“Soul Sauce” with Vocalo’s Ayana Contreras comes to WBEZ weekends this December

Dance party pop-up show brings R&B and Soul classics to WBEZ this holiday season

“Soul Sauce” with Vocalo’s Ayana Contreras comes to WBEZ weekends this December

Dance party pop-up show brings R&B and Soul classics to WBEZ this holiday season

CHICAGO (December 1, 2021) – As the end of 2021 draws near, WBEZ Chicago is bringing joy to the holiday season this December by presenting Soul Sauce, a pop-up music special hosted by Vocalo’s Ayana Contreras.

Each weekend in December, Soul Sauce will be a dance party featuring three packed hours of R&B and Soul classics from Chicago and beyond. The special will air on 91.5, WBEZ Chicago Saturdays from 7-10 p.m. and repeat Sundays 1-4 p.m. all December long. Find it on the new WBEZ mobile app, and on smart speakers by saying “play WBEZ.”

“Like so many Chicagoans, I grew up listening to legendary radio disc jockey Herb Kent’s appointment listening on the weekends,” said Contreras. “I knew he was doing more than just spinning records. He was reinforcing the ties that bind people together with powerful soul music and culture, much of which was birthed right here and something that I want to make sure stays alive.”

Ayana Contreras - Profile
Ayana was a 2014-15 Arts & Public Life Artist-in-Residence at The University of Chicago, and is a 2015 Association of Independents in Radio New Voices Scholar. Katherine Nagasawa / WBEZ
“The gift that I wanted to give to Chicago this holiday season is a classic soul music program featuring the music that has populated rumpus room parties, backyard barbecues and sock hops in Chicago for decades,” she continued. “I hope it’s the perfect soundtrack to celebrate all we hold dear as a city.”

Contreras is the Content Director for Vocalo, WBEZ’s sister station that features urban alternative music on 91.1FM and at vocalo.org. She is an avid collector of vintage vinyl records and also hosts Vocalo’s Reclaimed Soul, a weekend radio show featuring deep soul cuts and exclusive interviews. A reviewer and contributor to DownBeat and NPR’s New Music Friday podcast, most recently, Contreras is the author of Energy Never Dies: Afro Optimism & Creativity in Chicago.

Listeners can catch the Soul Sauce pop-up show on WBEZ at 91.5FM or stream the show live on wbez.org and the WBEZ app. Listeners can also submit artist requests through soulsauce@wbez.org.

“Soul Sauce” Program Playlist
December 4, 2021

  • “Back Stabbers” by The O’Jays

  • “Rolling Down The Mountainside” by Isaac Hayes

  • “Right On The Tip Of My Tongue” by Brenda & The Tabulations

  • “I’m Not Ready To Settle Down” by Little Ben & The Cheers

  • “Soul Finger” by The Bar-Kays

  • “Follow The Leader” by Major Lance

  • “You’re Tuff Enough” by Junior Wells

  • “Love Or Let Me Be Lonely” by Friends of Distinction

  • “On & On” by Gladys Knight & The Pips

  • “You Are Everything” by Stylistics

  • “Yes I’m Ready” by Gladys Knight & The Pips

  • “You’re Still A Young Man” by Tower of Power

  • “So I Can Love You” by Emotions

  • “Lost” by Jerry Butler

  • “Keep On Keepin On” by Curtis Mayfield

  • “Sleigh Ride” by Soulful Strings

  • “Cherish” by Four Tops

  • “Can You Remember” by The Jackson 5

  • “Be Thankful For What You Got” by William DeVaughn

  • “Am I The Same Girl” by Barbara Acklin

  • “Silver Bells” by Booker T. & The MGs

  • “Baby Baby Don’t Cry” by Smokey Robinson & The Miracles

  • “Can I Change My Mind” by Tyrone Davis

  • “Hypnotized” by Linda Jones

  • “Like To Get To Know You” by Spanky & Our Gang

  • “Follow Your Heart” by The Manhattans

  • Get On Up” by The Esquires

  • “Ace Of Spades” by O.V. Wright

  • “Ain’t No Love In The Heart Of The City” by Bobby “Blue” Bland

  • “Cry To Me” by Solomon Burke

  • “Truly Yours” by The Spinners

  • “The Entertainer” by Tony Clarke

  • “Delfonics Theme” by The Delfonics

  • “Danger! She’s A Stranger” by Five Stairsteps

  • “Love Maze” by The Temprees

  • “Fantasy” by Earth, Wind & Fire

  • “Do Me Right” by Detroit Emeralds

  • “Until You Come Back To Me” by Aretha Franklin

  • “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” by Smokey Robinson & The Miracles

