Music & Culture

Music & Culture

New Compilation Of Old Tunes Is 'An Alternate History Of The World's Music'

4:35pm March 03, 2021

NPR's Ari Shapiro talks with Jonathan Ward on his new 100-track compilation of early recordings from around the world called Excavated Shellac: An Alternate History of the World's Music.

Singer-songwriter Mia Doi Todd showing off her record collection.

Music & Culture

KCRW Presents Lockdown Listening: Mia Doi Todd

4:04pm March 03, 2021

Gregory Isaacs, Milton Nascimento, Cartola and more are featured on the singer-songwriter's Lockdown Listening playlist.

Music & Culture

Jack Harlow: Tiny Desk (Home) Concert

12:00pm March 03, 2021

by Bobby Carter

The rapper behind last year's hit "WHATS POPPIN" performs six songs from his debut album for Tiny Desk's quarantine series.

Dolly Parton, pictured performing in May 2014, shared a video of herself getting her first dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine on Tuesday.

From 'Jolene' To Vaccine: Dolly Parton Gets COVID-19 Shot She Helped Fund

11:33am March 03, 2021

by Rachel Treisman

The country music icon, who is 75, shares a video of herself getting vaccinated in which she riffs off her hit song "Jolene" and urges those eligible to get their shots, too.

Song From 'Les Misérables' Has A Long History In Pro-Democracy Movements

6:27am March 03, 2021

In Myanmar, protesters have adopted the song — "Do You Hear The People Sing?" — from the musical Les Misérables, as a rallying cry against the military coup.

Queue Listen Now

The New York musician's entry for Morning Edition's Song Project draws its heartache from personal experience.

Music & Culture

Kat Edmonson Hopes This Song Project Entry, 'If You're Scared,' Will Comfort Her Mom

5:45am March 03, 2021

Ahead of writing her Song Project entry, Edmonson's focus dramatically shifted, from a budding community of fans to her Texas-based mother, who went through the ringer while they were apart.

Dolly Parton Sings The Benefits Of Getting COVID-19 Vaccination

5:44am March 03, 2021

Dolly Parton wants people to get vaccinated. To that end, she re-imagined one of her greatest hits. Parton sang an adaptation of "Jolene" in a social media post before getting the Moderna shot.

Music & Culture

Album Review: Julien Baker Embraces Struggles With Addiction In 'Little Oblivions'

5:20pm March 02, 2021

by Miguel Perez

Tennessee songwriter Julien Baker's new album "Little Oblivions" reveals new folds in the musician's road to recovery from addiction.

Bunny Wailer photographed in London in 1988.

Bunny Wailer, Iconic Reggae Singer And Wailers Co-Founder, Has Died At Age 73

5:20pm March 02, 2021

by Anastasia Tsioulcas

The last founding member of The Wailers died Tuesday in Kingston, Jamaica. After leaving the group in 1974, Bunny Wailer cultivated a distinguished solo career.

Ralph Peterson Jr., performing in 2012 at Symphony Space in New York.

Music & Culture

Ralph Peterson Jr., Drummer Who Re-Enlivened Hard Bop, Dead At 58

5:52pm March 01, 2021

by Nate Chinen

With Art Blakey as both mentor and north star, Peterson emerged in the '80s as one of that decade's most striking jazz artists.