Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
Available On Air Stations
Watch Live

Nathan James and Ben Hernandez Perform American Roots Music

Ben Hernandez and Nathan James play bluesy American roots music right here in sunny San Diego. We'll talk with the versatile duo about the blues, playing the jug and the washboard and their many influ

Nathan James and Ben Hernandez Perform American Roots Music

Originally aired on December 13, 2007.

Tom Fudge : Imagine you're sitting around the house with your roommate who knows how to play the guitar. You know how to play the harmonica and both of you know how to sing. What's more, you've got a few odds-and-ends lying around the room: some spoons, a washtub, some coffee cans. It occurs to you that banging on some of that stuff might sound kind of cool.

Advertisement

 We don't know whether this was the way Ben Hernandez and Nathan James started making music. But it'll do until we hear the real story. Ben and Nathan are San Diego musicians. They both grew up in Southern California but they fell in love with the sound of country blues. They've distinguished themselves in many parts of the country, including the capital of country blues, Memphis, Tennessee.

Visit Nathan James and Ben Hernandez’s Web site for information about future performances.

  Guests

  • Nathan James, sings and plays guitar, banjo, and harmonica
  • Ben Hernandez, sings and plays harmonica, jug, washtub bass, washboard and kazoo.