  • “I Can Understand It” by New Birth

  • “Say You” by The Monitors

  • “Doin It To Death” by The JBs

  • “Love is What You Make It” by Sweet Cherries

  • “In The Rain” by The Dramatics

  • “Familiar Footsteps” by Gene Chandler

December 11, 2021

  • Grazing in the Grass” by Hugh Masekela

  • Jan Jan” by Fabulous Counts

  • Selfish One” by Jackie Ross

  • Tell It Like It Is” by Aaron Neville

  • The Bells” by The Originals

  • Betcha By Golly Wow” by The Stylistics

  • I’m Gonna Make You Love Me” by The Supremes and The Temptations

  • “Somebody Loves You Back” by Teddy Pendergrass

  • I’ve Got To Have You” by Fantastic Four

  • Lovely Way She Loves” by The Moments

  • Never Give You Up” by Jerry Butler

  • Funky Chicken” by Willie Henderson

  • So Very Hard To Go” by Tower of Power

  • Spinning Around” by The Main Ingredient

  • The One Who Really Loves You” by Mary Wells

  • Tell Him” by Patti Drew

  • Café Regio’s” by Isaac Hayes

  • Everybody Needs Love” by Gladys Knight & The Pips

  • Nature Planned It” by Four Tops

  • Stoned Out Of My Mind” by Chi-Lites

  • I’m Still In Love With You” by Al Green

  • Hurts So Bad” by Little Anthony & The Imperials

  • Get Up, Get Down” by The Dramatics

  • Soul Makossa” by Manu Dibango

  • Natural High” by Bloodstone

  • Now That We Found Love” by The O’Jays

  • United” by Peaches and Herb

  • Tighten Up” by Archie Bell & The Drells

  • What Am I Gonna Do” by Martha Reeves and The Vandellas

  • I Loved And I Lost” by The Impressions

  • Ooh Baby Baby” by The Miracles

  • I’m Still Here” The Notations

  • That’s The Way I Feel Aboutcha” by Aretha Franklin

  • Bring It Up” by James Brown

  • One Woman” by Jo Ann Garrett

  • Green Onions” by Booker T. & The MGs

  • Work To Do (Live)”  by The Isley Brothers

  • I Do Love You” by Billy Stewart

  • Remember The Rain” by 21st Century

  • To Be True” by Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes

  • Together” by The Intruders

  • God Is Love (45 Mix)” by Marvin Gaye

  • Want Ads” by Honey Cone

  • Sing A Simple Song” by Sly & The Family Stone

  • Pass The Peas” by The J.B.’s

  • Misdemeanor” by Foster Sylvers

  • Papillon (AKA Hot Butterfly)” by Chaka Khan

  • Love Is The Message” by MFSB

December 18, 2021

  • Sitting In The Park” by Billy Stewart

  • “Hey Romeo” by The Sequins

  • How Could I Let You Get Away” by The Spinners

  • Hey There Lonely Girl” by Eddie Holman

  • All Day Music” by War

  • What Does It Take (To Win Your Love)” by Jr. Walker & The All Stars

  • Jealous Guy” by Donny Hathaway

  • Just Don’t Want To Be Lonely” by The Main Ingredient

  • Don’t Let Me Lose This Dream” by Aretha Franklin

  • You Are Welcome, Stop On By” by Bobby Womack

  • If It Ain’t Love, It Don’t Matter” by The Glass House

  • Ain’t Nothing Like The Real Thing” by Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell

  • Soothe Me” by Sam & Dave

  • There’ll Come A Time” by Betty Everett

  • Stay In My Corner” by The Dells

  • Turn Back The Hands Of Time” by Tyrone Davis

  • Got To Give It Up” by Marvin Gaye

  • Where is the Love” by Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway

  • Love Oh Love” by Leroy Hutson

  • Evil” by Earth, Wind & Fire

  • I Love You 1000 Times” by The Platters

  • So Nice” by The Mad Lads

  • Maybe” by The Three Degrees

  • The Love I Lost, Pt. 1” by Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes

