Soul Singer Percy Sledge Dies
Sledge is perhaps best known for his hit "When A Man Loves A Woman." He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2005.
Music & Culture
The Mountain Goats' John Darnielle Finds Refuge In The Ring
Fresh Air rock critic Ken Tucker says The Mountain Goats' concept album about pro wrestling is filled with a remarkable range of melodies and moods.
José González On Finding Light In A Comforting Darkness
In an interview, the soft-spoken musician says the songs on his latest album, Vestiges & Claws, look outward, with optimism, toward something universal.
How Asian-Americans Found A Home In The World Of K-Pop
For all the unique "Asian-ness" of K-pop, many of its stars are American-born and raised. And now that K-pop's gone global, Asian-American artists are more at home than ever.
Karen Haglof, No-Wave Guitarist Turned Doctor, Relaunches Music Career
Karen Haglof made her name as a guitarist on the ultra-competitive New York no-wave scene of the 1980s. Then she stopped playing and launched a career in medicine. Now she's back with a solo album.
From Ballrooms To Concert Halls, Mexico Kept This Cuban Style Alive
Born in Cuba in the late 1800s, danzón had couples gliding in a kind of formal square dance a century later.
Drum Fill Friday, With The Vaccines' Pete Robertson
Our recurring puzzler for careful listeners, this week featuring a selection of fills handpicked by Pete Robertson, drummer for the band The Vaccines. Hear a fill and match it to the song.
There Is A Rich World In Kendrick Lamar's 'To Pimp A Butterfly'
Fresh Air music critic Ken Tucker says the rapper's second album has an excitingly adventurous sound.
Remembering Ralph Sharon, Tony Bennett's Pianist
The longtime piano accompanist and musical director accidentally broke the hit "I Left My Heart In San Francisco." But he was also the driving force behind the style Bennett is best known for.
'American Pie' Lyrics Sell At Auction For $1.2 Million
An anonymous buyer gets the manuscript which is 16 pages of a mix of handwritten and typed drafts — including notes. The papers may give new insight into what Don McLean wanted the song to mean.