Sep 04 Watch 13:31 Singer Michael Bublé on his musical choices, inspirations By Geoff Bennett, Maea Lenei Buhre, Juliet Fuisz, Claire Mufson Throughout his 20-year career, Michael Bublé has been known for the kind of music that seems to transcend generations. For our Weekend Spotlight, Geoff Bennett spoke with Bublé to learn more about the mind behind the voice. Continue watching
Apr 30 Watch 6:12 Ukrainian folk band DakhaBrakha uses music to bring attention to the war in their homeland By Mike Cerre While some Ukrainians are fighting on the frontlines in the war against Russia others have taken a different approach. Ukrainian folk group DakhaBrakha is using a multi-city tour of the U.S. to raise awareness of their war-torn homeland and fight… Continue watching
Apr 14 Watch 6:41 Guitarist Yasmin Williams makes music without lyrics but not without meaning By Tom Casciato How does a musical artist develop a unique style? There’s talent, hard work and also inspiration. At the age of 26, guitarist Yasmin Williams is combining those key ingredients to create a sound that's wholly her own. Special correspondent Tom… Continue watching
Oct 20 Watch 6:24 Tuba player Richard Antoine White’s journey from homelessness to ‘belonging’ on stage By PBS NewsHour Jeffrey Brown reports on musician Richard Antoine White’s unlikely journey from the streets of Baltimore, Maryland, to concert halls around the globe — thanks to his mastery of the tuba. This story is part of our arts and culture series,… Continue watching
Sep 24 How Irving Berlin’s blue skies turned to blue days By Dr. Howard Markel Irving Berlin has no place in American music; he is American music,” legendary composer Jerome Kern once wrote. Yet for his final 25 years, Berlin led a rather reclusive existence. Continue reading
Aug 14 How the talented Oscar Levant broke taboos by talking about mental health By Dr. Howard Markel In today’s socially mediated 24/7 news cycle, it is difficult to imagine just how taboo the topic of prescription opiate addiction was back then, let alone how much courage it took for Levant to bring it to such national prominence. Continue reading
Jan 01 Watch 8:18 Highlighting the best music of 2020, a year many live performances were silenced By Jeffrey Brown, Courtney Norris As with many things this past year, the typical live music scene was silenced. But there were creative attempts to provide entertainment breaking out all over, and recording artists put out new music that offered a wide range of options. Continue watching
Sep 25 Watch 5:54 This Kentucky singer-songwriter seeks to bridge the urban-rural divide By Jeffrey Brown, Gretchen Frazee As the election approaches, the country feels culturally and politically divided. Some of the starkest differences are between rural and urban areas. Now, a singer-songwriter from Western Kentucky is hoping her music can help Americans to find some common ground. Continue watching
Apr 23 Watch 6:50 Why pandemic represents ‘existential crisis’ for performing artists By Jeffrey Brown, Anne Azzi Davenport We look to the arts for entertainment, comfort and pleasure -- but they are also an economic engine. According to government analysis, art accounts for almost $900 billion of GDP and over five million jobs. Now, many of these people… Continue watching
Dec 17 What caused Beethoven’s deafness? By Dr. Howard Markel It is a query that has invited many diagnoses over the last 200 years. Continue reading