As COVID-19 spreads around the globe, numerous musicians have been infected. Most are able to recover, but the dangerous virus has claimed lives including, recently, those of country star Joe Diffie and rocker Alan Merrill.

Diffie had a series of country hits in the '90s, including "Home" and "Pickup Man," and he was a member of the Grand Ole Opry for over a quarter-century. (New York Times) Merrill was the frontman of the Arrows, the '70s group best known for writing and originally recording "I Love Rock 'n Roll," which became an '80s anthem for Joan Jett. (Consequence of Sound)

Legendary singer-songwriter John Prine is also battling the virus, taking a sudden turn for the worse after showing symptoms late last week. His wife, who has recovered from her own bout with the virus, now says Prine is in stable condition. (Country Now)

In this scary situation, artists including Scott Avett of the Avett Brothers are encouraging fans to help slow the spread of the disease by staying home and keeping social distance as much as possible.

Artists connect online: Elton John hosts living room concert, Dolly Parton reads kids' books

As the world settles in for an extended period of social distancing, artists are finding ever more creative ways to connect with fans online. On Sunday, Elton John hosted a virtual "Living Room Concert for America," a replacement for the iHeartRadio Music Awards that raised funds for food banks and first responders. Participating artists included Billie Eilish, Mariah Carey, and Sam Smith. Sir Elton himself sang his 1974 classic "Don't Let the Sun Go Down On Me." (New York Times)

https://youtu.be/7I4ekM6t2XU

Meanwhile, Dolly Parton has announced that for the next ten weeks, on Thursday nights she'll be reading children's books on the YouTube channel for her Imagination Library. The country icon says she's been wanting to do this for some time, and she decided now is the time to "share a story and share some love." One of the featured titles, of course, will be her own Coat of Many Colors. (Rolling Stone)

Bitches Brew turns 50

Today, March 30, is the 50th anniversary of Miles Davis's challenging classic Bitches Brew. The artist's estate is rolling out new merch to mark the anniversary, and on PBS Passport you can stream a new documentary on the making of the album, which documentary director Stanley Nelson says is testament to Davis's ability to "constantly expand his mind and creative capacity during tough times in his own life." (Paste)