Music

Music & Culture

'Summer Of Soul': A Conversation With Blues Legend B.B. King

2:41pm September 02, 2021

by Terry Gross

The renowned bluesman, who died in 2015, spoke to Fresh Air in 1996 about growing up as the son of a sharecropper — and leaving the plantation as a young man to pursue a career in music.

Queue Listen Now

Music & Culture

'Summer Of Soul': South African Trumpeter Hugh Masekela

2:41pm September 02, 2021

by Terry Gross

Masekela, who died in 2018, was a symbol of South Africa's anti-apartheid movement. He performed around the world, including at the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival. Originally broadcast in 1988.

Queue Listen Now

Music & Culture

Join NPR Music's Roséwave Happy Hour For Summer's End

11:30am September 02, 2021

by Lars Gotrich

Summer's never over if you have roséwave in your heart. Join us Sept. 8 at 7 p.m. ET for an online listening party spun by DJ Cuzzin B, featuring a megamix of roséwave faves for an hour.

Quiana Lynell entered the song "Tweedlee Dee" into the 2021 Tiny Desk Contest.

Music & Culture

Jazz Night In America's Favorite 2021 Tiny Desk Contest Entries

9:05am September 02, 2021

by Mitra I. Arthur

The Jazz Night in America team highlights a selection of the 2021 Tiny Desk Contest entries that caught their ears and display the expanse of what jazz has to offer.

Charlie Watts onstage with Tim Ries' jazz tribute act, The Rolling Stones Project, at a London venue in 2013.

Music & Culture

I Played Jazz With Charlie Watts For 20 Years. Here's What I Learned

8:00am September 02, 2021

by Tim Ries

A longtime touring member of The Rolling Stones, Tim Ries says his favorite nights were the ones without a show — when he and Watts would sneak into town to play the music they loved most.

Moon Man entered the song "Vacuum" to the 2021 Tiny Desk Contest.

Music & Culture

Moon Man, 'Vacuum'

4:04pm September 01, 2021

by Joni Deutsch

This #NowPlaying discovery of Moon Man comes to us from this year's Tiny Desk Contest.

Music & Culture

Silas Short, 'Queen of Paisley'

3:01pm September 01, 2021

by Tarik Moody

Short's debut EP Drawing, due out later this month, features his single "Queen of Paisley," which echoes influences such as D'Angelo and Raphael Saadiq.

Music & Culture

Swindle (Feat. Kojey Radical, Loyle Carner & JNR Williams), 'LOST'

2:08pm September 01, 2021

by Tarik Moody

Swindle smoothly traverses jazz, hip-hop, grime, soul, electronic and R&B in this future funk masterpiece you'll want to keep on repeat for weeks.

Questlove Revives 'Black Woodstock' In 'Summer Of Soul' Documentary

2:04pm September 01, 2021

by Terry Gross

The 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival featured some of the biggest names in Black music, but it had largely faded from history. The Roots co-founder sought to change that. Originally broadcast July 2021.

Queue Listen Now

Lord Huron's "Not Dead Yet" is featured in August's edition of Heavy Rotation.

Music & Culture

Heavy Rotation: 10 Songs Public Radio Can't Stop Playing

12:36pm September 01, 2021

This August, NPR member stations bring you a mix of the most popular songs on their airwaves, featuring music from Arlo Parks, Japanese Breakfast, Lucy Dacus and more.