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Gwen Thompkins Gwen Thompkins is an NPR foreign correspondent covering East Africa.
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Gwen Thompkins

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Fats Domino: The Founding Father Of Rock 'N' Roll

Fats Domino performs at Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, PA in February, 1962. Flickr/Franklin & Marshall College hide caption

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Flickr/Franklin & Marshall College

Fats Domino: The Founding Father Of Rock 'N' Roll

WWNO - New Orleans Public Radio

Fats Domino: The Founding Father Of Rock 'N' Roll

Fats Domino: The Founding Father Of Rock 'N' Roll

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Remembrances

Fats Domino, Founding Father Of Rock 'N' Roll, Dies At 89

Fats Domino has died at 89. Antoine Domino Jr. was a founding father of rock 'n' roll and a recipient of the National Medal of Arts. He daughter says he died of natural causes on Tuesday.

Fats Domino, Founding Father Of Rock 'N' Roll, Dies At 89

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Fats Domino, Architect Of Rock 'N' Roll, Dead At 89

A 1967 portrait of Fats Domino. The singer and pianist died Oct. 24 at age 89. Clive Limpkin/Daily Express/Hulton Archive/Getty Images hide caption

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Clive Limpkin/Daily Express/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

The Two-Way

Fats Domino, Architect Of Rock 'N' Roll, Dead At 89

The rhythm-and-blues legend who became one of the progenitors of rock 'n' roll — and reportedly sold more than 65 million records along the way — died Tuesday.

Fats Domino, Architect Of Rock 'N' Roll, Dead At 89

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'Here Come The Girls'... Again

Ernie K Doe performs at the 2001 New Orleans Jazz Festival. Leon Morris/Redferns hide caption

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Leon Morris/Redferns

Review

Music

'Here Come The Girls'... Again

WWNO - New Orleans Public Radio

Drummer Stanton Moore — a founding member of the funk band Galactic — has a new release with "Here Come the Girls" on a tribute album to the late songwriting producer Allen Toussaint.

01Stanton Moore, 'Here Come The Girls'

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    Song
    Stanton Moore, 'Here Come The Girls'
    Album
    With You In Mind
    Artist
    Stanton Moore
    Released
    2017

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How 'Accidental' Notes Grab Our Attention

Alfred Drake and Patricia Morison perform in the 1958 TV adaptation of Kiss Me, Kate. The music by Cole Porter employed accidental notes to help illustrate the lyrics. Ralph Morse/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images hide caption

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Ralph Morse/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images

Music News

How 'Accidental' Notes Grab Our Attention

In music, "accidentals" are notes that color just outside the lines. They shocked listeners during the Renaissance, but these days you can find them all over the place.

How 'Accidental' Notes Grab Our Attention

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Hear An Unreleased Song By Allen Toussaint

Allen Toussaint performs at the 2007 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. Sean Gardner/Getty Images hide caption

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Sean Gardner/Getty Images

Music Interviews

Hear An Unreleased Song By Allen Toussaint

NPR contributor Gwen Thompkins met the musician at a time when he'd thrown himself into performing around the world. Before his death this week in Madrid, he gave her a song he never got to release.

Hear An Unreleased Song By Allen Toussaint

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Hurricane Katrina: 10 Years Of Recovery And Reflection

Nothing, Not Even Recovery, Moves Quickly In New Orleans

Ten years after hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast, former NPR correspondent Gwen Thompkins reports on the struggles of her beloved hometown, New Orleans, to rebuild lives.

Nothing, Not Even Recovery, Moves Quickly In New Orleans

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Thirsty Egypt Clings Tight To The Nile

Egypt's fishermen near Alexandria ply the Nile and the Mediterranean Sea. The river is a lifeline for the country. Philip Rizk for NPR hide caption

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Philip Rizk for NPR

Africa

Thirsty Egypt Clings Tight To The Nile

Egyptians say that two colonial-era agreements forever guarantee them most of the Nile's flow. But other countries in the Nile River basin want more access to the water.

Thirsty Egypt Clings Tight To The Nile

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Ethiopia Claims High Ground In Right-To-Nile Debate

A hydroelectric plant in Ethiopia. The country hopes to harness the waters of the Blue Nile to export hydropower and to irrigate crops. Dawit Nida hide caption

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Dawit Nida

Africa

Ethiopia Claims High Ground In Right-To-Nile Debate

Egypt uses more Nile River water than any other country, citing colonial-era agreements as proof of entitlement. But upstream, Ethiopia has begun asserting its rights and has visions of harnessing the river to produce more electricity and irrigation.

Ethiopia Claims High Ground In Right-To-Nile Debate

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Mystery On The Nile: Just Whose River Is It?

A hippopotamus wades into the waters of the Nile in Uganda. Miguel Juarez for NPR hide caption

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Miguel Juarez for NPR

Africa

Mystery On The Nile: Just Whose River Is It?

After much toil and hardship, 19th century explorers solved the mystery of where the Nile begins. But who has rights to the water remains a hot debate among countries in the mighty river's basin.

Mystery On The Nile: Just Whose River Is It?

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Hidden World Of Girls

One Sudan Marriage Ritual: An Alluring Dance

Young brides in Northern Sudan have been performing the Bride Dance on, or near, their wedding nights for thousands of years. Today, plenty of Sudanese women reject it, saying they don't want to debase themselves.

One Sudan Marriage Ritual: An Alluring Dance

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