Remembering Pop Singer Selena, 'The Queen of Tejano'
The singer Selena elevated Tex-Mex music to a new level. She was about to cross over to the English-language market when she was fatally shot 20 years ago on March 31, 1995.
Music & Culture
Lower Dens' Jana Hunter Explains 'Escape From Evil,' Track By Track
The singer-songwriter pulls back the curtain on her band's beautiful-but-mysterious new album, Escape From Evil. "All of these songs are based in personal experience," she writes.
No Hits, No Problem: Captain Beefheart's Major Label Run
In 1970, Warner Bros. Records had an unusual philosophy: they'd sign artists and, instead of wanting a hit single immediately, they'd develop them over several albums. Hence, Captain Beefheart.
Review: Courtney Barnett, 'Sometimes I Sit And Think, And Sometimes I Just Sit'
NPR music critic Will Hermes reviews an album that contains the best storytelling he's heard in a long time. It's the debut album from Courtney Barnett.
Art Pepper's Startling Intensity Captured On Live Recordings
Fresh Air jazz critic Kevin Whitehead says that Art Pepper played like he was making up for lost time.
Using Computers To Connect With Classical Music
Yale computer scientist David Gelernter talks with NPR's Arun Rath about using computers and the Internet to teach young people to appreciate the beauty of what he calls "serious music."
Influential Guitarist John Renbourn, Co-Founder Of Pentagle, Dies
Renbourn co-founded the popular folk/jazz group Pentangle and was one of the most respected and influential acoustic guitarists in the world. He died this week at his home in Scotland; he was 70.
The Tale Of Mingering Mike, Who Painted Himself A Music Career
A self-taught visual artist who longed to make soul records, Mingering Mike ended up realizing his dreams on paper rather than vinyl. Decades later, his work is paying off.
LISTEN: A Cuban Protest Singer On The State Of U.S.-Cuba Relations
For decades, Carlos Varela has doled out incisive criticism of the Cuban government. On our recent visit to Havana, he sang a song he says reflects the mood of the country at this historic moment.