Music & Culture

"I tell you," Mavis Staples says, "I watch the news sometimes and I think I'm back in the '60s." The gospel legend was recently recognized at the Kennedy Center Honors.

Music & Culture

For Mavis Staples, The Music Of The Civil Rights Era Couldn't Be More Relevant Today

5:06pm December 10, 2016

by NPR Staff

The gospel legend is now a Kennedy Center honoree. She discusses developing an iconic voice at a young age, her family's confrontations with racism and why she's a big fan of Chance The Rapper.

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Sporting a plastic cigar in his mouth, Danny Barker leads the Onward Brass Band in a parade at the 1974 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival.

Music & Culture

The Life Of Danny Barker, Who Saw Jazz As 'A Ride On A Royal Camel'

8:28am December 10, 2016

by NPR Staff

Barker played with everyone from Billie Holliday to Cab Calloway to Jelly Roll Morton. Scott Simon speaks with Music Inside Out host Gwen Thompkins about the late banjo player and guitarist's legacy.

Music & Culture

Remembering Four Electronic Musicians Lost In The Oakland Warehouse Fire

6:33pm December 09, 2016

by NPR Staff

One week ago, a fire ripped through an Oakland warehouse that was being used as a music venue and artist community. Hear the music of four up-and-coming electronic artists who died in that fire.

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Childish Gambino's new album, "Awaken, My Love!", is out now.

Music & Culture

Childish Gambino's New Album Is A Funky Left Turn

6:33pm December 09, 2016

by Tom Moon

While he was working on Atlanta, Donald Glover was also gathering musicians for soul jam sessions. "Awaken, My Love!" is an album of '70s throwback sounds that feels thrillingly alive.

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Music & Culture

Grover Washington, Jr. On Piano Jazz

5:48pm December 09, 2016

The Grammy-winning saxophonist plays Duke Ellington standards with host Marian McPartland in a 1994 session.

The singer Alsarah: "Sudanese people said I wasn't Sudanese enough. Arabs said I wasn't an Arab. Americans said I wasn't American. I used to be like, 'I don't belong anywhere! Now I'm like you're all mine. All my countries, you're all mine."

Born In Sudan, Based In Brooklyn. A Singer Remixes Her Identities

3:38pm December 09, 2016

by Nurith Aizenman

Please, says the singer-songwriter, don't pigeonhole her as some sort of "refugee artist." She calls her music "East-African Retro-Pop."

Music & Culture

Across the Blue Ridge #50 - Greats of Early Country Music, and New Generations

3:00pm December 09, 2016

by Paul Brown

This week, in a rebroadcast of a popular show from May, 2016, we hear a broad selection of music from country music pioneers including Mac Wiseman, Fiddlin' Arthur Smith, Hazel Dickens, Fred Cocker

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Naoko Yamano (center) of Shonen Knife recommends five Japanese bands you should know.

Music & Culture

Weekend LISTening: 5 Japanese Bands You Need To Hear

2:00pm December 09, 2016

by Talia Schlanger

Naoko Yamano of the pioneering Japanese pop-punk band Shonen Knife recommends some of her favorite rising stars from the Land of the Rising Sun.

Music & Culture

Singer Allyson Seconds Revitalizes Power-Pop On 'Little World'

1:40pm December 09, 2016

by Ken Tucker

The second album by the California-based singer features an optimism often associated with West Coast pop. Critic Ken Tucker says Little World creates an "alternate universe of the sunniest sounds."

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One family, known for their Christmas lights, is honoring the late pop icon Prince with their display this year. The family lives about 10 miles from Prince's estate, Paisley.

NPR News Nuggets: Purple Lights, Christmas Cheer & Top Selling CD Of 2016

12:20pm December 09, 2016

by Wynne Davis

Here's a quick roundup of some of the mini-moments you may have missed on this week's Morning Edition.

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