-12 | Women’s Groups, plus tributes to Roy Ayers and D’Wayne Wiggins | Tribute | |
| TSSAAPR250305 | 2025-03-05 | Angie Stone, plus All Day Women | As part of his 2025 Women’s History Month programming, Mike Canton presents the annual “All Day Women” episode. A tribute to Angie Stone is included in Hours One and Two. | Tribute |
| TSSAAPR250226 | 2025-02-26 | Tribute to Flack, McCrae, Butler, Jasper | Host/Producer Mike Canton presents an expansive, informative tribute to four groundbreaking artists who passed away in February 2025. Roberta Flack was one of the most present voices of the Seventies. Gwen McCrae had multiple hits with the Miami label TK records, both solo and with husband George McCrae. Jerry Butler found early success with The Impressions in the Fifties, then moved on to solo success in the Sixties and beyond. Chris Jasper, a relative of the Isley Brothers, was instrumental in the group’s transformation from a vocal trio to a funk/rock powerhouse ensemble. | Tribute |
| TSSAAPR250219 | 2025-02-19 | Bob Marley’s 80th | Join The Soul Show’s host Mike Canton for a celebration of Bob Marley, who would have turned 80 in 2025. He began his push of reggae to the world in the early seventies. Mike begins with the first US-bound recordings, then moves forward in the discography, also touching on works from his early Wailer bandmates Bunny Wailer and Peter Tosh. | |
| TSSAAPR250212 | 2025-02-12 | Miles Of Fusion (BHM Weekend Three) | Join host/producer Mike Canton for a celebration of the jazz/rock fusion era championed by Miles Davis in the late sixties. Mike presents Miles’ own work, plus that of bands spawned by his collaborators: Weather Report, Headhunters, Return To Forever and Mahavishnu Orchestra. | |
| TSSAAPR250205 | 2025-02-05 | Earth, Wind & Fire, and the Rest of Chicago’s Soul | Host/Producer Mike Canton pays homage to Earth, Wind & Fire’s 1975 masterpiece, “That’s The Way Of The World,” and digs deeply into the overall soul heritage of the Windy City. Let us savor Chicago luminaries like EWF’s Chicagoan leader, Maurice White, the songwriting duo of Barbara Acklin/Eugene Record, latter-day outfits like Sidewalk Chalk and Sonia Dada, and more. | 1975, City, Cities |
| TSSAAPR250129 | 2025-01-29 | The Epicenter of Funk, plus NASH.V.ILL covers Betty Davis | Join Mike Canton for a dive into Dayton, OH, the city that spawned bands like Lakeside, Heatwave and the Ohio Players. As part of the presentation, musician Jared Michael Nickerson is interviewed about the funk birthing of his hometown. | City, Cities, 2025 Nash.V.Ill |
| TSSAAPR250122 | 2025-01-22 | Rerun? | ||
| TSSAAPR250115 | 2025-01-15 | Tributes to Brenton Wood and Sam Moore, and morè | Join host/producer Mike Canton for some of the first music to emerge in 2025, but let’s also celebrate the 50th anniversary of Minnie Riperton’s third release and second madame_piece, “Adventures In Paradise.” The woman of five octaves joined forces with writers Leon Ware (Michael Jackson, Marvin Gaye) and Joe Sample (The Crusaders) to create this Epic release for the ages. | 1975 |
| TSSAAPR250108 | 2025-01-08 | ’25’s 1st music, + 50 Years of Minnie’s “Adventures” | ||
| TSSAAPR250101 | 2025-01-01 | Soulful Departures | Join host/producer Mike Canton for the annual memorial episode, “Soulful Departures 2024.” This is an evergreen presentation that includes members of The Four Tops, Sweet Honey In The Rock, Heatwave and many others. A notable highlight is the recent interview of Mandrill guitarist Omar Mesa, reflecting on a 50-year friendship with departed bandmate Claude “Coffee” Cave. Tune in for something special. | |
| TSSAAPR241225 | 2024-12-25 | Top Ten Albums of 2024 | Join host/producer Mike Canton for his annual Top Ten Albums presentation. It’s always a good wrap-up of the year. There are surprises, emerging artists, and one who’s made the list with three consecutive releases. Enjoy, and catch more insights in Mike’s writeup at soulshowmike.org. | |
| TSSAAPR241218 | 2024-12-18 | The Soul Show’s Holiday Special | ||
| TSSAAPR241211 | 2024-12-11 | Spotlight on Bilal’s 2024 Release, “Adjust Brightness” | After a couple of totally retrospective episodes, Mike swings the focus to the present. Bilal has a new album, and we’ll swing through some tracks in Hour 2 of 3. | |
| TSSAAPR241204 | 2024-12-04 | The Year 1970 | Join Mike Canton for a spotlight episode on 1970, the first year of an amazing music decade. Parliament/Funkadelic’s first releases, the burgeoning psychedelic soul era, The Supremes without Diana Ross, Miles Davis’ breakthrough jazz fusion and more are elements of this 3-hour presentation. | |
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