(VIRTUAL) Songs of the Springs: Henry Glover, Louis Jordan, and the Spa City’s connections to the creation of R&B

Program livestreamed at facebook.com/garlandcountylibrary and youtube.com/garlandcolibrary

This program is sponsored by the Garland County Historical Society, and presented by Stephen Koch, famous locally for his radio program “Arkansongs”

This presentation explores the lives and music of Glover and Jordan, two giants of popular American song with Hot Springs connections whose incredible legacies are often overlooked. Key songs over their separate careers will be detailed and explored, as well as aspects of their lives in Hot Springs and beyond.

Koch has long championed both Glover and Jordan. He’s a musician, illustrator, and an award-winning journalist in both broadcasting and print — and is writer/host of “Arkansongs,” heard weekly on public radio stations across Arkansas, north and central Louisiana, and east Texas. He’s author of the biography Louis Jordan: Son of Arkansas, Father of R&B, as well as “Jump!,” a musical based on Jordan’s life, and hosted annual Louis Jordan Tribute concerts for more than a decade. Stephen was also instrumental in the centennial celebrations honoring Hot Springs native Henry Glover earlier this year.

As an illustrator, Stephen’s work is currently on tour with the Small Works On Paper juried art exhibition. He has a series of graphic novel coloring books called “Ozark Murder Ballads Illustrated,” based on traditional Ozark folk songs of crime and retribution.

As a musician, Stephen performs his own originals and songs made famous by Arkansas legends. He’s spoken and performed at folk and blues festivals around the US as well as in the UK. His rock band ARKOPOLIS has two albums, “Excruciating Circumstances,” and the forthcoming “Grand Mal.”

“Arkansongs” can be heard in Hot Springs at 6:40 a.m. and 6:20 p.m. on Fridays on KUAR 89.1, and at 9:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. Mondays on KUHS 102.5.