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Music

B.B. King: approaching 80 and still touring

Most people approaching their 80th birthday usually decide to ease off a little. Blues musician BB King is no different. He's eased off to only doing about 200 one night stands a year. Yes, only 200. BB King brings his famous bus to Minneapolis Wednesday where he'll play Orchestra Hall.

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B.B. King: Approaching 80 and still touring

Most people approaching their 80th birthday usually decide to ease off a little. Blues musician BB King is no different. He's eased off to only doing about 200 one night stands a year. Yes, only 200. He brings his famous bus to Minneapolis next week where he'll play Orchestra Hall. BB King is an international star, who's been recording since the late 1940's. Yet when when he's asked why he is still playing all these concerts he gives what seems like a very strange reason in these highly wired and interconnected days.

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A child of the '60s rocking at 50

Most 50-something musicians have left their rock and roll past behind them. But Barry Thomas Goldberg is still immersed in it. Goldberg's new CD is called "American Grotesque." It's full of biting social commentary and songs of dissent.

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The highway to hip hop

Hip-hop music was first heard on the radio in the late-'70s, but its roots go back much further. Hip-hop journalist Jeff Chang traces it back to poverty and despair left behind in the Bronx after the borough was gutted for construction of the Cross Bronx Expressway. Chang explained to Minnesota Public Radio's Toni Randolph why he wrote the book.
by Toni Randolph

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Chinese pianist Lang Lang inspired by American cartoon

Though just 22, the pianist Lang Lang has already established himself an international cross-over classical music artist. He talks with host Mindy Ratner about growing up in China and how the American cartoon "Tom and Jerry" gave him an appreciation for classical music.

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Lou Rawls, musician at work

In a career spanning over 40 years, singer Lou Rawls has recorded blues, jazz , soul and dozens of crooning standards. In fact, Rawls' latest album is homage to the songs of the most famous crooner of all, his friend Frank Sinatra. Rawls, appearing in St. Paul, talked with MPR's Toni Randolph about Sinatra's music.
by Toni Randolph

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Opera in all sizes

Opera is opulent by nature. It combines music, theater, poetry and sometimes dance. Typically it's done in a large house with a full orchestra, decadent sets and divas wearing elegant costumes. Grand opera productions run for just a couple of weeks and tickets are expensive. Yet many smaller theaters in the Twin Cities are staging operas in a more intimate setting, for a fraction of the price. These smaller houses argue bigger isn't necessarily better.

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Hilary Hahn transitions from young phenom to established soloist

Violinist Hilary Hahn is just 25, but she's one of the biggest names in classical music. She's a Grammy Award-winner, and her work as a violin soloist on the soundtrack for the movie "The Village" is up for an Academy Award. Hahn is in the Twin Cities this weekend to perform with the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra.

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Does the world really need another Beethoven's Fifth?

It's perhaps the best known opening in classical music, the crashing chords of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony. The Minnesota Orchestra has released a new recording of the work. When many orchestras are recording less because of economic concerns, some are asking if there's really a need for another rendition of Beethoven's Fifth.

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Martin Zellar gets political

Martin Zellar's one of the state's most respected rock musicians. He rose to fame as the front man for the Gear Daddies. When that group disbanded he formed Martin Zellar and the Hardways which he continues to tour with today. But music isn't Zellar's only passion. Recently he's returned home to his native Austin to head up the Mower County DFL.

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