Music & Culture

Music & Culture

How The Hammond Organ Sound Laid The Tracks For Gospel's Hit Train

8:14am January 03, 2016

by Anne Ford

The sound of the Hammond organ was invented for churches as an alternative to pipe organs. But it's distinctive sound became crucial to the development of a new kind of music: gospel.

Each session from Daytrotter comes with an illustration. Wilco recorded one in 2011.

Music & Culture

Daytrotter At 10: A Midwestern Rite Of Passage

2:00am January 03, 2016

by Clay Masters

As the studio turns a decade old, Daytrotter has moved out of its spot above a pizza joint to new digs in Davenport, Iowa. It's hosted sessions with Wilco, Glen Campbell, Naughty By Nature and more.

Music & Culture

Daytrotter At 10: A Midwestern Rite Of Passage

2:00am January 03, 2016

by Clay Masters

As the studio turns a decade old, Daytrotter has moved out of its spot above a pizza joint to new digs in Davenport, Iowa. It's hosted sessions with Wilco, Glen Campbell, Naughty By Nature and more.

Music & Culture

Across The Blue Ridge - Episode 1 (Breaking Up Christmas)

7:36pm January 02, 2016

by Paul Brown

Across the Blue Ridge returns to WFDD with a fun-filled tour of the Breaking Up Christmas holiday party tradition in northwest North Carolina and southwest Virginia. Host Paul Brown

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Natalie Cole performs on stage at Avery Fisher Hall, Lincoln Center on March 2, 2015 in New York City.

'She Captivated You': Casey Cole Remembers Her Sister, Natalie Cole

6:43pm January 02, 2016

by NPR Staff

The Grammy-award winning singer Natalie Cole died on Thursday at the age of 65. One of her younger sisters recalls Natalie's musical gifts, her charm and her loyal friendship.

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Natalie Cole performing in New York in 2015

Music & Culture

Remembering Natalie Cole, Who Made A Name All Her Own

4:07pm January 02, 2016

by Scott Simon

The influential singer not only lived up to her father, Nat King Cole's legacy, she forged a new one entirely her own. NPR's Scott Simon looks back on a 2013 conversation with the late Natalie Cole.

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Jonathan Banks (left) and Bob Odenkirk star in the AMC series Better Call Saul, which tops David Bianculli's 2015 10-Best list.

Fresh Air Weekend: Our Critics Pick The Best TV, Books, Movies And Music Of 2015

1:25pm January 02, 2016

David Bianulli picks the best TV shows of the year. Short books dominate Maureen Corrigan's best book list. David Edelstein recommends the year's best films. Ken Tucker assesses the best music of '15.

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Music & Culture

Bowie And Beyond: Looking Ahead To The Music Of 2016

12:00pm January 02, 2016

by NPR Staff

NPR Music's Stephen Thompson shares songs from forthcoming albums by Esperanza Spalding, Damien Jurado, Lucinda Williams and David Bowie.

Music & Culture

25 Years Of A-Pickin' And A-Grinnin': Roy Clark Reflects On 'Hee Haw'

7:54am January 02, 2016

NPR's Scott Simon speaks with Roy Clark, a musician in the country music hall of fame and co-host of the variety show Hee Haw, about his time on the TV show he once believed would fail.

Composers Learn To Make A Living WIth 'Invisible' Music

7:54am January 02, 2016

by Aaron Schacter

Berklee College of Music boasts a long list of Grammy Award winners among its alumni. But now, Berklee is filling classes with students making music for podcasts, video games and commercials.