Music

Olly Alexander deciphers queer identity on 'Polari'

Ryan Benk

The album's namesake, Polari, is a set of a few hundred words and phrases that was adopted by gay men as a way of speaking in secret during periods of criminalization.
National

D'Wayne Wiggins, founding member of the R&B group Tony! Toni! Tone!, has died at 64

The Associated Press

Wiggins died Friday morning after battling bladder cancer for over the past year, according to a statement released by his family on social media.
International

The soundtrack to King Charles' life features music from Kylie Minogue

Manuela López Restrepo

King Charles III has admitted he is not impervious to a generational earworm like Kylie Minogue's "Can't Get You Out of My Head" after sharing a playlist that represents the soundtrack of his life.
Dolly Parton pays homage to late husband Carl Dean with 'If You Hadn't Been There'

Isabella Gomez Sarmiento

Dolly Parton's husband, Carl Dean, died Monday. On Friday at midnight, Parton released the song "If You Hadn't Been There" in his memory.
TOKiMONSTA's new album is a 'love letter' to close friend Regina Biondo

Christopher Intagliata

Ailsa Chang

Kira Wakeam

TOKiMONSTA has had her share of life challenges, including being unable to speak or comprehend music, and the death of a friend. Her new album, Eternal Reverie, pays homage to friend, Regina Biondo.
On 'ASTROPICAL,' Bomba Estéreo and Rawayana unite to celebrate lesser-known Caribbean sounds

Isabella Gomez Sarmiento

The Venezuelan tropical rock band Rawayana joined the electro-cumbia Colombian group Bomba Estéreo in a Miami studio to work on a collaborative single. The songs kept multiplying and the two formed the new super group ASTROPICAL, its self-titled debut out March 7.
The best new albums out March 7

Stephen Thompson

Celia Gregory

NPR Music's Stephen Thompson welcomes Celia Gregory of Nashville public radio station WNXP to discuss the week's new releases.
National

Roy Ayers, whose 'Everybody Loves The Sunshine' charmed generations, dies at 84

Lars Gotrich

The vibraphonist, composer and jazz-funk pioneer helped inspire the neo-soul movement, and his best-known song was sampled over 100 times.
100 years, 100 moments: How women shaped a century of music

Miguel Perez

For Women's History Month, World Cafe is exploring 100 years of music history with a timeline of 100 moments.
Why are the Grammys' rock categories stuck in the past?

Marc Hogan

At this year's 67th Grammys, wins for The Beatles and The Rolling Stones in a year when other genres showcased rising stars prompt questions about who votes for rock at the Grammys — and what needs to be done for the awards to recognize new blood.