Christopher Wyze & The Tellers Release NAPTOWN BLUES Single
The stripped-down acoustic album honors blues pioneers Leroy Carr and Scrapper Blackwell ahead of its full release.
Big Radio Records artist Christopher Wyze & The Tellers have returned with their latest single, 'Naptown Blues,' out today, which is also the title track from their forthcoming album, due October 2. Originally recorded in 1929 by Indianapolis blues legends Leroy Carr and Scrapper Blackwell, the song sets the tone for the 11-track project, which pays tribute to the rich blues history of Indianapolis and the groundbreaking music of Carr and Blackwell. Their work helped establish Indianapolis as an influential force in the blues, and with 'Naptown Blues,' Wyze and The Tellers honor that legacy while bringing their own voice and perspective to the music that helped shape the city's musical and cultural history.
'We wanted to approach this project in a way that felt true to the music Leroy Carr and Scrapper Blackwell created,' says Wyze. 'There are no drums or percussion on the album, and we relied heavily on acoustic instruments, including guitar, bass, and harmonica. Keeping the arrangements stripped down and centered around a single vocal allowed us to capture the intimacy and raw character of those early recordings while still giving the songs our own identity.'
Why This History Matters
Naptown Blues highlights the significance of Leroy Carr and Scrapper Blackwell's pioneering works. Their distinctive style defined the sound of Indianapolis blues, helping to establish the city as an important contributor to American blues music in the late 1920s and 1930s.
Their recordings brought a sophisticated, relaxed approach to the blues, blending Carr's distinctive piano and vocals with Blackwell's elegant guitar work to create a sound that influenced generations of blues, R&B, and rock musicians. Their 1928 recording of 'How Long, How Long Blues' helped popularize the piano and guitar duo format, while recordings such as 'Midnight Hour Blues,' 'In the Evening' and 'Hurry Down Sunshine' introduced their Indianapolis sound to audiences across the country. Blackwell's 'Kokomo Blues' also provided the foundation for Robert Johnson's later classic 'Sweet Home Chicago.' Together, Carr and Blackwell helped define an Indianapolis blues sound that would leave a lasting mark on American music, influencing artists from Robert Johnson and Ray Charles to Charles Brown and Eric Clapton.
More information is available at christopherwyzeandthetellers.com.
About Christopher Wyze & The Tellers
Christopher Wyze & The Tellers blend the grit of traditional blues with the storytelling spirit of Americana, creating a sound that's raw, soulful, and unmistakably their own. Led by frontman and songwriter Christopher Wyze, the band's music captures life's highs, heartbreaks, and hard-earned lessons with honesty and fire. Their debut album, Stuck in the Mud, earned international acclaim and won the 2025 Blues Blast Music Award for Best New Artist Debut Album, landing on blues charts around the world. With authentic lyricism, powerhouse musicianship, and an energy that connects across generations, Christopher Wyze & The Tellers are redefining what modern blues can be—real, rootsy, and relentlessly human.
