James Brown On Film: An Admiring And Unflinching Look At 'Mr. Dynamite'
The new HBO documentary Mr. Dynamite: The Rise of James Brown traces the singer's career through the words of writers, musicians and former employees.
Music & Culture
Weapon Of Choice: Why The Stratocaster Survives
When an instrument sounds as good playing Daft Punk as it does Lawrence Welk, you know it's got something. The Strat just turned 60, but it's barely aged a day.
The Music That Makes Choreographers Move
Peggy Hickey, Jamaica Craft and Mark Morris are all in the business of taking music and making it visible as dance. They share some of their favorite songs of 2014.
Wilko Johnson Set Out To Make One Final Album, But It Didn't Work Out That Way
Facing a fatal diagnosis, Wilko Johnson made what was to be his final album with singer Roger Daltrey of The Who. Then doctors intervened. "Maybe," Daltrey says, "there's a Part 2 to this record."
Billy Joel, Popular Song, PBS, And Needing A Piano
A PBS concert special looking at the legacy of Billy Joel brings some great stuff, some less great stuff, and a chance to reflect.
Encore: A Basic Training Workout Mix
We're again asking listeners to tweet us their favorite workout tunes. In 2012, we asked people about what music makes them move. (This piece initially aired on May 8, 2012 on Morning Edition).
Ahmad Jamal, 'A Musical Architect Of The Highest Order,' Keeps On Building
At 84, the acclaimed jazz pianist is still recording and touring. Among his many achievements is one that often eludes even the most beloved jazz artists: mainstream popularity.
John McNeil, A Trumpeter Robbed Of His Breath, Blows Again
McNeil suffered from a neural disorder that prevented him from performing for decades at a time. But thanks to a medical study, he's regained enough coordination to form a new band, called Hush Point.
Top 10 Top 40 For 2014
Dig below the strata of pop songs so ubiquitous you can't stand to hear them anymore, and you'll find plenty of riches in the Top 40, from country crossover to innovative R&B and classic pop.
A Rational Conversation: Neal Brennan On What The Hell Happened This Year
"A lot of women would say Taylor Swift has the album of the year. I don't think they'd be wrong. Taylor Swift, like Drake — I don't want to like her, but yet, here I am."