Echoes of Indiana Avenue

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Indiana Avenue’s Black Christmas Party

12/14/2025 • 17 min

On December 19, 1970, the Indianapolis affiliate of the Southern Leadership Conference’s Operation Breadbasket held a “Black Christmas Parade” on Indiana Avenue. The parade featured marching bands, floats, and local celebrities. The grand marshal of the parade was the Soul Saint, an Afrocentric version of Santa Claus. The “Black Christmas Parade” was part of a… Play episode

Celebrating Christmas at Sea Ferguson’s Cotton Club
Celebrating the musical collaboration of Wes Montgomery and Jimmy Smith
ARCHIVES: Rap Songs that Sampled the Avenue
Thanksgiving night dances on the Avenue
The early rock and roll heroes of Naptown
ARCHIVES: The Avenue as a Birthplace for Rock and Roll
B.B. King’s connection to Indiana Avenue
Remembering Jack DeJohnette through his work with Freddie Hubbard
The sorrowful blues of Naptown's Brooks Berry
James Moody and the jazz masters of Indiana Avenue
Naptown musicians on King Records
The Bebop Society of Indianapolis
Celebrating the music of Naptown bassist Heavy Swain – Part 3
Celebrating the music of Naptown bassist Heavy Swain – Part 2
Celebrating the music of Naptown bassist Heavy Swain – Part 1
The legendary Naptown gospel keyboardist Ezra Bufford
Oscar Peterson and the masters of Indiana Avenue jazz
The history of Rodney Stepp’s legendary Naptown funk band Rapture – Part 2
The history of Rodney Stepp’s legendary Naptown funk band Rapture – Part 1
The music of Naptown blues pianist Honey Hill – Part 3
The music of Naptown blues pianist Honey Hill – Part 2
The music of Naptown blues pianist Honey Hill
Remembering the vocalist and teacher Lexie Webster
The music of Indiana jazz trumpeter Reunald Jones – Part 3
The music of Indiana jazz trumpeter Reunald Jones – Part 2
The music of Indiana jazz trumpeter Reunald Jones – Part 1
The musical legacy of the Phyllis Wheatley YWCA
Exploring the history of female impersonators on the Avenue
Remembering Naptown funk musician DeMorris “DeGe” Smith
Phil Ranelin – Part 3: Remembering his work and friendship with Freddie Hu…
Phil Ranelin – Part 2: Reflecting on his work with Wes Montgomery
Phil Ranelin – Part 1: New releases and return to Indianapolis
The early years of Ebony Rhythm Funk Campaign’s Lester Johnson
Naptown pianists Herve Duerson and Turner Parrish
Indianapolis music legends discuss the history of Naptown funk
Indiana Avenue’s Bohemian Club
Freddie Hubbard rap samples
Roy Ayers’ Avenue connections
The early blues women of Naptown
The soul women of Indiana Avenue
Hazel Johnson's Women in Jazz festival
The best of The Hampton Sisters
Indiana Avenue Stomp – The music of Montana Taylor
The complete Pookie Johnson - Part 3
The complete Pookie Johnson - Part 2
The complete Pookie Johnson - Part 1
Remembering Reverend Dennis H. Freeman
MLK, civil rights, and gospel music
Origins of the name Naptown

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