Music Interviews

Music & Culture

'White Christmas': A Concert With Rosemary Clooney

4:29pm December 24, 2012

To celebrate Christmas, Fresh Air listens back to a concert given by the late singer and actress on Feb. 11, 1997. Clooney spoke then with Terry Gross about her childhood, being on the road as a young performer with her sister, and working with Bing Crosby and Billy Strayhorn.

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Barry Manilow onstage during a tree lighting in Los Angeles in November.

Music & Culture

Why Barry Manilow Loves Christmas Music

10:39am December 17, 2012

by NPR Staff

With Christmas looming, the pop legend — who has recorded three albums of Christmas music and just released a compilation of them called The Classic Christmas Album — spoke with Morning Edition about the season.

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Alex Clare's debut album is called The Lateness of the Hour.

Music & Culture

Upended By Label Drama, Alex Clare Lands On His Feet

6:38pm December 16, 2012

by NPR Staff

An Orthodox Jew, the singer-songwriter ran into trouble trying to tour in support of a major-label release without performing on the sabbath or high holy days. That and slow sales nearly killed Clare's career, but it got a reboot from an unlikely benefactor: Microsoft.

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Myrlie Evers-Williams leads her three children — Reena (from left), Van and Darrell — at the family piano, circa 1965.

Music & Culture

A Civil Rights Figure's Long Road — To Carnegie Hall

1:43pm December 16, 2012

by NPR Staff

Myrlie Evers-Williams is the widow of assassinated civil rights activist Medgar Evers. After her husband's death, she became a noted activist herself. But music has always been one of her loves, and she's about to fulfill a longtime dream on the Carnegie stage.

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In a new memoir, jazz guitarist and son of jazz legend Bucky Pizzarelli tells stories from growing up in a musical household and making a name for himself as a musician.

'World On A String': John Pizzarelli Jazzes It Up

1:13pm December 14, 2012

In his new book, the guitarist, singer and songwriter shares stories from life growing up in a musical household and talks about collaborating and sharing the stage with the likes of Rosemary Clooney, Frank Sinatra and Paul McCartney.

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Somali-Canadian rapper K'Naan released his first album in 2005.

Music & Culture

K'Naan On Cheapening His Music For The Money

2:30pm December 13, 2012

by NPR Staff

Somali-born rap musician K'naan is known for telling gritty stories about his childhood in war-torn Mogadishu through hip-hop music. On Country, God, Or the Girl, the edginess of past songs has been replaced with a polished pop sound.

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The epic strings and chanting monks of the Halo series are just some of the video-game sounds reinterpreted by Angèle Dubeau on her new album, Game Music.

Music & Culture

A Classical Musician's Game Theory

10:46pm December 10, 2012

by NPR Staff

"Good music is good music," violinist Angèle Dubeau says. The Canadian musician interprets theme music from Halo, Angry Birds and other video games on her latest album.

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Tracey Thorn's new holiday-themed album is called Tinsel and Lights.

Music & Culture

Tracey Thorn Finds Joy And Angst In Christmas Songs

7:38am December 08, 2012

by NPR Staff

The English singer and songwriter, formerly of the dance-pop duo Everything but the Girl, confronts the mixed blessings of the holiday season on her new album Tinsel and Lights.

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In a 1999 interview with Fresh Air's Terry Gross, Dave Brubeck talked about his decades in the music industry and his first love: rodeo roping.

Music & Culture

Celebrating The Life Of Jazz Pianist Dave Brubeck

1:28pm December 07, 2012

by NPR Staff

The jazz master died on Wednesday at age 91. In a 1999 interview with Fresh Air's Terry Gross he talked about his decades in the music industry and his first love: rodeo roping.

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Barry Manilow's latest release, The Classic Christmas Album, includes holiday classics from his previous three Christmas albums.

Music & Culture

Barry Manilow On Singing Standards And His Real Job

7:47am December 07, 2012

by NPR Staff

The pop legend spoke to Morning Edition about the Great American Songbook, his long career and "Mandy."

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