Mar 11th, 2010 · The jazz guitarist draws on an extremely wide range of styles. From bebop to Brazilian rhythms to lyrical ballads to sounds from his native Benin, Loueke's latest album, Mwaliko, showcases the artist's inventive take on jazz.
Mar 10th, 2010 · The Venezuelan band Los Amigos Invisibles has found huge success in its native country, but the group has also built a respectable following in the U.S. with its unique blends of disco, jazz, funk and Latin rhythms. Host Michel Martin talks with the Latin Grammy Award-winning band. They recently stopped by NPR for a performance chat while traveling on national tour.
Mar 4th, 2010 · Novelist Barry Hannah died earlier this week. A native of Mississippi, Hannah won the William Faulkner Prize for his 1972 novel Geronimo Rex. Today, we remember the Southern author, who appeared on Fresh Air in 2001.
Feb 26th, 2010 · Presidential confidante Desiree Rogers said Friday she would step down as White House social secretary. The Chicago native is a friend of the first family and came to town with unusual style for a social secretary. She came under criticism early this year when an uninvited couple gained entry to the Obamas' first state dinner.
Feb 21st, 2010 · Amy Greene's debut novel, Bloodroot, tells the story of a family in Appalachia that's been living under a curse for generations. Greene, a native Appalachian, married and had children while she was young says she wanted to convey a sense of isolation through her writing.
Feb 19th, 2010 · We've got two new gifts from Local Natives today. Unlike the "Honey" film that the band posted on its blog Tuesday, these are "official." These two never-before-seen performances were shot by the band on the fly.
Feb 15th, 2010 · Doug Fieger, leader of the power pop band The Knack who sang on the 1979 hit "My Sharona," died Sunday. He was 57. Fieger, a Detroit-area native, died at his home in Woodland Hills near Los Angeles after battling cancer, according to The Knack's manager, Jake Hooker.
Feb 13th, 2010 · Singer-songwriter Hawksley Workman was 23 when he made his debut record, For Him and the Girls. It made him a star — in his native Canada. Ten years later, he's finally releasing it in the U.S., along with his 11th album.