Hangin' Tuff: Eric Church Takes A Chance On 'The Outsiders'
Church uses the power he's accrued from hit records to make exactly the kind of album he wants.
Music & Culture
The Other Guys: 5 Bands Missing From The British Invasion
The Beatles may have opened the gates for British acts to find success on the American charts — but Lenny Kaye, guitarist of the Patti Smith Group and curator of the legendary '60s rock compilation Nuggets, says plenty of worthy groups simply never made the trip.
Fresh Air Celebrates The 50th Anniversary Of The Beatles' Arrival
On Feb. 7, 1964, the Beatles touched down at JFK airport. To mark the day, we'll listen back to a 1995 interview with Ringo Starr and a 2001 interview with Paul McCartney.
Violin Worth $5 Million Makes A Safe Return Home
Police in Milwaukee have recovered a Stradivarius violin and arrested three suspects in its theft. The instrument, said to be worth approximately $5 million, was stolen in a brazen armed robbery from the concertmaster of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra late last month. Mitch Teich of WUWM in Milwaukee reports on the violin's recovery.
Before He Joined Congress, A South African Janitor's Disco Past
Penny Penny put down his broom and picked up a mic for his 1994 debut, now reissued.
Opera Star Renee Fleming Brings Grace To The Super Bowl
Renee Fleming will sing the national anthem at the Super Bowl on Sunday in New Jersey. She is the first opera star to be asked. NPR's Scott Simon remembers how Fleming has performed under pressure many times, including when she sang "Amazing Grace" at the ruins of the World Trade Center after 9/11.
Too Much Of A Good Thing? Jane Ira Bloom's Beautiful Ballads
On Sixteen Sunsets, the soprano saxophonist varies and honors melody like Billie Holiday.
Don't Pigeonhole Me, Bro: New Country Albums On The Borderline
Both Jon Pardi and Jason Eady have to confront the dilemma of all young country musicians: how to navigate the pop current that keeps country music commercially viable while connecting to a past that fewer and fewer listeners are aware of.
Pete Seeger Remembers Guthrie, Hopping Trains And Sharing Songs
Seeger believed songs were a way of binding people to a cause. He talks about fellow folk music icon Woody Guthrie and jumping railroad cars in an archival interview from 1985.
Grammy Show: Light On Awards, Heavy On Entertainment
Over the years, the Grammy awards have become less and less about music and more about an entertainment spectacle. The nominations were even announced on an hour-long TV show on a Friday night.