Music Interviews

Music & Culture

Remembering Grateful Dead Lyricist Robert Hunter

1:43pm September 25, 2019

by Terry Gross

After Jerry Garcia formed the Grateful Dead in the mid '60s, Hunter wrote most of the lyrics for Garcia's songs, including "Truckin'" and "Uncle John's Band." Hunter spoke to Fresh Air in 1988.

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Identical twins Sara (left) and Tegan Quin began making music together as teenagers.

Tegan And Sara Find Pain — And Unexpected Joy — In 'High School'

3:47pm September 23, 2019

by Terry Gross

Music duo Tegan and Sara revisit their teen years and their early music in a new memoir and companion album. Listening back to the songs they wrote, Sara says: "I was struck by the joy in our voices."

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Paul Cauthen sits in the album's namesake room of the Belmont Hotel.

Music & Culture

Texas Country Rocker Paul Cauthen Preaches The Good, The Bad And The Prickly

12:18pm September 23, 2019

Faith may be a constant in the country music artist's new album, Room 41, but he's not hiding his demons. "I just try to write some lyrics that can maybe prick somebody's heart," Cauthen says.

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Kemba's latest album, Gilda, is out now.

Music & Culture

Through Grief and Growing Pains, Kemba Creates 'Gilda'

7:10pm September 20, 2019

New York rapper Kemba speaks with NPR's Audie Cornish about the themes of his debut album, Gilda, and the emotional labor that went into making it.

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The Archies is not only the first fictitious band to reach No. 1 on the Billboard charts in the U.S., but is also the only group to reach such heights without ever performing the song live onstage.

Music & Culture

50 Years Later, The Archies' 'Sugar, Sugar' Is Still 'Really Sweet'

6:25pm September 20, 2019

by Ashley Westerman

Fifty years ago, the song "Sugar, Sugar" by The Archies reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The single by the cartoon band would go on to be named 1969's song of the year.

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