Music History

Aicha Qandicha is a terrifying and complicated legend in North Africa. Children know that staying out after dark means risking the wrath of the camel-footed jinn. During Spanish and French colonization of Morocco, the boogeywoman was retold as an anti-colonial warrior who seduced then slit the throats of military men. Gnawa musician SamiR LanGus grew up in fear before embracing the nuance of her character.

Every Saturday evening for more than 15 years, Howard Burchette has hit the airwaves in Durham with a playlist of iconic tunes and interviews with masters…

Two minutes and 40 seconds of lightning-fast picking propelled bluegrass music into the mainstream. "Foggy Mountain Breakdown" written by Earl Scruggs and…

Two minutes and 40 seconds of lightning-fast picking propelled bluegrass music into the mainstream. "Foggy Mountain Breakdown" written by Earl Scruggs and…

Musical performances aim to engage audiences and evoke emotions. But how does the message of art change when it is commemorating specific historical…

Musical performances aim to engage audiences and evoke emotions. But how does the message of art change when it is commemorating specific historical…

For centuries, musicians have borrowed and sampled from each other, creating musical evolution as they advance their own styles and careers. However, with…

For centuries, musicians have borrowed and sampled from each other, creating musical evolution as they advance their own styles and careers. However, with…

Dewey Phillips made history in the 1950s as one of the first white radio disc jockeys to play music by black artists. He was opinionated, eclectic, and…

Dewey Phillips made history in the 1950s as one of the first white radio disc jockeys to play music by black artists. He was opinionated, eclectic, and…