World Music

The African music titan Manu Dibango helped to internationalize African music and also influenced all of it in his wake.

from Music News

LA-based singer-songwriter Josh Ostrander (aka Mondo Cozmo) is facing a postponed tour and a paused career due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

KCRW and CAP UCLA proudly present an exclusive concert with South African vocalists Ladysmith Black Mambazo.

CAP UCLA and KCRW Presents Ladysmith Black Mambazo, recorded live at UCLA’s Royce Hall

KCRW and CAP UCLA proudly present an exclusive concert with South African vocalists Ladysmith Black Mambazo.

from Music Special Programming

Spanish Love Songs, an LA punk band, was planning on touring through the summer. But now that isn’t happening.

With tour canceled, LA punk band connects with fans virtually to survive

Spanish Love Songs, an LA punk band, was planning on touring through the summer. But now that isn’t happening.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

As we settle into this strange, new normal, Rhythm Planet offers more beautiful and meditative music to hopefully bring some respite into your home and life.

More Music for Troubled Times

As we settle into this strange, new normal, Rhythm Planet offers more beautiful and meditative music to hopefully bring some respite into your home and life.

from Music News

It’s been eight days since 60 million people in Italy have been quarantined in their homes. The streets are largely deserted.

Maurizio Marchini sings from balcony to lift neighbors’ spirits during Italy’s lockdown

It’s been eight days since 60 million people in Italy have been quarantined in their homes. The streets are largely deserted.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Kinky Friedman was born in Chicago, his grandparents were Russian-Jewish immigrants, but he spent most of his life on a ranch in the Texas Hill Country.

Levity with singer and humorist Kinky Friedman

Kinky Friedman was born in Chicago, his grandparents were Russian-Jewish immigrants, but he spent most of his life on a ranch in the Texas Hill Country.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Rhythm Planet offers two playlists this week to try to soothe your nerves as well as to inject a small dose of humor into the mix.

Rhythm Planet Playlists: Music for troubled times

Rhythm Planet offers two playlists this week to try to soothe your nerves as well as to inject a small dose of humor into the mix.

from Music News

Concert promoters Goldenvoice have announced that next month’s Coachella Festival in Indio, California has been rescheduled to the weekends of October 9-11 and 16-18.

Coachella music festival pushed to October due to coronavirus

Concert promoters Goldenvoice have announced that next month’s Coachella Festival in Indio, California has been rescheduled to the weekends of October 9-11 and 16-18.

from Music News

Robert "Kool" Bell tells us how his band got their name "Kool and the Gang," plus the origin stories of their hit songs "Celebration" and "Ladies' Night."

As ‘Celebration’ turns 40, a chat with ‘Kool and the Gang’ band leader Robert ‘Kool’ Bell

Robert "Kool" Bell tells us how his band got their name "Kool and the Gang," plus the origin stories of their hit songs "Celebration" and "Ladies' Night."

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

This month, hear live music from around the world, from Cuban piano and Brazilian mandolin to South African choir; plus don’t miss a centennial celebration of Charlie Parker as well as…

March Concert Picks from Rhythm Planet

This month, hear live music from around the world, from Cuban piano and Brazilian mandolin to South African choir; plus don’t miss a centennial celebration of Charlie Parker as well as…

from Music News

The Bangtan Boys reportedly brought in $4.6 billion to the South Korean economy last year.

South Korea’s BTS dominates world music industry: millions of fans, billions of dollars

The Bangtan Boys reportedly brought in $4.6 billion to the South Korean economy last year.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

This is the first in a series of tribute/conjurings dedicated to my hero, Andrew James Weatherall.

Andrew Weatherall tribute

This is the first in a series of tribute/conjurings dedicated to my hero, Andrew James Weatherall.

from Mario Cotto

Mathieu Schreyer joined by Cut Chemist for guest DJ set

Mathieu Schreyer and Cut Chemist DJ set

Mathieu Schreyer joined by Cut Chemist for guest DJ set

from Mathieu Schreyer

The musician was a prominent member of the 1980s "Paisley Underground" scene in his native LA before gaining commercial success with Mazzy Star in the early '90s.

David Roback, Mazzy star guitarist, dead at 61

The musician was a prominent member of the 1980s "Paisley Underground" scene in his native LA before gaining commercial success with Mazzy Star in the early '90s.

from NPR

Rhythm Planet showcases new releases in our playlist this week, together with some rediscoveries and remembrances along the way.

New Music, Rediscoveries, Remembrances

Rhythm Planet showcases new releases in our playlist this week, together with some rediscoveries and remembrances along the way.

from Music News

Miles Davis’ music was a soundtrack to the black experience in America, even as he struggled with relationships, addiction, and health.

‘Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool’ tells the musician’s life story

Miles Davis’ music was a soundtrack to the black experience in America, even as he struggled with relationships, addiction, and health.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

The young rapper, who had just released his second mixtape, Meet The Woo 2, was reportedly killed in the early morning on Wednesday.

Rising rapper Pop Smoke dead at 20

The young rapper, who had just released his second mixtape, Meet The Woo 2, was reportedly killed in the early morning on Wednesday.

from NPR

Joseph Shabalala and members of Ladysmith Black Mambazo visited KCRW in 1988 to perform in the old basement studio. We share audio excerpts from that interview for this remembrance.

Remembering Joseph Shabalala of Ladysmith Black Mambazo

Joseph Shabalala and members of Ladysmith Black Mambazo visited KCRW in 1988 to perform in the old basement studio. We share audio excerpts from that interview for this remembrance.

from Music News

Musician Cedric Burnside is preserving what his famed grandfather R.L. Burnside helped create: a rural, lo-fi, twangy-groove genre.

Blues musician Cedric Burnside carries on the tradition of his grandfather

Musician Cedric Burnside is preserving what his famed grandfather R.L. Burnside helped create: a rural, lo-fi, twangy-groove genre.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand