The Story Behind 'The Christmas Song'
Mel Tormé famously co-wrote one of the most well-known carols of all time in 1945. His son, James, tells the story of how the song came to be.
Music & Culture
'The Lonely, The Lonesome And The Gone' Is an Ode To The Underdogs
Lee Ann Womack's new album is packed full of classic country music characters. Womack tells NPR's Lauren Frayer that she recorded it in Houston because going back home fills her with hope
From Skid Row To The San Francisco Conservatory Of Music
Ben Shirley's addictions landed him on the streets of Los Angeles. Now, at 53, he's turning his life around with the help of music.
Analog For The People: Synth Master Tatsuya Takahashi On Engineering Fun
NPR Music's year-end interview series continues with an engineer who's led a quiet movement to create music tools anyone can use.
Kendrick Lamar's Video For 'LOVE.' Brings Us All Down To Earth
The fifth video from DAMN. is just as beautiful as the rest — and examines a topic just as universal and intractable as the others. Maybe more so.
Coroner Releases Causes Of Death For All 58 Victims Of Las Vegas Shooting
Nearly all of the fatalities were caused by a single gunshot wound, though six died from multiple wounds. The deaths were all ruled homicides.
Kendrick Lamar Tells Story Of Our Time In Prophetic Terms With 'DAMN.'
Kendrick Lamar's album DAMN. has topped dozens of best of lists for 2017. NPR's hip hop critic Rodney Carmichael says that Lamar is telling the story of our time in prophetic terms.
Across the Blue Ridge #105- Breaking Up Christmas
Here's a reprise of Paul Brown's Breaking Up Christmas: A Blue Ridge Mountain Holiday, produced for NPR member stations and first aired in late 1996. Across the Blue Ridge h
Wear My Headphones: Damon Krukowski On How Digital Culture Changes Us
NPR Music's year-end interview series concludes with an analog baby turned digital savant, who says that how we consume music today has become a political, emotional and existential choice.
Trombonist Roswell Rudd Packs A Lot Of Wisdom Into Every Note Of 'Embrace'
Rudd started out playing dixieland before graduating to free jazz. Now he's collaborating with singer Fay Victor on his latest album. Critic Kevin Whitehead says Embrace has a "valedictory air."