Music

This image provided by A2H Engineers, Architects, Planners on Aug. 18, 2022, shows digital rendering of the National Rhythm and Blues Hall of Fame in Marks, Miss.

Why the Rhythm and Blues Hall of Fame is headed to this small Mississippi Delta town

6:15am August 24, 2022

by The Associated Press

Marks, Mississippi, is where Martin Luther King Jr. chose in 1968 as the starting point for his Poor People's Campaign, which demanded economic justice for poor Americans of all backgrounds.

jaimie branch, who died on Monday, August 22 at 39, performs with her group FLY or DIE in New York in 2020.

Music & Culture

Lauded trumpeter and composer jaimie branch dies at 39

6:08am August 24, 2022

by Nate Chinen

A rising star in the world of improvised music with her group FLY or DIE, branch died on Monday at her home in Brooklyn, N.Y.

Music & Culture

New quartet album by jazz drummer Billy Drummond is a treat

1:34pm August 23, 2022

by Kevin Whitehead

On Valse Sinistre, Drummond's ride-cymbal beat is lively, varied and full of passing cross-rhythms — the sound of a musician fully engaged and in the habit of attentive listening.

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Encore: Podcast investigates the early death of musician Chalino Sanchez

5:09pm August 22, 2022

Some musicians become more famous for dying young. That's part of the story of Chalino Sanchez, but there's more to it. NPR's Ari Shapiro talks with the host of a podcast that explores that theme.

Encore: Composer John Williams and cellist Yo-Yo Ma assemble 'A Gathering of Friends'

4:14pm August 22, 2022

NPR's Mary Louise Kelly talks with renowned composer and conductor John Williams and cellist Yo-Yo Ma about their collaborative album, A Gathering of Friends. It celebrates Williams' 90th birthday.

Musician Kid Cudi recently revealed he had a stroke in 2016. The artist said it took weeks to recover from slowed speech and movements.

Kid Cudi says he had a stroke at 32. Hailey Bieber was 25. How common are they?

1:19pm August 22, 2022

by Vanessa Romo

Strokes in adults under 45 are on the rise. Now artist Kid Cudi — long considered an ambassador for mental health issues — and model Hailey Bieber have opened up about their experiences.

An image of a busker's collected donations in Marietta, Ga., in 2017.

Music & Culture

Opinion: That unbelievable street violinist could just be a 'finger-syncer'

10:59am August 20, 2022

by Scott Simon

NPR's Scott Simon reflects on bogus buskers who fake violin virtuosity with recorded music tracks and ask for money to help with rent or medical bills.

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Opera star Plácido Domingo at a press conference in Moscow in Oct. 2019.

Classical musicians with ties to Plácido Domingo arrested in Buenos Aires

5:39pm August 19, 2022

by Anastasia Tsioulcas

Musicians who have been publicly linked to Plácido Domingo and other major artists have been arrested in connection to an alleged Argentine crime ring, or are still wanted by police.

What's making us happy: A guide to your weekend listening and viewing

5:22pm August 19, 2022

Each week, the guests and hosts on NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour share what's bringing them joy. This week: Chaka Khan, P-Valley, and more.

The Ukrainian Freedom Orchestra performs at Damrosch Park, Lincoln Center in New York City on Thursday.

Home is never far for the Ukrainian Freedom Orchestra, even when touring in the U.S.

4:38pm August 19, 2022

by Rachel Treisman

The ensemble of top Ukrainian musicians, including recent refugees, is wrapping up a whirlwind tour with performances in New York City and Washington, D.C.

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