Music & Culture

Now in its fourth decade of music-making, Los Lobos just released its first studio album since 2010. Rock critic Ken Tucker says Gates of Gold is "full of thick, mysterious music."

Singer Jen Shyu was born in Illinois, but spent years in East Asia, studying regional music, languages and literature. Critic Kevin Whitehead says that Shyu's research echoes throughout her new album.

A two-CD set featuring performers from the Lyric Stage of Irving, Texas, revives the complete score of the 1954 musical, The Golden Apple. Critic Lloyd Schwartz calls it a "game-changing" recording.

Jacobs' achievements are almost too diverse to list: a humorist, record producer, sound designer and radio host, he achieved little fame but was a catalyst for giant steps in the worlds he touched.

The iconic actress and singer joins Alt.Latino to discuss the life of a Latina in Hollywood, as well as what the original West Side Story lyrics said.

A federal judge in Los Angeles has ruled that "Happy Birthday" should be in the public domain. Piano arrangements were copyrighted in 1935, but they apparently don't cover the lyrics.

Jazz saxophonist Phil Woods was a disciple of Charlie Parker, one of the pioneers of bebop. But Woods reached millions of ears through his playing on pop songs by Paul Simon, Billy Joel and others. Woods died Tuesday at the age of 83.

Noah Gundersen uses his devout religious upbringing to examine faith and spirituality in his music. Meredith Ochs reviews his latest album, Carry the Ghost.