Search results for

Bandleader Les Brown died of lung cancer this week at the age of 88. For almost 70 years, Les Brown and His Band of Renown entertained US troops and music fans worldwide. In 1940, with a 17-year-old Doris Day on vocals, Brown recorded Sentimental Journey -- the biggest hit of 1945. Brown later joined Bob Hope's weekly radio show and then made the transition to television with him. Host Lisa Simeone has this appreciation.

the lead singer of the punk band The Ramones. He died on Sunday at the age of 49. He had lymphoma. From their start in 1974, the Ramones combined fast, deafening guitar with precise drumming to create a hurricane of sound. Their songs had titles like Beat on the Brat, Gimme Gimme Shock Treatment and Now I Wanna Sniff Some Glue.

He was one of the big hitmakers of the 60's with such songs as Devil or Angel, Take Good Care of my Baby, The Night has a Thousand Eyes, Rubber Ball, Run to Him, and Come Back When You Grow Up. He got his start at the age of 15 when his band filled in for Buddy Holly at the concert Holly failed to appear at because of his death in a plane crash. Vee released a tribute recording to Holly in 1999.

NPR's Richard Knox spent a year with Phil Simmons and his family to chronicle his long struggle with Lou Gehrig's disease -- and to report on how an extraordinarily dedicated group of friends banded together to help take care of Simmons. He died last weekend at his home in the New Hampshire woods. For All Things Considered, NPR's Richard Knox reflects on Simmons' life.

He started The Kinks in 1964 with his brother. They are said to be the pioneers of the rowdy garage band genre of rock music. Their many hits included: You Really Got Me, Lola, All Day and All of the Night, and Tired of Waiting for you. In 1993 he wrote his - unauthorized autobiography - Ray Davies: X-Ray. This interview first aired October 17, 1995.

Among the nominees for best new artist at this Sunday's Grammy Awards are Tex-Mex artists Los Lonely Boys, the Los Angeles band Maroon 5, young British soul singer Joss Stone, producer-turned-rapper Kanye West and the hot country artist Gretchen Wilson. Michele Norris talks with music critic Tom Moon about the category.

Grateful Dead fans can once again easily download their favorite concert recordings. The band initially asked the Web site to stop the practice, but backed down after fans' outrage. Commentator Jake Halpern wonders if he is the only fan who is disappointed by the news.

The new album from the Philadelphia hip-hop band The Roots contains verses from the perspective of a child soldier in Sierra Leone, a campus shooter in America, and those in the grip of addictions. Rising Down may be the group's best album.

Part alt-country, part indie-rock, the band Delta Spirit burst onto the stage this year with its debut album Ode to Sunshine. The album is packed with serious messages set to pop riffs, thrown together with everything but the kitchen sink, including the occasional percussive trash can lid.

The Australian singer-composer and his band The Bad Seeds are best known for his angry, twisted ballad-like lyrics. Their most recent albums were last year's Dig!!! Lazarus Dig!!! and Live at the Royal Albert Hall.