Alvin Youngblood Hart, born Gregory Edward Hart in Oakland, California, on March 6, 1963, seemed destined by geography for psychedelic rock or funk. Instead he became one of the most authentic torchbearers of deep Mississippi country blues. This episode traces the two environments that shaped him: the urban energy of Oakland and the formative time he spent in Carroll County, Mississippi, where older relatives played regional country blues on porches and in living rooms, passing down a living oral tradition.

We follow his breakthrough at Yoshi's in Oakland, a four-night run opening for Taj Mahal that earned him a powerful endorsement, and his 1996 debut Big Mama's Door on the historic OKeh label. From there the episode charts his W.C. Handy Award for Best New Artist, his album Territory, and the way he refused to be boxed in as an acoustic t ...