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Justin Townes Earle, 2nd-Generation Americana Star, Dies At 38

Justin Townes Earle, seen here performing at the 8th annual Americana Honors and Awards in 2009, has died. Rick Diamond/Getty Images hide caption

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Rick Diamond/Getty Images

Obituaries

Justin Townes Earle, 2nd-Generation Americana Star, Dies At 38

August 23, 2020 • The son of singer Steve Earle, Justin Townes Earle recorded eight albums, including 2019's The Saint of Lost Causes. His death was announced on his Facebook page Sunday night.

David Berman, seen here in a 2006 photo, died Wednesday at the age of 52. Shawn Ehlers/WireImage hide caption

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Shawn Ehlers/WireImage

Music News

Silver Jews' David Berman Dies At 52

August 7, 2019 • The master lyricist and poet leaves behind a catalog of oblique indie rock that inspired a cult following.

Silver Jews' David Berman Dies At 52

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Roky Erickson Of The 13th Floor Elevators Dies At 71

Roky Erickson, seen here performing in London in 2012, died Friday at the age of 71. Venla Shalin/Redferns hide caption

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Venla Shalin/Redferns

Music News

Roky Erickson Of The 13th Floor Elevators Dies At 71

May 31, 2019 • The guitarist and vocalist helped pave the way for psychedelic rock in the mid-1960s.

Scott Walker, Pop Idol Turned Avant Auteur, Dies At 76

Scott Walker, seen here in November 1970, has died at the age of 76. Michael Putland/Getty Images hide caption

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Michael Putland/Getty Images

Music News

Scott Walker, Pop Idol Turned Avant Auteur, Dies At 76

March 25, 2019 • The former member of The Walker Brothers and singer of "The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine (Anymore)" was also one of experimental music's most beloved composers.

Dick Dale, Surf Guitar Legend, Dead At 81

A photo of surf guitarist Dick Dale (with guitar) and his band, the Del-Tones. Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images hide caption

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Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

Music

Dick Dale, Surf Guitar Legend, Dead At 81

March 18, 2019 • Dick Dale, the surf rock pioneer who took guitar distortion to new levels and whose version of "Misirlou" became pop-culture shorthand, died on Saturday night.

Keith Flint, Vocalist Of The Prodigy, Dies At 49

Keith Flint, performing in London in 1996. The singer and dancer died in early March, 2019. Brian Rasic/Getty Images hide caption

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Brian Rasic/Getty Images

Music News

Keith Flint, Vocalist Of The Prodigy, Dies At 49

March 4, 2019 • The singer, who originally joined the group as a dancer, was perhaps best known for the volatile energy he brought to The Prodigy's music videos and live performances.

'SNL' Spoofs Kanye West, Welcomes Back Paul Simon

Chris Redd and Alec Baldwin perform in a spoof of Kanye West's visit to the White House on Saturday Night Live. Saturday Night Live/Screenshot by NPR hide caption

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Saturday Night Live/Screenshot by NPR

Television

'SNL' Spoofs Kanye West, Welcomes Back Paul Simon

October 14, 2018 • The cold open revisited West's bizarre White House soliloquy, while Simon performed an emotional rendition of "Bridge Over Troubled Water."

Sail Away, Sail Away On Mountain Man's 'Magic Ship'

Mountain Man's Magic Ship comes out Sept. 21. Shervin Lainez/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Shervin Lainez/Courtesy of the artist

Review

First Listen

Sail Away, Sail Away On Mountain Man's 'Magic Ship'

September 13, 2018 • The vocal trio's first album in eight years is most potent when heard in full, from beginning to end, ideally on a back porch.