Robert Randolph Ushers In Steel-Guitar Soul With 'Lickety Split'
As a kid, Randolph always saw himself as a steel-guitar rock star. Now, the 33-year-old frontman has released a soulful new album with a twist on gospel music.
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Daughn Gibson: Story Songs Born Of An Odd-Job Life
Gibson is a spiritual heir of Johnny Cash: a deep-voiced country singer whose songs are filled with characters of questionable morality — or just pure evil.
In 'Violeta Went To Heaven,' A Folk Icon's Tempestuous Life
Violeta Parra has been called mother of the Latin American folk movement, and her work as a visual artist has been shown at the Louvre. The Chilean icon, who committed suicide at 49, is the subject of a new film.
Finding Meaning In The Mosh Pit Among Often-Reviled Groupies
Pop-culture writer Nathan Rabin introduces us to some obsessive fans in his new book, You Don't Know Me But You Don't Like Me, which chronicles his experience following the followers of the bands Phish and Insane Clown Posse.
Yiddish Preservationists Take Their Subject To The Stage
The An-sky Yiddish Heritage Ensemble, a musical quartet, celebrates the 100th anniversary of the historic An-sky expeditions by playing rare Yiddish folk songs.
Toshi Seeger, Wife Of Folk Singer Pete Seeger, Dies At 91
The couple shared a lifetime of collaboration. She died Tuesday, just shy of their 70th wedding anniversary.
Jay-Z Swings Triumphant Then Trivial On 'Magna Carta Holy Grail'
The rapper's new album is his first collection since becoming a father with singer Beyonce. Rock critic Ken Tucker says the album is an uneven but intriguing collection of songs that tries to navigate a path between parenthood and an obsession with commercial success.
Two New Jazz Albums Recall The Wide Open Spaces of The West
Oregon saxophonist Rich Halley takes inspiration from the Wallowa mountain range on his new album Crossing the Passes. On Boss of the Plains, Chicago-based trio Wheelhouse makes music that evokes the Great Plains and wind chimes on a porch when the weather changes.
Summer Songs: Since You Can't Escape Them, Hope To Enjoy Them
It's the time of the season when love for pop music runs high. Summer is officially here, and an unofficial competition is underway to crown 2013's "Song of the Summer." We're talking about those unavoidable pop anthems that are played over and over again on the radio, at the beach and out the window of passing cars. You can't escape them — you can only hope to enjoy them. NPR Music curated a list featuring more than 100 of the hits from the last 50 years.
How 'Dancing In The Street' Became A Protest Anthem
Mark Kurlansky's book Ready for a Brand New Beat is a history of the song "Dancing in the Street." It was the soundtrack for the summer of 1964, when race riots and war protests spread across the United States.