Lorraine Gordon, backstage at her club, the Village Vanguard in New York City. Gordon died on Sunday at age 95. John Rogers/for NPR hide caption
The Musicians : The Record The job of a musician is changing as quickly as the industry. We talk to people who make music for themselves, for a living and for every reason in between.
Glenn Branca, conducting his ensemble in Brooklyn in 2000. Hiroyuki Ito/Getty Images hide caption
Greek singer Maria Farantouri, performing in Berlin in 2013. Frank Hoensch/Redferns via Getty Images hide caption
James Levine, at a press conference in Boston, in 2001. Jim Bourg/Reuters hide caption
Jóhann Jóhannsson at the 2015 BAFTAs, where he was nominated for the music he composed for the film The Theory of Everything. Ian Gavan/Getty Images hide caption
Dierks Bentley performs onstage for the Country Rising Benefit Concert in Nashville in November 2017. John Shearer/Getty Images hide caption
Left to right: Jon Weisberger, Chris Jones and Ned Luberecki perform at the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2015. Jason Davis/Getty Images for Country Music Hall of Fame hide caption
Reggie "Combat Jack" Ossé attends the Spotify Mogul launch party in May 2017. The hip-hop personality has passed away at the age of 53. Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images hide caption
Jazz singers, Dave Lambert (left), Annie Ross and Jon Hendricks with Canon L. John Collins on the steps of St Paul's Cathedral in London in 1959. Jon Hendricks died on November 22 at the age of 96. Keystone/Getty Images hide caption
Vince Staples's second album, Big Fish Theory, was released in June. James W. Mataitis Bailey/Courtesy of Def Jam hide caption
Tucker Beathard's family connections in Nashville haven't smoothed the path to his debut album. Jim Wright/Courtesy of the artist hide caption
The late pianist and composer Muhal Richard Abrams, performing at Lincoln Center's Alice Tully Hall in New York in 2004. Jack Vartoogian/Getty Images hide caption
Muhal Richard Abrams, A Sweepingly Influential Jazz Artist, Has Died At Age 87
Johnny Clegg co-founded two important, interracial bands, and became an essential voice in South Africa. Now, he's embarking on a farewell tour after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Fiona Macpherson/Courtesy of the artist hide caption
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
Jackie Shane in Sept. 1967. Courtesy of Numero Group hide caption
Martin Eric Ain performs with Celtic Frost in 2007. Brigitte Engl/Redferns/Getty Images hide caption
Justin Timberlake photographed on September 8, 2017. The pop star was chosen to headline the 52ns Super Bowl halftime show. Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images for EIF hide caption
The Bruce Springsteen Marquee for Springsteen on Broadway, which sold out immediately and brought in impressive first-week receipts. Walter McBride/Getty Images hide caption
Composer, multi-instrumentalist and educator Tyshawn Sorey, who has been granted a MacArthur Fellowship. John Rogers/Courtesy of the artist hide caption
Tyshawn Sorey, A Musical Shapeshifter, Wins MacArthur 'Genius' Prize
On Wednesday morning, Rhiannon Giddens was awarded a MacArthur "Genius Grant." Courtesy of the artist hide caption