This week’s Classic Americana pick honors a hitmaking singer who also became a champion for people with speech impairment: Mel Tillis.

Sunday morning on Radio Heartland on The Current we’ll hear some new material from the Wood Brothers, Taj Mahal and Keb’ Mo’, The Accidentals and Patty Griffin. We’ll celebrate the birthday of the late great Michael Johnson and also toast Rodney Crowell on his birthday as well.

For this week’s Classic Americana pick, we spotlight an artist known as a godfather of Americana: Rodney Crowell. He’s an artist who has written many songs for other artists, and he also has enjoyed success as a singer-songwriter under his own name.

The mandolin virtuoso captivates with her deep storytelling and incredibly fast fingerpicking.

Sunday morning on Radio Heartland on The Current, we’ll celebrate the birthday of the great Roger McGuinn of the Byrds. We will also listen to some new music from The Mammals, The Accidentals, local sounds from Alan Subola and also Erik Koskinen. And we’ll have a new tune from long time partners in music, and life, Tim O’Brien and Jan Fabricious.

For this week’s Classic Americana pick, we celebrate Carly Simon, one of the most prolific and dominant singer-songwriters of the late 20th century, whose career continues to this day.

Citing increased rent and a desire to retire, the store’s owners say the business will shutter on July 31.

The Eau Claire, Wisconsin, five-piece Americana outfit performed a session for Radio Heartland.

Sunday morning on Radio Heartland on The Current, we’ll welcome Them Coulee Boys into our studio to chat and play some tunes from their latest record, “No Fun in the Crysalis”. We’ll also have new music from Mary Chapin Carpenter, local guitar slinger Jeff Ray, the Boston string band Grain Thief and a lovely single from Maia Sharp as well.

For this week’s Classic Americana pick, we mark the 100th anniversary of the birth of legendary performer Clifton Chenier, known as the King of Zydeco.