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In Memoriam

Brian Wilson: NPR's interviews, concerts and appreciations
In Memoriam

Brian Wilson: NPR's interviews, concerts and appreciations

Hazel Cills • Jun 11, 2025

The Beach Boys' co-founder Brian Wilson has died at the age of 82, leaving behind a storied legacy as one of pop music's greatest songwriters and producers. Here are NPR's best interviews, concerts and appreciations of the late artist.

Brian Wilson, the troubled genius behind The Beach Boys, has died at age 82
In Memoriam

Brian Wilson, the troubled genius behind The Beach Boys, has died at age 82

Ann Powers • Jun 11, 2025

The Beach Boys' co-founder, songwriter and producer transformed pop music into high art, and became America's answer to The Beatles' Lennon and McCartney in the process.

Sly Stone, visionary funk frontman of the Family Stone, has died at age 82
In Memoriam

Sly Stone, visionary funk frontman of the Family Stone, has died at age 82

Brandon Gates • Jun 9, 2025

The musical visionary led a multi-racial funk band that produced five Top 10 hits in the late 1960s and early '70s

Al Foster, drummer for Miles Davis and Sonny Rollins, has died
In Memoriam

Al Foster, drummer for Miles Davis and Sonny Rollins, has died

Nate Chinen • May 29, 2025

The superbly alert and flexible drummer formed a swirling current in modern jazz for more than 60 years. He was 82.

Singer-songwriter Jill Sobule has died at the age of 66
In Memoriam

Singer-songwriter Jill Sobule has died at the age of 66

Associated Press • May 2, 2025

Sobule died on Thursday morning in a house fire in the Twin Cities suburbs. The fire’s cause is still under investigation.

Remembering Mike Peters of the Alarm
In Memoriam

Remembering Mike Peters of the Alarm

Luke Taylor • Apr 29, 2025

The late singer-songwriter had visited The Current on a couple of occasions, and always brought his warm, genuine spirit.

David Thomas, Pere Ubu's defiantly original leader, dies at 71
In Memoriam

David Thomas, Pere Ubu's defiantly original leader, dies at 71

Annie Zaleski • Apr 24, 2025

Formed in 1975, Pere Ubu embodied the industrial decay and hardscrabble ethics of Cleveland. Thomas tied together the band's sound with uncompromising vocals that exuded steely menace and unfettered anguish.

Amadou Bagayoko, one half of Malian duo Amadou & Mariam, dies at 70
In Memoriam

Amadou Bagayoko, one half of Malian duo Amadou & Mariam, dies at 70

The Associated Press • Apr 6, 2025

Bagayoko, an acclaimed guitarist and half of the Grammy-nominated blind duo Amadou & Mariam, died in his hometown of Bamako on Friday.

Remembering Michael Hurley, a godfather of folk music's underground
In Memoriam

Remembering Michael Hurley, a godfather of folk music's underground

Grayson Haver Currin • Apr 4, 2025

Sometimes called the father of freak-folk, the 83-year-old singer-songwriter lived, worked and died on his own terms.

Val Kilmer, 'Top Gun' star with an intense approach, dies at 65
In Memoriam

Val Kilmer, 'Top Gun' star with an intense approach, dies at 65

The Associated Press • Apr 2, 2025

Val Kilmer died from pneumonia. He had recovered after a 2014 throat cancer diagnosis that required two tracheotomies.