Music

Music & Culture

'Modern Sounds' Re-Release Revives Ray Charles' 1962 Venture Into Country

1:15pm February 25, 2019

by Ken Tucker

Fifty-seven years ago, Charles released two albums that helped extend the reach of country music. Though initially perceived as a novelty, a re-release of the albums proves they were anything but.

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Natalie Prass performs a Tiny Desk Concert on Jan. 28, 2019 (Amr Alfiky/NPR).

Music & Culture

Natalie Prass: Tiny Desk Concert

11:43am February 25, 2019

by Joshua Bote

Decked out in matching, cobalt blue outfits, the singer and her band had a clear vision: If you want to overcome the times, find strength in numbers.

Miss Universe, the debut album from Nilufer Yanya, is out March 22 on ATO.

Music & Culture

Guest DJ: Nilüfer Yanya

9:20am February 25, 2019

by Bob Boilen

The singer shares songs she loves by other artists and talks about her debut full-length release, Miss Universe, an album filled with melodies that won't let go.

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Music & Culture

New Compilation Features Music Inspired By 'Roma'

8:02am February 24, 2019

by Felix Contreras

Tonight at the Oscars, the film Roma is nominated for several awards. Director Alfonso Cuarón asked artists to contribute to a compilation album, Music Inspired by the Film Roma.

Gary Clark Jr.'s latest album, This Land, is out now.

Music & Culture

Racism In American South Inspired Gary Clark Jr.'s 'This Land'

3:41am February 24, 2019

On his latest multigenre album, Clark is unapologetically angry. He tells NPR's Michel Martin what inspired it: "That's what came out as a result of ... life being black in this country."

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Nakhane's album You Will Not Die is out now.

Music & Culture

Nakhane's Music Meets At Life's Intersections: 'There's Nothing To Be Ashamed Of'

10:37am February 23, 2019

Born and raised in South Africa to Christian parents, Nakhane now makes electronic music about queerness, blackness and survival.

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Grammy-winner Ludwig GÃ¶ransson could add an Oscar to his mantle for composing Black Panther's original score.

Music & Culture

How Ludwig Göransson Helped Orchestrate America's Conversation On Race In 2018

5:30am February 23, 2019

by Rodney Carmichael

The Swedish composer is the link between Childish Gambino's "This is America," Grammys' song and record of the year, and Black Panther, which could help him win an Oscar this weekend.

Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga perform "Shallow" in A Star Is Born. It's likely to win Best Original Song at the Academy Awards this Sunday, but should it?

Music & Culture

The 2019 Oscars' Best Original Song Nominees, Cruelly Ranked

5:00am February 23, 2019

by Stephen Thompson

It's wrong to use the Academy Awards' celebration of excellence as an excuse to nitpick others' creative output. So let's do this.

R&B singer R. Kelly was indicted on 10 counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse on Feb. 22. In this photo, he performs in Atlantic City, N.J., on April 9, 2006.

R. Kelly Under Arrest On 10 Charges Of Aggravated Criminal Sexual Abuse In Illinois

11:23pm February 22, 2019

The R&B star singer has been dogged for decades by allegations that he has sexually abused underage girls and women. Kelly now faces 10 counts of abuse.

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Duke Ellington at the piano, circa 1940.

Music & Culture

A Sprawling Blueprint For Protest Music, Courtesy Of The Jazz Duke

5:29pm February 22, 2019

He called it "a parallel to the history of the American Negro." Duke Ellington's Black, Brown and Beige wasn't an immediate hit, but it set a tone for ambitious, provocative works about black life.