Music

Music & Culture

Blind Boys Of Alabama Member Clarence Fountain Dies At 88

9:39pm June 04, 2018

by Neda Ulaby

Clarence Fountain was one of the last surviving founding members of The Blind Boys of Alabama. They first met as pre-teens at the Alabama Institute for the Negro Blind in the early 1940s. Fountain died Sunday of complications from diabetes at 88.

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Music & Culture

Trumpeter Adam O'Farrill Stakes Out His Own Turf On 'El Maquech'

8:55pm June 04, 2018

by Kevin Whitehead

O'Farrill is a New Yorker of Cuban, Mexican, Jewish, African-American, German and Irish descent. Jazz critic Kevin Whitehead says his new album with Stranger Days reflects O'Farrill's robust heritage.

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Music & Culture

Bombino's 'Deran' Will Add To Tuareg Musician's Global Acclaim

5:19pm June 04, 2018

by Banning Eyre

Whenever Bombino releases a new record, it tops the charts for world music. Over the past five years, the Tuareg singer and guitarist from Niger, has become one of the most recognized artists from Africa and his latest album Deran, is another example of his incredible talent.

Dolly Parton has announced a Netflix series based on her music.

Music & Culture

Dolly Parton Announces Eight-Part Netflix Series Based On Her Music

4:31pm June 04, 2018

by Marissa Lorusso

The eight-part series will premiere in 2019, with each episode based on one of Parton's songs.

Daniel Caesar performs a Tiny Desk Concert on April 30, 2018.

Music & Culture

Daniel Caesar: Tiny Desk Concert

2:12pm June 04, 2018

by Bobby Carter

Watch the R&B star-in-the-making perform three songs, including a guest appearance by H.E.R.

"It doesn't matter how hard the subject is, make it danceable," Angélique Kidjo says.

Music & Culture

Angélique Kidjo Connects Talking Heads With Her African Roots

11:57am June 04, 2018

The first time Kidjo heard Talking Heads' "Once in a Lifetime," she knew it was an African song. Almost 35 years later, her new cover album sounds as if it really had been conceived in West Africa.

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Music & Culture

M. Ward On Mountain Stage

9:43am June 04, 2018

by Chris Oxley

The low-fi indie rock veteran sets the Mountain Stage ablaze.

Music & Culture

Watch Courtney Barnett Play 'Charity' Live In The Studio

9:30am June 04, 2018

by Jason Bentley

The Australian musician performs an intimate set for KCRW.

Kanye West performing in Los Angeles in 2016.

Music & Culture

2-Sided: Trying To Hear Kanye West's New Album, 'ye,' Through All The Noise

9:14am June 02, 2018

Kanye West's newly-released ye is already 2018's most polarizing album. Two of NPR Music's critics sat down to try and make sense of West's motivations and musical accomplishments.

Natural Born Leaders released its first EP About Time independently in May.

Music & Culture

Natural Born Leaders Turn A Tiny Convenience Store Into A Tiny Desk Contest Entry

8:28am June 02, 2018

The Asheville band were the only ones of nearly 5,000 Tiny Desk Contest entrants to play in a convenience store. Lead vocalist Mike Martinez says that setting is more poignant than you might think.