Willie Nelson: 'Ain't Many Of Us Left'
The Red-Headed Stranger has a new memoir out, titled It's A Long Story. On a tour bus in Thackerville, Okla., Nelson explains to NPR's David Greene why no one can tell him what to do.
Music & Culture
Kurt Cobain Speaks — Through Art And Audio Diaries — In 'Montage Of Heck'
"The idea was not to tear him down, nor was it to put him on a pedestal," says director Brett Morgen. Instead, executive producer Frances Bean Cobain told Morgen to "make it honest."
John Lydon: The Foul-Mouthed Yob Sets The Record Straight
"After reading so much rubbish written about me over the years, it became obvious that I had to just tell it like it is," Lydon tells NPR's Arun Rath. Lydon just wrote his memoir, Anger Is An Energy.
3-D Printers Bring Historic Instruments Back To The Future
You just can't stick a modern mouthpiece on an antique saxophone and get the right sound. The answer could be in the lab.
'Louie Louie': Indecipherable, Or Indecent? An FBI Investigation
The Kingsmen's 1963 version of the song was a huge hit — though no one could make out the words. Some fevered imaginations and misheard lines led to an FBI investigation into alleged obscenity.
Actor Alicia Witt Turns Musician With 'Revisionary History'
In lean years she played piano in the Beverly Wilshire Hotel. Otherwise she's acted in roles for Justified and Mr. Holland's Opus. NPR's Scott Simon speaks with Alicia Witt about her debut album.
Ben E. King, Soul Singer Best Known For 'Stand By Me,' Dies
Ben E. King, best known for the classic soul song "Stand By Me," has died at 76.
Nellie McKay Celebrates The '60s With 'My Weekly Reader'
McKay's new album My Weekly Reader is a collection of covers of songs made famous in the 1960s. The range of material is wide — from the Beatles' "If I Fell" to Frank Zappa's "Hungry Freaks, Daddy."
Drum Fill Friday, For May 1
Our recurring puzzler for careful listeners this week features a selection of fills handpicked by All Songs Considered co-host Robin Hilton. Hear the drum fill (or intro) and match it to the song.
Singer Ben E. King, Best Known For 'Stand By Me,' Dies At 76
Phil Brown, King's publicist, says the soul singer died of natural causes. King began his career with The Drifters, but it was "Stand by Me," released in 1961, that sealed his worldwide fame.