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Jazz at Lincoln Center Brought The Real Ambassadors to New York in 2014

Jazz at Lincoln Center Brought The Real Ambassadors to New York in 2014

"The Real Ambassadors," a jazz musical conceived by Dave and Iola Brubeck in collaboration with Louis Armstrong, not only delivered a powerful mess...

Louis Armstrong's State Department Tours Made Him Ambassador Satch

Louis Armstrong's State Department Tours Made Him Ambassador Satch

Louis Armstrong, a foundational figure in jazz, was not only an inventive trumpet and cornet player but also an influential singer with a distincti...

How Thelonious Monk Built One of Jazz's Most Distinctive Piano Sounds

How Thelonious Monk Built One of Jazz's Most Distinctive Piano Sounds

Explore the unique genius of Thelonious Monk and discover how his use of dissonance, rhythm, and silence created a sound that remains inimitable.

How Norman Granz Gave Art Tatum Unprecedented Freedom in the Studio

How Norman Granz Gave Art Tatum Unprecedented Freedom in the Studio

In the 1950s, producer Norman Granz undertook a project that studios deemed a commercial failure: to record the genius of Art Tatum.

How Art Tatum Built a Piano Sound Few Musicians Could Imitate

How Art Tatum Built a Piano Sound Few Musicians Could Imitate

Explore the genius of jazz pianist Art Tatum and uncover the techniques, harmonic innovations, and sheer talent that created his inimitable sound.

How does this Jazz Musical Tackle Civil Rights and Cold War

How does this Jazz Musical Tackle Civil Rights and Cold War

"The Real Ambassadors" is a jazz musical developed in the late 1950s and early 1960s by Dave and Iola Brubeck, in collaboration with jazz legend Lo...

Sarah Vaughan Hated the Song That Became One of Her Biggest Hits

Sarah Vaughan Hated the Song That Became One of Her Biggest Hits

The story of Sarah Vaughan's biggest pop hit is not one of triumph, but of artistic defiance against a record label over a song she never wanted to sing.

More Than 125 Artists Took the Stage During the Cavalcade of Jazz Era

More Than 125 Artists Took the Stage During the Cavalcade of Jazz Era

was a pioneering African American entrepreneur whose vision brought the large-scale Cavalcade of Jazz festivals to Los Angeles. From 1945 to 1958, ...

Elton John Became the 19th Person to Competitively Achieve EGOT Status

Elton John Became the 19th Person to Competitively Achieve EGOT Status

Elton John, a British singer, composer, and pianist, has achieved remarkable recognition throughout his influential career in popular culture. Know...

Why Macklemore's 2014 Grammy Win Over Kendrick Lamar Became So Controversial

Why Macklemore's 2014 Grammy Win Over Kendrick Lamar Became So Controversial

Exploring a famous Grammy upset reveals the complex machinery behind the awards, from voting blocs to the politics of genre and cultural impact.

The Best Female-Led Moments In Soft Rock History

The Best Female-Led Moments In Soft Rock History

Some of the best female-led soft rock came from Celine Dion, Whitney Houston, Olivia Newton-John, Tina Turner, Donna Summer and Barbra Streisand.

On This Day: Elton John Released His Diana Tribute in 1997

On This Day: Elton John Released His Diana Tribute in 1997

"Candle in the Wind 1997," Elton John's poignant tribute to the late Diana, Princess of Wales, stands as a monumental achievement in music history....