Oct 13 American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan wins Nobel Prize in literature By Larisa Epatko He’s gotten a presidential honor and performed for a pope. Now musician Bob Dylan has won the Nobel Prize in literature. Continue reading
Jun 02 Watch 6:18 Judy Collins still turn, turn, turning with new album at 77 By PBS NewsHour Folk legend Judy Collins, known for her critically acclaimed covers of Stephen Sondheim’s “Send in the Clowns” and Pete Seeger’s “Turn! Turn! Turn!” has been making music since the 1960s. Now, at the age of 77, she is still going… Continue watching
Apr 15 Watch 6:25 Singer Rhiannon Giddens taps America’s deep musical roots By PBS NewsHour Rhiannon Giddens has studied opera and fronted a Grammy-winning old-time string band, the Carolina Chocolate Drops. Now her debut solo album, produced by T. Bone Burnett, showcases her range and celebrates the musical influence of American women like Odetta, Patsy… Continue watching
Dec 26 The musicians we listened to in 2014 By Victoria Fleischer Before we ring in 2015, we want to reflect on some of the great Art Beat stories from this past year. So who did we listen to in 2014?… Continue reading
Nov 03 Watch Bob Dylan’s complete ‘Basement Tapes’ surface for the first time By PBS NewsHour In the late '60s, Bob Dylan retreated to upstate New York to recover from a motorcycle accident and the exhaustion of touring. In the basement of a house called Big Pink, he recorded with the musicians who would form The… Continue watching
Oct 16 Capturing blues in black and white By Frank Carlson Tim Duffy has spent the last 20 years helping struggling blues and roots musicians make ends meet while bringing their music to a wider audience. He’s also a photo hobbyist who has documented his friends and performers -- at home,… Continue reading
Sep 05 Agnes Obel taps into the piano’s ‘dreamy nature’ By Victoria Fleischer Danish singer/songwriter Agnes Obel grew up surrounded by guitars, pianos, marimbas and double basses. Her father collected and sold instruments and her mother was a classical pianist, so perhaps music was in her blood. Continue reading
Aug 26 Valerie June sings an anthem for the ‘Workin’ Woman’ By Victoria Fleischer Valerie June may be a full-time singer-songwriter now, but, like most musicians, she has worked a series of different jobs to support herself. She cleaned houses, walked dogs, cared for kids, serviced coffee, made soaps and the list continues. Continue reading
Jan 28 Watch Remembering Pete Seeger, 94, who made music to unite people By PBS NewsHour A central figure of American music, Pete Seeger touched the lives of generations with his long list of folk and protest songs that became cultural landmarks of various social movements. Jeffrey Brown talks to Peter Yarrow, friend of Peter Seeger… Continue watching