'Going There' In 2014
Michel Martin has spent much of the last few months on the road, and she has been moved by the people she's met and the stories they've shared with her. She remembers her Top 5 moments of 2014.
Music & Culture
What A Failed Hip-Hop Experiment Can Teach Us About The Future Of U.S.-Cuba Relations
A report suggests that USAID infiltrated Cuba's nascent hip-hop scene several years ago. Now that Cuba-U.S. relations have officially begun to thaw, what is the future of programs like these?
Moreno's 'El Burrito Sabanero', Welcomed Update To A Holiday Song
"Mi Burrito Sabanero" is about a little donkey making its way to Bethlehem on the night Jesus was born. We hear about a reimagined version of the classic Latin American Christmas song by Gaby Moreno.
Charismatic Singer Joe Cocker Dies At 70
The British singer, who won American hearts for his performance at Woodstock, died of lung cancer.
Singer Joe Cocker Dies At Age 70
Joe Cocker, the raspy-voiced British singer famous for hit songs such as "Feelin' Alright" and "Up Where We Belong," has died, his management agency says.
Nick Lowe Brings His 'Quality Holiday Revue' To America
"We think it's all a bit vulgar, you know, cashing in on Christmas," Lowe says of the British. He says he took it as a challenge: Quality Street tackles old classics and adds originals to the mix.
When The Beatles Gave Fans A 'Crimble' Present
In the 1960s, the Beatles sent their most loyal fans a Christmas gift every year — a flexi-disc. NPR's Rachel Martin talks to music writer Colin Fleming about the annual holiday single.
Wexford Carols Brings Irish Holiday Relics To Life
A new Christmas music collection resurrects Irish carols from the 17th century. NPR's Scott Simon talks to singer Caitriona O'Leary and producer Joe Henry about songs both sacred and political.
Playlist: What Music Means
Our favorite interviews about music from the TED Radio Hour.
Music A Longtime Feature Of Cuba-U.S. Cultural Exchange
Cuban rhythms and melodies have been part of what's been called the most American of art forms — jazz — ever since Jelly Roll Morton first heard them in the port of New Orleans and used them in his music. Josephine Baker performed in Cuba and Nat King Cole recorded there. But the revolution made cultural exchange all but impossible and even supposedly open-minded artists and musicians took sides.