  • You Are My Everything” by The Temptations

  • Look At Me Now” by Terry Callier

  • It’s Just A Game, Love” by Peaches & Herb

  • Give Me Your Love (Love Song)” by Curtis Mayfield

  • Yes, I’m Ready” by Barbara Mason

  • Going In Circles” by Friends of Distinction

  • Look Me Up” by Blue Magic

  • Super Bad (Pt. 1)” by James Brown

  • Yes We Can Can” by Pointer Sisters

  • Never Get to Heaven” by The Stylistics

  • Why Can’t We Live Together” by Timmy Thomas

  • Dreaming Out of Season” by The Montclairs

  • Slow And Easy” by Otis Clay

  • My Guy” by Mary Wells

  • Hey Love” by Stevie Wonder

  • Break Your Promise” by The Delfonics

  • Try Me Tonight” by Johnnie Taylor

  • Nothing Can Change This Love” by Sam Cooke

  • Help Me Find A Way” by Little Anthony & the Imperials

  • Who Has The Last Laugh Now” by Bloodstone

December 25, 2021

  • Signs of Christmas” by James Brown

  • “Give It Away” by The Chi-Lites

  • Bernadette” by The Four Tops

  • Michael The Lover” by The C.O.D.’s

  • You Ought To Be With Me” by Al Green

  • Give Me Just a Little More Time” by Chairmen of the Board

  • The Player” by First Choice

  • A Piece of the Action” by Mavis Staples

  • Too Late To Turn Back Now” by Cornelius Brothers & Sister Rose

  • The Language of Love” by The Intrigues

  • Waiting Was Not In Vain” by Tyrone Davis

  • Clean Up Woman” by Betty Wright

  • I’m Gonna Miss You” by The Artistics

  • Duke of Earl” by Gene Chandler

  • The Madison Time” by Ray Bryant Combo

  • Sleigh Ride” by Soulful Strings

  • Merry Christmas, Baby” by Soulful Strings

  • Black Christmas” by The Emotions

  • Elephant Walk” by Donald & The Delighters

  • So Much Love” by Faith Hope & Charity

  • Grazin’ In The Grass” by Friends of Distinction

  • I’ll Love You Forever” by The Holidays

  • Why Can’t We Be Lovers” by Holland-Dozier featuring Lamont Dozier

  • Hey Love” by The Delfonics

  • Julia” by Ramsey Lewis

  • I Am Your Man” by Bobby Taylor & The Vancouvers

  • The Big Payback” by James Brown

  • Mr. Penguin” by Lunar Funk

  • Making My Daydream Real” by We The People

  • Son of Sagittarius” by Eddie Kendricks

  • Never Found A Girl” by Eddie Floyd

  • Dry Your Eyes” by Brenda & The Tabulations

  • My Favorite Things” by The Supremes

  • This Christmas” by Donny Hathaway

  • How Does It Feel” by Jerry Butler

  • Love Jones” by Brighter Side of Darkness

  • My Conscience” by The Lovelites

  • My Mistake (Was To Love You)” Marvin Gaye & Diana Ross

  • I Can’t Stop Dancing” by Archie Bell And The Drells

  • Look Over Your Shoulder” by The Escorts

  • You Beat Me To The Punch” by Mary Wells

  • Who’s That Lady” by The Isley Brothers

  • So Unusual” by The Impressions

  • Footsteps” by The Creations

  • “Try A Little Tenderness” by Otis Redding

  • B-A-B-Y” by Carla Thomas

  • Hello Stranger” by Barbara Lewis

  • Happy Holidays” by Ohio Players

January 1, 2022

  • “End Of Our Road” by Marvin Gaye

  • “Woman’s Gotta Have It” by Bobby Womack

  • “Have You Seen Her” by The Chi-Lites

  • “Think About Loving You” by Earth, Wind & Fire

  • “Tell Me Where It Hurts” by Walter Jackson

  • “People Make the World Go Round” by The Stylistics

  • “What’s Come Over Me” by Blue Magic and Margie Joseph

  • “The Makings Of You” by Gladys Knight & The Pips

  • “Still Water (Love)” by Four Tops

  • “You’ll Lose A Good Thing” by Barbara Lynn

  • “It’s Your Thing” by The Isley Brothers

  • “Unhooked Generation” by Freda Payne

  • “Licking Stick” by James Brown

  • “Party Down” by Little Beaver

  • “Honey Child” by Bobby “Blue” Bland

  • “What’ve I Done (To Make You Mad)” by Linda Jones

  • “Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me)” by The Temptations

  • “I Can’t Work No Longer” by Billy Butler & The Chanters

  • “Little Red Rooster” by Sam Cooke

  • “Didn’t I (Blow Your Mind This Time)” by The Delfonics

  • “Man’s Temptation” by Gene Chandler

  • “Lovey Dovey” by The Clovers

  • “Impossible” by New Birth

  • “I’m The One” by Little Sister

  • “Movin’” by Brass Construction

  • “Mary Ann” by Ray Charles

  • “Whispers (Getting Louder)” by Jackie Wilson

  • “Don’t Mess With Bill” by The Marvelettes

  • “To Share Your Love” by Fantastic Four

  • “Hope That We Can Be Together Soon” by Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes featuring Sharon Paige

  • “Little Bluebird” by Johnnie Taylor

  • “Talking The Teenage Language” by The Lost Generation

  • “Baby Sitter” by Betty Wright

  • “I’ll Just Call You Honey” by Luther Ingram

  • “Pressure Cookin’” by LaBelle

  • “We Got To Stay Together” by Honey & The Bees

  • “Love Makes The World Go Round” by Barbara Lewis

  • “(I’m Going By) The Stars In Your Eyes” by The Dramatics

  • “Feel The Fire” by Peabo Bryson

  • “Can This Be Real” by The Natural Four

  • “And I Love Her” by Smokey Robinson & The Miracles

  • “What’s Going On [Live]” by Donny Hathaway

  • “Sunny [Live]” by Stevie Wonder

  • “Move On Up” by Curtis Mayfield