Ben E. King, Soul Singer Best Known For 'Stand By Me,' Dies
Ben E. King, best known for the classic soul song "Stand By Me," has died at 76.
Music
Nellie McKay Celebrates The '60s With 'My Weekly Reader'
McKay's new album My Weekly Reader is a collection of covers of songs made famous in the 1960s. The range of material is wide — from the Beatles' "If I Fell" to Frank Zappa's "Hungry Freaks, Daddy."
Singer Ben E. King, Best Known For 'Stand By Me,' Dies At 76
Phil Brown, King's publicist, says the soul singer died of natural causes. King began his career with The Drifters, but it was "Stand by Me," released in 1961, that sealed his worldwide fame.
These Tunes Are Music To Your Cats' Furry Ears
Composer David Teie's most recent compositions are catered to our feline friends. His music mimics purring, and might be just the thing to perk your cat up.
From Bored To Blown Away: Feline Reactions To 'Music For Cats'
David Teie talked with us last week about his cat-friendly music. This week, we share how some of Weekend Edition's feline listeners reacted to Teie's tunes.
Brooklyn Rider Blurs Classical Boundaries On 'Almanac'
The string quartet invited composers like Vijay Iyer and Bill Frisell to compose pieces inspired by something outside of their world.
Two Takes On Billie Holiday
Fresh Air critic Kevin Whitehead looks at a couple tribute albums to the jazz singer.
Dazzling Trumpeter Rolf Smedvig Dies Suddenly
A founding member of the Empire Brass, the trumpeter played with a lustrous tone and extraordinary technique. At age 19, he was the youngest musician to join the Boston Symphony Orchestra.
Beauty Pill's 'Steven and Tiwonge' Is And Isn't A Protest Song
Chad Clark of the band Beauty Pill walks us through creating "Steven and Tiwonge," a song about a gay couple in Malawi sentenced to 14 years in prison for their sexuality.
How Bessie Smith Ushered In The Jazz Age
The singer known as the "empress of the blues" is the subject of a new HBO biopic. Jazz Night In America host Christian McBride breaks down her influence and legacy.