Today we explore the story of Bob Dylan’s “The Hurricane,” which helped raise awareness and support for wrongly accused boxer Rubin “Hurricane” Carter.
Tag: music history
Making It in Hell: The Lomax Prison Song Recordings from Parchman Farm, 1933–69
We explore in audio, photo, and text, the history of John and Alan Lomax’s multiple visits to Parchman Farm to record prisoners’ work songs between 1933-69.
A Historical Primer on Prison Music
Music in prisons has long been considered a key device for rehabilitation. Amanda Petrusich examines its history, from Ellington to Cash and The Clash.
Curating (In) the Culture Wars
A dual historical and contemporary editorial thinking through the blindspots and newfound responsibilties of curating in today’s cultural economy.
Stravinsky & Jazz: Yes, Even Classical Music Is Influenced by Black American Forms
Stravinsky’s music and the music of Charlie Parker and John Coltrane have been compared to Cubism, is jazz the connector? We trace the influences.
Resilience in Music: Composers in Times of Hardship
Composers throughout history have created great masterworks of art during times of hardship, here’s an examination of three such pieces.
4 Great Nicknames in Blues History
Read the stories of four of our favorite American blues musicians to see how they ended up with some of the best nicknames of all time.
Shoutin’ Out: A Crash Course on Blues Shouting
A closer look at the tradition of “blues shouting” in the early 1930s and ’40s, which helped inspire the creation of rock ‘n’ roll out of jazz and gospel.
On October 24, 1962, James Brown’s ‘Live At the Apollo’ Was Recorded
On this day, 57 years ago, James Brown and his Famous Flames recorded what would become one of the most earth-shattering funk and soul albums of all time.
The Legacy of the Akai MPC Sampler
We take a closer look at how the legacy of the Akai MPC was shaped via its own characteristic properties and history itself.