The Tabla Master Who Jammed With The Grateful Dead
Schooled from birth in an ancient instrument, Zakir Hussain always wanted to rock. He found a way to do both after George Harrison gave him some shrewd career advice.
Music & Culture
Musicians You'll Tell Your Friends About In 2015
The new year offers a new set of musical surprises. Here is a section of 10 acts — under-the-radar or about to explode — who are ready for their moment in the spotlight.
'Empire': A World Of Unbuttoned Shirts And Dishy Music Stories
Fox's new drama about the family behind a music mega-company is pretty standard soapy television with some nice performances and a limited understanding of music.
How Santería Seeped Into Latin Music
Santería ceremonies are for calling out to the spiritual world, and that spiritual connection is made through music. Felix Contreras explores how some sacred beats made a secular crossover.
Marian Anderson's Groundbreaking Met Opera Moment
Sixty years ago, opera singer Marian Anderson made her long overdue debut at New York's Metropolitan Opera. She was its first African-American soloist.
In 2014, Pop Followed Beyonce's Lead
Beyonce's 2013 self-titled album explicitly connected feminism to sexual confidence; it cast a long shadow over the female-led pop singles that dominated Top 40 this year.
'Voices Within The Music': A Brief History Of Guitar Effects
Be it an effects pedal or a hole stabbed in an amp, distortion and sound manipulation have long been part of rock 'n' roll's DNA.
Anatomy Of A Hit: Kelly Clarkson's 'Since U Been Gone'
What makes one song sound like another? Sometimes it's coincidence; sometimes it's plagiarism. And sometimes, it's the byproduct of deliberate craftsmanship.
Finland's HIM Releases Early Work In 'Lashes to Ashes'
It's cold and dark in Finland, but the Finnish band HIM has been heating things up. HIM is currently touring the U.S.; two band members join NPR's Scott Simon to talk about their music.
Cornell To Digitize A Rich Hip-Hop Archive
The founding publicity director of Def Jam Records, Bill Adler, amassed a highly valuable collection of music, writing and images.