All articles tagged with #music history
From a Bell Labs device built to send voices over copper wires, the vocoder became a wartime secret-communications tool and then a global music phenomenon, explored in Version History with Chromeo and friends, and contrasted with Auto-Tune and the Talkbox.
Country Joe McDonald, the Bay Area psychedelic rocker who led Country Joe and the Fish and became synonymous with Woodstock through the provocative 'Fish Cheer' and antiwar anthem 'I-Feel-Like-I’m-Fixin’-to-Die Rag,' died at 84 from Parkinson’s complications in Berkeley. A pioneering but politically sharp musician, his career spanned the band’s influential 1967 Electric Music for the Mind and Body, a long solo run, and later works such as the 1986 Vietnam Experience and the 2017 album 50. He is survived by his wife Kathy and five children.
The piece profiles Billy Preston, the keyboard virtuoso who electrified the 1971 Bangladesh benefit at Madison Square Garden and later scored solo hits, while revealing the private pain behind his public joy—his sexuality, childhood abuse, and years of addiction—set against a backdrop of gospel roots and legendary collaborations, as a new documentary aims to honor his genius amid his life’s silences and tragedy.
David Bowie's childhood home in Bromley, London, will be opened to the public as an immersive experience in late 2027, showcasing his early life and creative beginnings, supported by a £500,000 grant and public fundraising, to celebrate his legacy and inspire future generations.
The article reviews a memoir of Googoosh, Iran's most iconic female singer, highlighting her journey from a childhood performer to a cultural symbol of resilience and exile, and discusses the memoir's strengths and shortcomings in capturing her complex life story.
The article commemorates numerous influential musicians who passed away in 2025, including Brian Wilson, Ozzy Osbourne, Roberta Flack, Marianne Faithfull, and others, highlighting their contributions to music across various genres and eras.
The article explores Japan's early hardcore punk scene, highlighting its violent, rebellious roots and the societal rejection faced by its members, while emphasizing the scene's unique musical evolution and enduring underground spirit.
The article explores the origins and traditions of wassailing and Christmas carols, highlighting 'The Gloucestershire Wassail' as a centuries-old English song about groups singing at manor houses in exchange for food and drink, and explains the historical and linguistic roots of 'wassail' and the differences between carols and hymns.
Donna Jean Godchaux-MacKay, a soulful singer and backing vocalist for Elvis Presley and a prominent member of the Grateful Dead in the 1970s, has died at 78 due to cancer. She was a significant figure in music, contributing to numerous hits and albums, and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with the Dead in 1994.
Radiohead, formed in 1985, is back after a seven-year break, with members reflecting on their long career, personal struggles, and political controversies, while preparing for a new tour and contemplating future projects.
The article celebrates the 100th anniversary of the Coolidge Auditorium at the Library of Congress, highlighting its rich history of hosting renowned musicians, commissioning iconic works like Copland's Appalachian Spring, and housing rare instruments like Stradivarius violins and cellos, serving as a vital cultural and musical landmark for a century.
Jeff Pearlman facilitated a remarkable 34-year reunion between the mother and son who inspired 2Pac's song 'Brenda's Got a Baby,' uncovering their story through interviews and genealogical research, highlighting the enduring impact of the song's real-life inspiration.
The biopic 'Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere' accurately depicts key moments in Bruce Springsteen's creation of the album 'Nebraska,' including his recording process and emotional struggles, but also includes fictionalized elements such as the character Faye and some dramatized interactions with record executives.
Ace Frehley, the guitarist of Kiss, used a combination of musicianship and theatrical persona, including his Spaceman character, to rise to rock superstardom, leveraging his artistic skills to create iconic band imagery and stand out in the competitive music scene.
Forty years ago, Hulk Hogan's iconic entrance theme 'Real American' debuted on WWE TV, originally written for the U.S. Express but later adopted by Hogan, becoming a legendary wrestling anthem that endures to this day, even after the passing of its creator and Hogan.