Mar 16th, 2010 · Over the course of his life, Nat King Cole became a jazz innovator and an icon of American popular music. Take Five celebrates Cole's birthday — he was born on March 17, 1919 — with a "five-tool" (that's baseball lingo, we'll explain) approach, highlighting the breadth of his work.
Mar 9th, 2010 · Asked on Glenn Beck's Fox News Channel show, the former New York congressman said his actions toward a male staffer at a birthday party might have been misinterpreted. "I should have never allowed myself to be as familiar with my staff as I was," he told Beck.
Mar 9th, 2010 · Asked on Glenn Beck's Fox News Channel show, the former New York congressman said his actions toward a male staffer at a birthday party might have been misinterpreted. "I should have never allowed myself to be as familiar with my staff as I was," he told Beck.
Mar 1st, 2010 · All this year, NPR Music is celebrating the 200th birthday of pianist Frederic Chopin. We feature one of his impromptus, performed by pianist Yundi Li. Also on the show: a welcoming piece from Joanna Newsom's new triple-length album; the stunning arrangements of Owen Pallett; Pantha du Prince's minimal electronic music; hard-hitting soul from Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings; and a cut from The White Stripes' live concert documentary.
Feb 26th, 2010 · A new Johnny Cash album, American Recordings VI: Ain't No Grave was released this week to coincide with what would have been Cash's 78th birthday. We remember the singer, songwriter and guitarist, who wrote more than 1,500 songs — and performed from the 1950s until just before his death in 2003.
Feb 26th, 2010 · In the decade leading up to his death in 2003, Johnny Cash worked with producer Rick Rubin on a series of albums they called American Recordings. This week, in honor of Cash's birthday, Rubin's label released Ain't No Grave, the sixth disc of songs produced in their collaboration.
Feb 19th, 2010 · Rosing sang the original recording of "Try a Little Tenderness," and was known best for his hit single "The Teddy Bears Picnic." But when he was spotted by an MGM executive and brought to America, "Val Rosing" effectively ceased to exist. This weekend marks what would have been Rosing's 100th birthday.
Feb 12th, 2010 · In 1970, Black Sabbath was the album that launched a thousand demonic riffs. Even the tritone that opens "Black Sabbath" (duh duhnn ddddduuuun) has been historically called diabolus in musica ("the Devil in music"). Years later, I'm still terrified by the "figure in black" that haunts Ozzy Osbourne's tortured wails.