NPR Topics: Music

Salsa legend, Willie Colon, has died at age 75. Colon was a key part of salsa's development in the 1970's as an instrumentalist, songwriter and producer.

The South Bronx bandleader took the Latin genre to new heights while recording for Fania Records.

NPR's Scott Simon speaks with Laura Atkinson and Justin Hicks of Louisville Public Media about shape note singing and its influence across the American musical tradition.

Singer and musician Willow released her seventh full-length album Petal Rock Black as complete surprise, continuing defy expectations with her music.

On his new album, the violinist completely rethinks The Lark Ascending by Ralph Vaughan Williams, and leans into old folk songs with the help of Sam Amidon.

Featuring sultry standouts and heartbreak bops, plus some unreleased tracks, the British girl group doubles down on sisterhood and powerful vocals at the Desk.

Two albums released the same day — Jill Scott's return from a long absence, and Brent Faiyaz's play for a mid-career pivot — offer opposing visions of artistic advancement in the genre.

These days, the Super Bowl halftime show is a massive driver of the streaming, airplay and sales that fuel the Billboard charts. This week, Bad Bunny benefits from that influence.

The classic spiritual conjures themes of freedom and resilience, which flow through a conversation between pianist Lara Downes and the founder of the Equal Justice Initiative.

How do we find beauty in a broken world? This is the question that Ganavya's music asks, but lets you answer. At the Tiny Desk, she sings the poems of today in the language of today.