Music

Russell talks and sings about the physical and sexual abuse she endured from her racist adoptive father — and about how she learned she was worthy of being loved. Originally broadcast Sept. 27, 2023.

Roots cofounder Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson shares his Christmas playlist, which includes songs by DRAM, James Brown, Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder. Originally broadcast Dec. 21, 2022.

McPherson never thought he'd make a Christmas album. Then, he says, "I got a bug in my ear." He and his band perform live in studio from Socks. Originally broadcast Dec. 11, 2018.

When I interviewed David Byrne in November, I enjoyed it so much that when the interview was over, I asked if he'd consider returning before Christmas to play some of his favorite Christmas recordings. I am very grateful that he said yes. He's brought his list of songs, and he's here to play and talk about them.

Manilow was one of the biggest pop hitmakers of the '70s and early '80s. He now has a Broadway musical, Harmony. "I like emotional productions," he said in '02. I like to take the listener on a trip."

Moran plays from his latest recording, which borrows from the music of James Reese Europe, the composer who led the Harlem Hellfighters regiment band during WWI. Originally broadcast Aug. 7, 2023.

Barbra Streisand has a new memoir called "My Name Is Barbra."

In Tariq Trotter's new book, "The Upcycled Self: A Memoir On The Art Of Becoming Who We Are," the Grammy Award-winning rapper and co-founder of the hip-hop group The Roots, examines the shame of that moment, as well as other harrowing events growing up in Philadelphia intertwined with joyful moments like discovering music and meeting his fellow bandmate Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson. Known by his stage name, Black Thought, Trotter is the lead emcee of The Roots, which he and Thompson founded after meeting as teens in high school.

David Byrne was a founding member of the band Talking Heads, one of the seminal bands of the punk, new wave period of the '70s. They recorded eight albums between 1977 and when they stopped playing together in 1988. If you love their music or if you never saw or heard them, this is a great time to watch the 40th anniversary edition of their concert film "Stop Making Sense," which is playing in theaters. It's newly restored with a remastered soundtrack.

electronic music producer and DJ Jennifer Lee, better known as TOKiMONSTA is considered a pioneer in electronic music, as the first female Asian American producer to garner a Grammy nomination for Best Dance/Electronic Album. She talks with about her musical path, and the near-death experience that changed the course of her life.