'Mixtape Potluck' Is Inspired By Questlove's 'Food Salon' Dinner Parties

NPR's David Greene talks to musician Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson, the co-founder of the iconic hip-hop band The Roots, about his cookbook Mixtape Potluck.

Music News

August 04, 2020

Helen Jones Woods, Groundbreaking Female Trombonist, Has Died From COVID-19

Enlarge this image Helen Jones Woods. Kathleen Fallon/Archives Center, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution hide captiontoggle caption Kathleen Fallon/Archives
August 03, 2020

Neil Young Sues The Trump Campaign Over Song Use

Enlarge this image Musician Neil Young, performing in Lake Hughes, Calif. last September. Kevin Winter/Getty Images hide captiontoggle caption Kevin Winter/Getty
August 03, 2020

Neil Young Sues To Stop The Trump Campaign From Using His Songs

Enlarge this image Neil Young was among a number of artists who objected to Donald Trump using their songs during the 2016
August 03, 2020

Neil Young Sues To Stop Trump Campaign From Using His Songs

Enlarge this image Neil Young was among a number of artists who objected to Donald Trump using their songs during the 2016
August 03, 2020

Beyoncé's 'Black Is King' Is A Sumptuous Search For Divine Identity

Enlarge this image Beyoncé, at the premiere of Disney's The Lion King on July 09, 2019 in LA. Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images
August 03, 2020

Irish Pub In Spain Bans Neil Diamond's 'Sweet Caroline'

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Aug 03, 2020

Announcing The Winner Of The 2020 Tiny Desk Contest

YouTube This year's Tiny Desk Contest was unlike any other. Amid lockdowns, social distancing guidelines and ongoing adjustments to daily life, over…
Aug 01, 2020

Leon Fleisher, The Pianist Who Reinvented Himself, Dies At 92

Enlarge this image Pianist Leon Fleisher eventually resumed playing with both hands after an injury sidelined him at age 36. Chris
Jul 30, 2020

The Psychedelic Furs' Richard Butler On The Band's First New Album In 29 Years

Enlarge this image The Psychedelic Furs' Richard Butler says the decision to make a new album was intuitive. "It just felt like
Jul 30, 2020

Beyonce's Visual Ode, 'Black Is King,' Arrives

Enlarge this image Courtesy of the artist
Jul 29, 2020

Drummer Makaya McCraven, The 'Beat Scientist,' Talks About His New Album

Enlarge this image Makaya McCraven has a unique style where he makes improvised live recordings, then builds on them in the studio.
Jul 28, 2020

Malik B., Founding Member Of The Roots, Dies At 47

Enlarge this image From Organix until Things Fall Apart, Malik B. was a member of The Roots, making guest appearances on 2006's
Jul 28, 2020

Malik B., Early Member Of The Roots, Dies At 47

Enlarge this image From Organix until Things Fall Apart, Malik B. was a member of The Roots, making guest appearances on 2006's
Jul 28, 2020

Classical Music Tries To Reckon With Racism — On Social Media

Enlarge this image Yuja Wang, after a rehearsal in Bucharest, Romania in 2013. Daniel Mihailescu/AFP via Getty Images hide captiontoggle caption
Jul 28, 2020

Remembering Fleetwood Mac Founder Peter Green, The Soulful Voice Of British Blues

Enlarge this image A portrait of Peter Green, guitarist and co-founder of rock band Fleetwood Mac, c. 1968. Hulton Archive/Getty Images
Jul 28, 2020

Grand Ole Opry Announcer, Eddie Stubbs, To Retire

After a 25-year career as the announcer of the Grand Ole Opry, Eddie Stubbs is leaving after Tuesday night's show. He says he has seen one amazing…
Jul 25, 2020

'Turbulence,' Latest Album By Ella Vos, Is Aptly Named

Musician Ella Vos has been through a lot lately: postpartum depression, cancer and divorce. NPR's Sarah McCammon talks Vos, who's real name is Lauren…
Jul 25, 2020

Remembering Radio Host Patrick Ellis, Who Brought The 'Gospel Spirit' To D.C.

