Cause For Celebration: The Iconic Blue Note Records At 75
Musicians and insiders talk to NPR about the jazz label's legacy. "It's just like the Empire State Building or the White House," says one. "It's a monument."
Music
The Bronze Buckaroo Rides Off Into The Sunset
The black singing cowboy Herb Jeffries sang a Duke Ellington hit and appeared in 1930s westerns like Harlem Rides the Range and The Bronze Buckaroo.
Donovan To Be Inducted Into Songwriters Hall Of Fame
The singer-songwriter wrote several '60s folk rock hippie anthems, including "Sunshine Superman." He spoke to Fresh Air's Terry Gross in 2004.
René Marie On Singing, Sex And The Importance Of Being Eartha
Performing Eartha Kitt's music, the jazz singer says, isn't just hero worship: It's a window into how power, seduction and vulnerability intertwine.
Heir To A Jazz Legacy, A Trumpeter Finds His Own Way
Theo Croker is a descendant of old-school New Orleans jazz royalty, but his fusion of different genres is anything but traditional.
In 1970, Miles Davis Played Four Sets For A New Audience
That June, Miles Davis played four nights at the New York rock palace Fillmore East. Those performances are now out in full for the first time.
Six Decades Later, A Long-Lost Hank Williams Recording Resurfaces
A recently re-discovered recording of Hank Williams is getting a release. Guest host Colin Escott and Jett Williams speak about the recording, called The Garden Spot Recordings, 1950.
Director Bendjelloul Searched For Mysterious 'Sugar Man'
Oscar-winning director Malik Bendjelloul died this week. He's remembered in this rebroadcast of a 2012 interview with NPR's Scott Simon.
The Music Of Oak And Forest Sprite Blend In Sylvan Esso
Delicate folk vocals combine with thumping electronics in Sylvan Esso's debut album. NPR's Scott Simon speaks with the duo of Amelia Meath and Nick Sanborn.
From B-Boys To Billions, A Brief History Of Hip-Hop As Business
Apple is expected to buy Beats Electronics for more than three billion dollars, meaning Beats co-founder Dr. Dre would be close to becoming the first hip-hop billionaire.