The White Mandingos: Music That Defies Definition
Three black musicians — a punk bassist, an L.A. rapper and a part-time guitarist — took on a name with ugly associations to make music that can't be categorized.
Music
The Vintage Cadillac With The Memphis Soundtrack
Tad Pierson has made a career out of his love for cars and American music. He says there are "fewer and fewer real-deal places to go and hear the real stuff," but it's his job to find and share it — one carload of listeners at a time.
Life As Prayer: The Singing Nuns Of Ann Arbor
In the cloistered world of classical music recordings, there is great interest in choral music by Catholic nuns these days. On Mater Eucharistiae, the Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist, are "able to bring other people into that space of prayer when we're singing."
Valerie June Wants To Be On Your Mind
June can sing a duel with the Devil, even as her voice tells you she knows she's already triumphed.
Question Of The Week: What Are The Best Apps For Making Music?
Of course you can make music using a smartphone or tablet. But which apps give you the best results? Which ones are easiest to learn? Bob Boilen and Robin Hilton offer a few suggestions.
Shine And The Moonbeams: R&B For The Kids
Family music comes in a broad range of styles — folk, rock, punk and even polka. But, compared with its popularity among adults, there have been very few R&B and soul music albums for kids. Enter Shine and the Moonbeams.
'South Texas' Collects Producer's Checkered Career
Huey Meaux wound up in jail twice, but he sure had a knack for finding talent in unlikely places.
Trumpeters And Troubadours: New And Old Music From Italy
World music DJ Betto Arcos just got back from an Italian vacation. He joins NPR's Jacki Lyden with some of his favorite musical finds.
Remembering The People's Throat Singer Of Tuva
In a 1999 interview, Kongar-Ol Ondar demonstrates his ancient style of singing for Terry Gross.
The Biggest Thing Out Of Thailand: An Elephant Orchestra
Based out of a conservation center for former work animals, the Thai Elephant Orchestra is just what it sounds like: a group of elephants trained to play enormous percussion instruments, holding mallets in their trunks and sometimes trumpeting along.