Billie Full Of Grace
The only place Billie Holiday received vocal instruction also gave her bad-girl cred and an ambitious spiritual discipline. It was The House of the Good Shepherd for Colored Girls, a Catholic convent.
Music Features
Midland, Connoisseurs Of Country Craft, Evolves Its Vintage Sound
Now that the '90s country revival has gone mainstream, Midland's Let It Roll showcases the subtle arts that distinguish the band.
The World Of Billie Holiday: A Turning The Tables Playlist
Jazz singer Dee Dee Bridgewater offers a playlist of Billie Holiday's greatest songs paired with versions performed by other artists.
Baby Rose Guides Us Through The Emotional Sludge Of Love
Baby Rose's smokey voice evokes a wisdom beyond her years. That's part of what sets the rising singer's debut album, To Myself, apart from the current R&B scene.
Mother, Matriarch And Mentor
There really was no precedent for Maybelle Carter, who learned to play from her own mother and spent much of her life teaching her children — as well as generations of country stars that followed.
Burn, Don't Freeze: Sleater-Kinney On Making Art In The Midst Of Change
The Center Won't Hold casts an uneasy gaze on technology and politics; it's also the band's last album with its longtime drummer. NPR's Rachel Martin speaks with Carrie Brownstein and Corin Tucker.
For Women Musicians, Maybelle Carter Set The Standard And Broke The Mold
One of the most indispensable guitarists of all time, Carter was a quiet revolutionary. Though she didn't concern herself with celebrity or need to be the star, she deserves our deepest admiration.
On The Border With Maybelle Carter And Lydia Mendoza
We rarely place Mendoza and Carter, both great guitarists and lead vocalists in family bands, in conversation — though listeners to border radio stations in the late 1930s were often fans of both.
Electric Miles: Behind The 'Brew'
We celebrate the 50th anniversary of Miles Davis going electric for Bitches Brew — part controversial, part revolutionary and as a whole, historic.
How To Play The 'Carter Scratch' (Featuring Courtney Marie Andrews)
Maybelle Carter's guitar innovation helped revolutionize the way the instrument is played. Watch Americana singer-songwriter Courtney Marie Andrews show you how it's done.