Salt Lick Sessions has launched a new multimedia performance and conversation program titled Songs of U.S. to coincide with the 250th anniversary of the United States. The series features musicians from varied genres reinterpreting historical tracks that have shaped national cultural identity. This week, vocalists Mickey Guyton and Samara Joy serve as the central featured artists for the project’s digital rollout.
The digital platform premiered a performance by Samara Joy featuring her rendition of the Duke Ellington composition “Le Sucrier-Velours,” which includes original lyrics written by the artist. Additional upcoming video releases from Joy include covers of “Stablemates” by the Miles Davis Quintet on June 30 and Jerri Winters’ “Spring Can Really Hang You Up The Most” on July 1. In accompanying interview footage, Joy discusses the structural timeline of how obscure compositions transition into recognized jazz standards over generations.
Country music artist Mickey Guyton is scheduled to release an in-depth interview alongside a cover performance of John Denver’s “Take Me Home, Country Roads” on Thursday, July 2. The singer will follow the covers package with a live performance of her original pandemic-era track “All American” on Friday, July 3. Guyton’s commentary focuses on her perspective regarding cultural diversity and music as an active medium for national advocacy.
The ongoing summer broadcast schedule initially debuted earlier this month with Amy Grant performing a reimagined version of the James Taylor track “Carolina in My Mind.” Previous workshop installations have featured Grace Potter examining the historical verses of “This Land Is Your Land” and Otis Williams of The Temptations speaking on music as an educational tool. A multi-part session featuring the group Tiny Habits also launched its initial content rollout on June 25.
The production lineup will continue releasing media content throughout the summer, with upcoming performances from artists including Durand Bernarr, Brandy Clark, Swamp Dogg, and Joy Oladokun. Future video drops on the distributor’s YouTube and social channels will feature covers of songs originally written by Woody Guthrie, Nina Simone, Bob Dylan, and Beyoncé. The broader performance tracklist covers traditional American repertoire ranging from “Amazing Grace” to “Ain’t No Sunshine.”
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