Andre Harrell, a record executive who shepherded the careers of Mary J. Blige and Sean 'Diddy' Combs and combined the sounds of R&B and hip-hop with his label, Uptown Records, has died.

As rock and roll was storming the world in the 1950s, Little Richard landed a series of hits that brought style, fun, and frantic rhythm to the newborn genre. His high-octane blend of gospel-styled shouts and frenetic R&B rhythms laid the groundwork for generations of electric artists, and his winking, glittery self-presentation challenged gender binaries.

Bob Dylan has announced his first new album of original songs in eight years. Also today: deepfake music is getting dangerously on point, Soundgarden tussle with Vicky Cornell, Live Nation says fans are holding on to their tickets, and Weezer play the 'Simpsons' theme.

In Our Daily Breather, NPR Music asks artists to recommend ways to find calm in the midst of the COVID-19 crisis. Jimmy Webb, a member of the Songwriters Hall of Fame and the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, has been building model airplanes, as he did as a child with his father.

While the music industry is shut down, and the concept of a live show seems very far away, Sylvan Esso have put out a timely release of their new live record and live concert film: WITH gives fans an opportunity to revisit the live music experience. The Current’s Morning Show host Jill Riley had a…

Around this time each year, local music enthusiasts typically gather in Winona, Minnesota to attend the Midwest Music Fest. This year, due to social distancing rules, Mid West Music Fest is going virtual, and is now Midwest Music Fest at home. The event will be streamed from the Midwest Music Fest Facebook, YouTube, and Vimeo,…

If you have a music video you’d like to be considered for an upcoming feature, send it my way: fridayfive [at] mpr.org! Early Eyes – “Clarity” Perched on rooftops and hopping around railroad bridges, Early Eyes’ latest video showcases their effortless magnetism as a band better than ever before. With sticky bass lines and gauzy vocals,…

Andrew Bird is at home making music and spending time with his family, and he is celebrating the silver linings in the midst of tour cancellations and the general pause on the music industry. From his home in Los Angeles, Bird connects with The Current's Sean McPherson for a live virtual session.

Millie Small, the Jamaican singer who had an early ska hit with 'My Boy Lollipop,' has died after suffering a stroke. Also today: the Pitchfork Music Festival calls off this year's event; Guns N' Roses are publishing a children's book; Peloton pays millions for copyright infringement; and a load of vintage MTV goes up online.

The Mamas and the Papas had a big hit; the Stones released a double album; Reginald Dwight legally changed his name to something we all recognize; Terence Trent D'Arby got his wish for a No. 1 hit; and Steve Perry left Journey, Today in Music History.