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A pioneering musician, and the mother of jazz singer Catherine Russell, Carline Ray died July 18. In the 1940s, Ray found a home in the all-female band The International Sweethearts of Rhythm as a guitarist and vocalist. In 2012, Fresh Air spoke with Russell about her mother.

Both the band and the piano superstar know a thing or two about shredding. Perhaps these odd bedfellows have more in common than meets the ear.

The Seattle band and the late rapper both received nods in their first year of eligibility. Chic received its 11th nomination.

In the late 1960s, just as San Francisco was having its own Summer of Love, a rustic canyon at the heart of Los Angeles was also in bloom with songs that defined the moment, written and performed by the bands that defined a generation.

Cabaret singer Maude Maggart has a show biz pedigree — her grandparents performed together in a swing band in the 1930s and '40s, her parents met in the original cast of the Broadway musical Applause and her little sister is pop star Fiona Apple. Her shows and albums have been earning rave reviews.

For the Cherryholmes family, bluegrass is more than just a pastime that morphed into a career. It was cathartic for dealing with the death of their oldest child, Shelley. On the band's third CD, Don't Believe, the Cherryholmes still deal with the profound emotions triggered by that loss.

Tia Fuller composes for both saxophone and flute. She says her latest album, Healing Space, is a manifestation of her spirituality. It's also a testament to the bonds of a musical family.

We hear a response to last week's interview with the band Hanson. The show sparked the memory of one listener who attended a concert where Hanson faced a skeptical audience.

Britain's experimental rock group Gomez is known for blurring lines between musical forms and genres, creating an entirely original sound nearly impossible to pin down to any one style. The band visited Washington, D.C. for a full concert June 22, webcast live on NPR.org with jazz trio The Bad Plus.

John Doe is the founder and bass player for X, the 1980s punk-rock band. He's also an actor, appearing on such TV shows as Carnivale and Roswell. He kicks off our annual summer "what are you reading" feature with an eclectic list ranging from the L.A.-noirish John Fante to Louise Erdrich and Natsuo Kirino.