Music

Jazz historian KEVIN WHITEHEAD marks the centennial of jazz pianist and composer Randy Weston.

A new documentary about Paul McCartney, his life after the breakup of The Beatles and the formation of his band Wings is streaming on Amazon Prime Video. The film was made by our guest, Morgan Neville. He also directed documentaries about Fred Rogers, Anthony Bourdain and Orson Welles, as well as many prominent musicians, and has won an Oscar, Emmy and Grammy. Morgan Neville spoke with FRESH AIR's Ann Marie Baldonado.

There have been so many extraordinary iterations of Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers that some remarkable editions have been overlooked — including Strasbourg 82, a newly discovered concert album.

Moroney's album arrives as a new kind of music from Big Pink: The Georgia-born singer/songwriter spins out tales of romantic revenge with a smooth fluency that's a stark contrasts to her raspy drawl.

Meyers, who died March 7, helped shape Tex-Mex music with the '60s band Sir Douglas Quintet and then with the Texas Tornados. His signature sound was on the vox organ. Originally broadcast in 1990.

(1.) Actor, writer, and producer RIZ AHMED. He stars in the new Prime Video series Bait, and in the upcoming film Hamlet, a modern reimagining of Shakespeare's *classic set in London's South Asian community (in theaters April 10th). Ahmed has built a distinctive career in film and television, from a rebellious intelligence officer in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, a young Pakistani American on trial for murder in HBO's The Night Of, a performance that made him the first Muslim and first South Asian man to win the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor.

Book Binder, who died March 3, was known for Southern blues and hillbilly music, and great story telling. He recorded with Fresh Air in 1987, playing music and reflecting on his career on the road.

Grammy-award winning singer, songwriter and actor JILL SCOTT. She recently released her sixth studio album “To Whom This May Concern”--her first new music in a decade. SCOTT has been making music for more than 25 years. Her 2000 debut, “Who Is Jill Scott?: Words and Sounds Vol. 1” was well received with double platinum sales, three Grammy nominations and a sound that helped define neo-soul.

Sedaka, who died Feb. 27, was a classical piano prodigy whose hits in the late '50s and early '60s included "Calendar Girl" and "Breaking up is Hard to Do." Originally broadcast in 2007.

Five albums into their career, the band exudes a cocky confidence in its ability to use rock songs as vehicles for both social commentary and personal angst.

Kate Hudson. She's up for an Oscar for her role as Claire in the film "Song Sung Blue," starring opposite Hugh Jackman as one half of Lightning & Thunder, a Neil Diamond tribute band.

Peplowski, who died Feb. 2, started playing clarinet professionally at age 10 and went on to perform with the Benny Goodman Orchestra and to record on his own. Originally broadcast July 7, 1999.

Saadiq helped shape modern R&B and soul in Tony! Toni! Toné! and as a solo artist. Now he's up for an Oscar for his song, "I Lied to You" from the film Sinners. Originally broadcast July 8, 2025.

Considered the father of Afrobeat, Kuti used his music in the 1970s to combat colonial values and brutal dictatorship. Podcaster Jad Abumrad tells his story in the series, Fela Kuti: Fear No Man.

In 1965, Davis led one of the all-time great jazz groups. That December, they recorded seven sets over two nights in a Chicago nightclub. The complete recordings went unreleased for decades.

A former microbiologist and Golden Gloves boxer, Wilson is also one of the more distinctive new sounds in country. He's broken through not with huge record sales but via viral clips on social media.

Weir was 16 in 1963 when he ran into Jerry Garcia at a music store in Palo Alto. They decided to start a band, which evolved into the Grateful Dead. Weir died Jan. 10. Originally broadcast in 2016.

Kilgore, who died Jan. 7, was a talented interpreter of American popular song. We'll remember her by listening back to her in-studio concerts with pianist Dave Frishberg from 1995 and 1999.

In 2022, his life and music became the subject of the hit Broadway musical "A Beautiful Noise." Neil Diamond is now 84 years old. Let's listen to Terry's interview with him, recorded in 2005.

Critic Kevin Whitehead reflects on the jazz notables who died this year, including Sheila Jordan, Andy Bey, Ray Drummond, Bunky Green, Chuck Mangione, Eddie Palmieri and Jim McNeely.