Jan 17th, 2010 · By age 15, Killian Mansfield of Woodstock, N.Y., was a prodigy. This despite being diagnosed with a rare form of cancer that would take his life. But he hung on long enough to achieve his dream: to make Somewhere Else, his star-studded debut album.
Oct 21st, 2009 · A former child prodigy, Bonamassa began playing guitar at age 7, and soon caught the attention of B.B. King. At 12, Bonamassa was opening shows for the blues icon and would later support the likes of Buddy Guy and Gregg Allman. In the decades since, Bonamassa has gained a reputation as one of his generation's great blues players. Hear him in a session on World Cafe.
Aug 18th, 2009 · In recent years, classical music in China has been experiencing a crescendo. China's conservatories are turning out child prodigy musicians. Cities are sprouting concert halls, and factories are cranking out violins and pianos. And Chinese cultural officials seem determined that their country will become a world-class power in opera, as well.
Jul 22nd, 2009 · Grammy-award winning singer Judy Collins went from being a child prodigy to one of the most prolific folk musicians of our time. And after a five-decade career in music, she is still reinventing herself. Judy Collins performs live and talks about her music, social activism and the secret to her longevity.
Jul 3rd, 2009 · Guitarist Julian Lage is a true jazz prodigy. Discovered by Gary Burton when he was just 12 years old, Lage has since played with Herbie Hancock, Joe Lovano and Carlos Santana. Lage shows off his amazing technique and improvisatory abilities on "My Funny Valentine" before teaming with McPartland on "You and the Night and the Music."
Jun 2nd, 2009 · At 70, Esteban "Steve" Jordan is a legend of tejano music — an illiterate, eyepatch-wearing hard-knock prodigy of the button accordion. Even as liver cancer encroaches, he's still preparing to issue nine CDs' worth of unreleased material.
May 7th, 2009 · Try spelling promiscuous, sacrilegious, or milieu. Fourteen-year-old Yulkendy Valdez can. A native Spanish speaker, Valdez moved from the Dominican Republic to the United States less than four years ago and has since mastered the English language. Host Michel Martin speaks with Valdez as she prepares to compete in the Scripps National Spelling Bee later this month.
Mar 5th, 2009 · She was a child prodigy on the jazz stage. Her debut album received a Grammy nomination. She was the house drummer on late night TV shows. Now, the in-demand musician, composer, producer and professor Terri Lyne Carrington leads her group with a set of stunning original works and inspired covers from the Kennedy Center Jazz Club in Washington D.C.