Congratulations are in order for Tulane University professor and American Routes radio host Dr. Nicholas Spitzer, the recipient of 2013’s James William Rivers Prize in Louisiana Studies. Established in 1992, the award commemorates those who have contributed significantly — either recently or over the course of a career — to the body of the state’s scholarly discourse.

American Routes host, Tulane University Professor and 2013 James William Rivers Award Recipient Nick Spitzer

Spitzer, a professor of Anthropology and American Studies at Tulane University, is known outside of academic circles as the host of the longstanding, public radio program American Routes. The weekly, two-hour show produced in New Orleans and syndicated by more than 200 stations nationwide takes a look at the socio-cultural fabric of American music. Each segment of American Routes follows a series of songs and the stories that shape them as told through the musical journeys of its professors and purveyors. Founded in 1998, the show has featured such guests as Pete Seeger, Sonny Rollins, Allen Toussaint, Tom Waits, Chuck Berry, Ray Charles and Dr. John. American Routes airs on locally on WWNO (89.9FM) on Saturdays at 7:00 p.m. and Sundays at 6:00 p.m. Online listeners can tune in to the program as well as browse its archives at americanroutes.org.

A small reception to honor Dr. Spitzer will be held at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette’s Center for Louisiana Studies at 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, January 9, 2014. The James William Rivers Prize was created through private funds donated in the memory of its namesake, a New Orleans architect and university alumnus who died in 1991. Musician Zachary Richard and the recently deceased artist George Rodrigue were the prize’s previous two recipients. For more information, please contact the Center for Louisiana Studies at (337) 482-6027.