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Aretha Franklin Knew How To Make Us Laugh, Too

Aretha Franklin Knew How To Make Us Laugh, Too

Aretha Franklin was in her element with comedians John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd on the set of The Blues Brothers. Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty Images hide caption

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Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty Images

Aretha Franklin Knew How To Make Us Laugh, Too

August 18, 2018 • The Queen of Soul had quite the sense of humor.

Latest Stories From NPR Music

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Editor's picks

Essential stories and videos from npr music

Yo-Yo Ma: Tiny Desk Concert

Yo-Yo Ma performs a Tiny Desk Concert on June 25, 2018 (Samantha Clark/NPR). Samantha Clark/NPR hide caption

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Samantha Clark/NPR

Watch Yo-Yo Ma's Tiny Desk Concert

Watch the 19-time Grammy winner return to his lifelong passion for J.S. Bach, playing music from the Cello Suites and offering advice on the art of incremental learning.

Aretha Franklin Was America's Truest Voice

Aretha Franklin performs at the national Christmas tree lighting ceremony in Washington, D.C., in 2013. Franklin died on Thursday in Detroit. Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

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Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images

Aretha Franklin Was America's Truest Voice

Her music has been sung at marches and political rallies, heard in churches and on chain restaurant jukeboxes. Everything popular music can be is there in the songs of Aretha Franklin.

Rihanna Is The 21st Century's Most Influential Musician

Rihanna performs on stage at the BRIT Awards in 2016. Photo Illustration Ian Gavan/Getty Images and Angela Hsieh/NPR hide caption

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Photo Illustration Ian Gavan/Getty Images and Angela Hsieh/NPR

Rihanna Is The 21st Century's Most Influential Musician

For much of this century's first two decades, there has been at least one Rihanna song on the pop charts. If she is not seen as taking musical risks, it's only because so many of them have paid off.

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First Listen: Dee White, 'Southern Gentleman'

Dee White

Southern Gentleman

On his debut, recorded with studio gurus Dan Auerbach and David Ferguson, Dee White does something very different with his vintage country tastes.

First Listen: Nothing, 'Dance On The Blacktop'

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Nothing

Dance on the Black Top

Domenic Palermo channels a lifetime of tragedy into Nothing's blustery distortion, scorching riffs and stirring melodies.

First Listen: Candi Staton, 'Unstoppable'

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Candi Staton

Unstoppable

The Southern soul survivor has made an album about strength: a holistic shot in the arm to help you find the fortitude to fight.

First Listen: Lucie Silvas, 'E.G.O.'

Lucie Silvas

E.G.O.

The British-born, Nashville-based singer-songwriter depicts the collision of self-importance and insecurity from an earthier, more conversational angle.

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Erykah Badu: Tiny Desk Concert

Erykah Badu performs a Tiny Desk Concert on Aug. 6, 2018 (Morgan Noelle Smith/NPR). Morgan Noelle Smith/NPR hide caption

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Morgan Noelle Smith/NPR

Tiny Desk

Erykah Badu: Tiny Desk Concert

by Felix Contreras

August 15, 2018 • The singer's performance at the Tiny Desk was an almost spiritual experience, leaving many at the NPR Music offices in awe.

Watch the video 15:08

More Than Keeping Time: A Melodic Drumming Demo

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Colin Marshall/NPR

Jazz Night In America: Video Episodes And Shorts

More Than Keeping Time WBGO and Jazz At Lincoln Center

by Nate Chinen , Colin Marshall , Suraya Mohamed

August 17, 2018 • Drummers usually make sure beats don't speed up or slow down. But drummer Allison Miller does more than keep time. Watch a demonstration of her unique style of playing called melodic drumming.

Watch the video 56:08

Tower Of Power: Tiny Desk Concert

Tower of Power performs a Tiny Desk Concert on June 26, 2018 (Samantha Clark/NPR). Samantha Clark/NPR hide caption

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Samantha Clark/NPR

Tiny Desk

Tower Of Power: Tiny Desk Concert

by Felix Contreras

August 13, 2018 • Even from its beginnings in late-'60s Oakland, the band has always stood out. Fifty years later, its devotion to classic horn-driven soul remains unmatched, its passion and precision unchanged.

Watch the video 18:43

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Black Thought, The Voice Of The Roots, Is Ready To Tell His Story

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Naia Izumi: Tiny Desk Concert

Tiny Desk

Naia Izumi: Tiny Desk Concert

Watch This 8-Year-Old Girl Crush Led Zeppelin's 'Good Times Bad Times'

All Songs Considered

Watch This 8-Year-Old Girl Crush Led Zeppelin's 'Good Times Bad Times'

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All Songs Considered

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All Songs Considered

Bob Boilen and Robin Hilton spin new music from emerging bands and musical icons.

Alt.Latino

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Alt.Latino

Latino arts and culture explained with music and conversation, presented by Felix Contreras.

Fresh Air Interviews

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Fresh Air Interviews

Terry Gross interviews luminary artists about their lives and musical work

From the Top

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From The Top

NPR Music presents From The Top program highlights. For the complete From The Top program website, visit www.fromthetop.org.

Jazz Night In America

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Jazz Night

Jazz Night In America is a public radio program, a video concert documentary series, and an online home for the music, from NPR Music, WBGO and Jazz at Lincoln Center.

Mountain Stage

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Mountain Stage

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Marian McPartland's Piano Jazz

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Piano Jazz

Each week, NPR's award-winning program showcases both acclaimed artists and up-and-coming performers as they share music and memories.

The Thistle & Shamrock

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The Thistle & Shamrock

Award-winning radio host Fiona Ritchie explores evolving music from Celtic roots in Europe and North America.

World Cafe

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Frank Chimero/NPR

World Cafe

WXPN in Philadelphia and host Talia Schlanger present interviews and performances with today's essential and emerging artists.

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