Music & Culture

Music & Culture

Johnny Nash, Known For Reggae Hit 'I Can See Clearly Now,' Dies At 80

7:45am October 07, 2020

In 1972, reggae and pop singer-songwriter Johnny Nash had a hit with "I Can See Clearly Now." The musician died Tuesday at his home in Houston. According to his son, Nash had been in declining health.

Queue Listen Now

Music & Culture

Rock Legend Eddie Van Halen Dies After A Long Battle With Cancer

7:35am October 07, 2020

by Andrew Limbong

Eddie Van Halen and his brother Alex formed the band that bore their last name. It became a force in rock in the 1970s and 1980s, and Eddie became a guitar hero. He was 65.

Queue Listen Now

Gabriel Garzón-Montano's latest album is Agüita.

Music & Culture

Gabriel Garzón-Montano's 'Agüita' Is A Rebuke Of Genre's Limitations

5:44am October 07, 2020

NPR's David Greene speaks with the singer and multi-instrumentalist about his new album, exploring his roots in Colombia and the influence of his late mother on his music.

Great Scott was a popular hangout for students at Boston College for many years.

Music & Culture

City Scenes: Remembering Boston's Great Scott

5:00am October 07, 2020

by Adam 12

Great Scott, the gritty little club in Boston's Allston neighborhood, will not reopen after the pandemic. This oral history dives into the club's 44-year-long legacy.

Music & Culture

Rock Icon Eddie Van Halen Dies At 65

10:05pm October 06, 2020

by Stephen Thompson

The guitarist, bandleader and songwriter Eddie Van Halen died on Tuesday. He was 65. NPR remembers his life and legacy.

Queue Listen Now

Music & Culture

Eddie Van Halen, Guitar Hero, Dies At 65

6:28pm October 06, 2020

by Stephen Thompson

The namesake of rock band Van Halen dazzled a generation of guitar fans with his flashy solos and trademark finger tapping.

Bootsy Collins, funk bassist, performing live concert performance at the Hammersmith Odeon, in Hammersmith, London, England in June 1978.

Music & Culture

The Funkiest, Most Memorable Bass Riffs Ever: A Playlist

4:50pm October 06, 2020

Sometimes bass guitar can be an overlooked instrument. Sometimes it gets relegated to the background. Not today, my friends. Not today.

The MacArthur 'Genius Grant' winners for 2020.

Amidst Global Troubles, MacArthur 'Genius Grant' Winners 'Provoke And Inspire'

4:11pm October 06, 2020

by Petra Mayer

This year's MacArthur Fellows — recipients of what's commonly called the Genius Grant — include artists, scientists, dancers and more. They'll each receive a no-strings-attached $625,000 award.

Silvio Rodríguez's latest album is called Para la espera.

Music & Culture

On 'Para La Espera,' Silvio Rodríguez Combines The Personal And Political

4:08pm October 06, 2020

by Betto Arcos

One of Cuba's best-known singers and songwriters, Rodríguez says this pandemic-era album — whose title translates to "For the Wait" — is all about dealing with uncertainty.

Mariah Carey performs during the 2019 Billboard Music Awards. In 2020, she celebrated 30 years of releasing music, dubbed "MC30."

Music & Culture

Mariah Carey's 'Rarities' Illuminate Pop Music's Evolution

1:00pm October 06, 2020

by Andrew Chan

Celebrating 30 years in the limelight, the pop diva's year of retrospection includes a memoir, an album of rarities and re-released remixes, all of which give a masterclass in legacy building.