From the time he first appeared on the Minnesota music scene as Jay Smart, the artist now known as J.S. Ondara has captivated listeners both here and, increasingly, around the world. A native of Kenya, Ondara’s always had a global view — but his musical sights were set on the United States, and the Recording…

Songwriter Allee Willis passed away this week at the age of 72. She was known for writing the uber-famous songs "I'll Be There For You" for The Rembrandts and "September" and "Boogie Wonderland" for Earth, Wind & Fire among many other songs and scores. So for today's 9:30 Coffee Break, what songs do you want to hear with nonsense/gibberish words and phrases in them?

For Prince fans visiting the Twin Cities, it’s easy to find landmarks like Paisley Park, First Avenue, the Purple Rain house, and a growing number of murals. A new interactive guide on the Prince estate’s official website helps fans to zero in on the Minneapolis where Prince grew up: his homes, his schools, the venues where…

Last week we featured songs that have a mention of bells somewhere in the lyrics, and we want to take one dive deeper into this topic today. For today's 9:30 Coffee Break, what songs do you want to hear that feature the sound of sleigh bells? Bonus points if it's NOT a holiday song.

Lemmy was born today; The Eagles were at the top of the Billboard chart with their 'Hotel California' album; Nirvana started recording 'Bleach'; and The Beatles had the number one album in the U.S. for the third Christmas in a row, Today in Music History.

Part of the fun of holiday music season, for those who celebrate, is hearing endless variations on some of the world’s sturdiest songs. Whether it’s Eric Clapton paying tribute to Avicii (?!) with an EDM “Jingle Bells” or Lydia Liza rewriting “Baby It’s Cold Outside,” there’s never a shortage of new ways to hear a…

Fresh off her solo debut album 'Pang,' Caroline Polachek visited The Current studios to hang out with Jade and perform "Door," "So Hot You're Hurting My Feelings," and "Ocean of Tears."

Artists heard on The Current are frequently featured on TV programs, and we've gathered the listings in one convenient place for you. See the complete listings and find performance videos as the week progresses for a curated listening experience. You can also subscribe to receive the week's schedule in your inbox to plan your TV viewing around music.

On a snowy December evening, the Cactus Blossoms' Page Burkum, Jack Torrey and Jacob Hanson serenaded a small audience inside St. Paul's Virginia Street Church. With their timeless melodies and perfect harmonies, the Cactus Blossoms performed songs from their 2019 album 'Easy Way' as well as some back-catalogue gems.

Hanukkah began last night - a Jewish holiday also known as the Festival of Lights and the Feast of Dedication that is observed for eight nights and days. So for today's 9:30 Coffee Break, what songs do you want to hear that mention Hanukkah, light or miracles?