Feb 21 Soul singer Jerry ‘Iceman’ Butler, whose hits included ‘Only the Strong Survive,’ dies at 85 By Hillel Italie, Associated Press Jerry Butler, a premier soul singer of the 1960s and after whose rich, intimate baritone graced such hits as "For Your Precious Love," "Only the Strong Survive" and "Make It Easy On Yourself," has died at age 85. Continue reading
Jan 21 Garth Hudson, last surviving member of The Band, dies at 87 By Hillel Italie, Associated Press Hudson, the Band's virtuoso keyboardist and all-around musician who drew from a unique palette of sounds and styles to add a conversational touch to many rock standards, has died at age 87. Continue reading
Jan 11 Sam Moore, who sang 1960s hit ‘Soul Man’ in legendary Sam & Dave duo, dies at 89 By Associated Press Sam Moore, the surviving half and higher voice of the 1960s duo Sam & Dave that was known for such definitive hits of the era as “Soul Man” and “Hold On, I'm Comin,’” has died. Continue reading
Oct 25 Phil Lesh, influential bassist and Grateful Dead founding member, dies at 84 By John Rogers, Associated Press Lesh was the oldest and one of the longest surviving members of the band that came to define the acid rock sound emanating from San Francisco in the 1960s. Continue reading
Sep 06 Brazilian music legend Sergio Mendes of ‘Mas Que Nada’ fame dies at 83 By David Biller, Gabriela Sá Pessoa, Associated Press Sergio Mendes, the celebrated Brazilian musician whose 1966 hit “Mas Que Nada” made him a global superstar and helped launched a long, Grammy-winning career, has died after months battling the effects of long COVID. Continue reading
Jun 12 French music icon Françoise Hardy dies at 80 By Thomas Adamson, Associated Press Hardy's lyrics often captured the angst and longing of adolescence, resonating deeply with young audiences. Her melancholic and introspective tone set her apart from the more exuberant pop music of her peers. Continue reading
Mar 28 Watch 6:51 Cuban musicians struggle to reach American audiences amid shifting diplomatic relations By Mike Cerre The on-again, off-again diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Cuba have made it more difficult for Cuban musicians to travel to the U.S. for this year’s summer music festivals. Special correspondent Mike Cerre reports from Havana for our arts and… Continue watching
Dec 30 Watch 8:39 Critics look back at 2023’s epic year in music By Stephanie Sy, Andrew Corkery, Claire Mufson 2023 had it all when it came to music: record-breaking tours, unique songwriting and new artists on the rise. The Root’s senior writer Candace McDuffie and freelance music writer and critic Maura Johnston join Stephanie Sy to discuss the music… Continue watching
Dec 24 Watch 5:53 The business of Christmas music and why some songs become classics By John Yang, Claire Mufson Christmas music is a big part of the music industry. John Yang speaks with Nate Sloan, an assistant professor of musicology at the USC Thornton School of Music and co-host of the podcast Switched On Pop, about what makes Christmas… Continue watching
Nov 18 Citing record heat, Taylor Swift postpones Rio de Janeiro show after fan dies during concert By Diane Jeantet, Associated Press Taylor Swift postponed an Eras Tour concert in Rio de Janeiro Saturday after a 23-year-old fan died during her Friday night show, according to a message posted on the singer's Instagram. Fans and politicians reacted to the death with outrage, speculating it… Continue reading