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Music & Culture

2 Lumineers' Members Comment On Their Favorite Albums Of The Decade

7:40am December 03, 2019

As part of Morning Edition's Best of the Decade series, in which artists and writers talk about their favorite books, music and movies of the 2010s, we hear from Wesley Schultz and Jeremiah Fraites.

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Mariss Jansons at his final concert with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra in Amsterdam in 2015.

Music & Culture

Famed Conductor Mariss Jansons, 76, Has Died

4:23pm December 02, 2019

by Anastasia Tsioulcas

One of classical music's most beloved and widely heard conductors died Saturday. Born in secret in Nazi-occupied Latvia, he went on to a stunning international career.

Jay-Z performs at Day 2 of Something in the Water Festival 2019 in Virginia Beach, Va.

For Jay-Z's 50th Birthday, A New Biography Centers His Lyrical Legacy

2:38pm December 02, 2019

Jay-Z drew criticism for partnering with the NFL after having supported Colin Kaepernick. A new biography centers the rapper's business ethos with his lyrics and the concept of the constant hustle.

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The tribute album features Bonnie Raitt (pictured), Jackson Brown, Taj Mahal, Chrissie Hynde and Elivis Costello, among others.

Music & Culture

'A Tribute To Mose Allison' Celebrates The Music Of An Exciting Jazz Master

8:03am December 01, 2019

NPR's Lulu Garcia Navarro speaks with musician Bonnie Raitt and Amy Allison about the new album, If You're Going to the City: A Tribute to Mose Allison.

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Irving Burgie at his home in Queens in 2017. Burgie, who rewrote the lyrics to the traditional Jamaican song "Day-O," died Friday at the age of 95.

Music & Culture

Irving Burgie, Songwriter Who Helped Bring Calypso To America, Dies At 95

1:48am December 01, 2019

by Jon Kalish

The Brooklyn-born Burgie studied at Juilliard and co-wrote many of the songs on Harry Belafonte's breakthrough album, Calypso, including his genre-defining hit, "Day-O (The Banana Boat Song)."

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Music & Culture

On Thanksgiving: Classical Composers Are Not Always Thankful

7:09am November 28, 2019

Music commentator Miles Hoffman talks about the things some famous classical composers were not thankful for. Composers have also felt as though the world should be thankful for them.

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The Metropolitan Opera's general manager, Peter Gelb, in New York City in 2012.

Music & Culture

Met Opera Chief Peter Gelb Renews His Contract Through 2027

12:58pm November 26, 2019

by Anastasia Tsioulcas

Despite some very public bumps in his tenure, the head of the largest performing arts organization in the U.S. received a five-year extension to his contract.

Joycelyn Savage (left) and Azriel Clary, two women who lived with R. Kelly, are seen here leaving a Chicago court room in July 2019.

Music & Culture

One Of R. Kelly's Most Vocal Defenders Now Claims She's Also A Victim

5:15pm November 25, 2019

by Anastasia Tsioulcas

One of the R&B singer's live-in girlfriends, Joycelyn Savage, alleged in a series of online posts that the singer sexually and physically abused her, and forced her to have two abortions.

The remastered album mines Prince's creative era between Nov. 1981 and Jan. 1983.

Music & Culture

Prince's '1999' Sees Another Life — This Time With 35 New Songs

11:27am November 25, 2019

Vault archivist Michael Howe confirms the rumor that Prince has enough unreleased songs for an album every year until the 22nd century.

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Music & Culture

K-Pop Group BTS Won't Be Exempt From Military Service

5:46am November 21, 2019

In South Korea, there is compulsory military service for men. Some athletes and classical artists are exempt if they tour globally. But the government ruled members of BTS will have to enlist.

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