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As part of the Radio 2 Loves Jazz season, Clive Myrie’s Kings of Jazz celebrates the titans who shaped jazz, weaving together rare insights, unforgettable stories, and the voices of those who knew them best — with Clive’s own reflections on the music that shaped him.

Ray Charles broke every rule—blending blues, gospel, and swing into a style all his own. His son, Ray Charles Jr., takes us inside their home during his father’s golden era, sharing candid memories of fame, blindness, race, and the struggle with heroin.

Nat King Cole’s voice was velvet, his music timeless. His nephew, Lionel Cole, a singer in his own right, reveals how The Rat Pack entertained Nat in his final days, and the indelible impact of Cole’s legendary hits.

And then there’s Louis Armstrong, the man who made jazz a global language. We meet Enrico Tomasso, the young boy who played for Armstrong at Leeds Airport, only to find himself taken under Satchmo’s wing — a friendship that lasted a lifetime.

With extra contributions from the likes of Gregory Porter and Darius Brubeck, Clive Myrie’s Kings of Jazz is a tribute to the icons who shaped the music we love.