Patrick Ellis worked at Howard University radio station for over 40 years. "He would play music that touched him," says one colleague.
Jul 24, 2020

Blues Guitarist Peter Green, Co-Founder Of Fleetwood Mac, Dies At 73

Enlarge this image British musician Peter Green, guitarist and co-founder of rock band Fleetwood Mac, circa 1968. Green's family announced his death
Jul 23, 2020

A New Album Recreates The Work Of The First Known Women Composers In America

Enlarge this image The Ephrata Cloister in Lancaster County, Penn., created conditions for its inhabitants to become the first known women composers
Jul 23, 2020

A New Album Re-Creates The Work Of The 1st Known Female Composers In America

Enlarge this image The Ephrata Cloister in Lancaster County, Pa., created conditions for its inhabitants to become the first known female composers
Jul 22, 2020

Stream Taylor Swift's New Album, 'Folklore'

Enlarge this image Taylor Swift's new album, Folklore, is out now. Beth Garrabrant/Courtesy of the artist hide captiontoggle caption Beth…
Jul 21, 2020

Annie Ross, Mid-Century Jazz Icon, Dead At 89

Enlarge this image Annie Ross, photographed on March 1, 1956 backstage at St. Martins Theatre in West London. Mirrorpix/Getty Images hide
Jul 20, 2020

Independent Venues Face Bleak Future Without Aid

Enlarge this image The inside of xBk, Tobi Parks' music venue in Des Moines, Iowa. Without help, hers and thousands of other
Jul 20, 2020

Kanye West Tweets, Then Deletes, Claims Of His Family's Concern — And More

Enlarge this image In a string of deleted tweets, rapper Kanye West claimed that his wife Kim Kardashian was trying to get
Jul 19, 2020

Billy Joel Says Discarded Piano Is 'Perfectly Good'

Five-time Grammy winner Billy Joel recently saw a piano left on a sidewalk in Long Island, and just had to stop to tickle the ivories. He said it…
Jul 19, 2020

Breaking Into The Close-Knit World Of Country Music, While Keeping Distant

Enlarge this image A parking lot in Nashville, photographed on Mar. 31, 2020, after Tennessee's governor issued a stay-at-home order in response
Jul 18, 2020

Rina Sawayama Wants Her Success To Make Space For Asian Women In Pop Music

Enlarge this image On her first album, Rina Sawayama blends metal and pop and tackles serious issues."It was such a risk to
Jul 18, 2020

Legendary Violinist Isaac Stern's Legacy Lives On After 100 Years

Enlarge this image July 21 is the centennial of the birth of Isaac Stern. The violinist worked with his contemporaries, like Igor
Jul 17, 2020

Singing In The Dark Times: Eric Whitacre's Virtual Choir Takes On New Meaning

Enlarge this image Eric Whitacre Marc Royce/Courtesy of the artist hide captiontoggle caption Marc Royce/Courtesy of the artist
Jul 16, 2020

The Chicks Look Back And Laugh

Enlarge this image "I feel like it was better for the longevity of this band, believe it or not, to have gone
Jul 15, 2020

A New Album Turns The Sound Of Endangered Birds Into Electronic Music

Enlarge this image Ten artists from Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean recorded tracks using birdsong from their country, with all profits
Jul 14, 2020

Rapper Megan Thee Stallion Says She Was Shot On Sunday

Enlarge this image Rapper Megan Thee Stallion, performing in Miami in January. Frazer Harrison/Getty Images hide captiontoggle caption Frazer…
Jul 14, 2020

The Galaxy-Expanding, Peace-Loving Trumpet Of Eddie Gale: Hear The Essentials

Enlarge this image The trumpeter Eddie Gale, who worked with the likes of Sun Ra and Cecil Taylor, passed away on July
Jul 14, 2020

Lianne La Havas Will Join NPR Music's Listening Party For 'Lianne La Havas'

YouTube Updated on July 17 at 3:47 p.m. ET. The listening party has ended, but you can watch the album stream and conversation for the next 72…
Jul 12, 2020

At U.K. Care Home, Residents Brilliantly Re-Create Iconic Album Covers On Twitter

Sydmar Lodge Care Home residents and carers have been recreating classic album covers. The home has now been in lockdown for 4 months.…

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