British jazz composer, band leader, and saxophonist Sir John Dankworth died this weekend at 82. Inspired by past jazz greats Benny Goodman (on clarinet) and then Charlie Parker (on sax), Dankworth went on to start a performing ensemble; record film and television scores including the theme to The Avengers; direct such heavy hitters as Oscar [...]
It has been revealed that Jay Reatard died a couple weeks ago of “cocaine toxicity, and that alcohol was a contributing factor in his death.” Stay away from the cocaine/alcohol combo, kids.
Congrats to Phoenix, this year’s Grammy winners for Alternative Music Album with Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix. The French quartet, who were live on KEXP just over a week ago, beat out stiff competition of David Byrne and Brian Eno’s Everything That Happens Will Happen Today and Yeah Yeah Yeahs‘ It’s Blitz!, among others. Most of the [...]
I hope everyone likes videos, ’cause I’ve put a lot of them in here this week. Unintentionally, I might add. While I’m on the topic, check out hundreds and hundreds of videos from live performances for KEXP at youtube.com/kexpradio, including new Joseph Arthur, A Place To Bury Strangers, and We Were Promised Jetpacks performances. Alternatively, [...]
In effort to encourage donations to Oxfam and Doctors Without Borders to assist emergency relief in Haiti, Wilco posted two shows for free download on Wilcoworld. The downloads are free, but they’re asking fans to donate $15 to either organization
Canadian folk singer Kate McGarrigle has died at age 63 after a battle with clear cell sarcoma, a rare form of cancer. Rufus Wainwright, her son with musician Loudon Wainwright wrote on his website, “There is never enough time and she, my amazing mother with whom everyone fell in love, went out there and bloody [...]
On this day to remember a great man who spoke out against injustice and for the necessity of fairness and civil liberty, it’s hard to think of a more fitting opportunity to introduce a new video by another outspoken voice of the black community, Gil Scott-Heron. Now at 60, the poet and songwriter is as [...]
We at KEXP are sad to inform you of two recent deaths. Indie rock songwriter Jay Reatard passed away yesterday morning at the age of only twenty-nine. His most recent release was critically acclaimed and is frequently played here at the station. R.I.P.
There was a time when playing on MTV Unplugged carried a weighty value. Clapton’s reimagining of “Layla” for the over-40 set, LL Cool J changing the rap game by taking it unplugged. But MTV went young as most of us grew old, but it reckons that some of those who passed on flannel for khakis [...]
Legendary soul producer Willie Mitchell died Tuesday at 81. The Memphis-based producer, best known for working with Al Green in the 70’s and with Ann Peebles on her hit “I Can’t Stand the Rain,” succumbed to a heart attack. Read more here.
