Stevie Wonder may be our modern day Mozart. A child prodigy, he joined Motown as a preadolescent where he was marketed as “Little” Stevie Wonder. He wowed audiences with his virtuosic command of the piano, harmonica, drums and of course, vocals. At just 13, he had his first number one hit “Fingertips Part II.” It was an unusual chart topper, featuring a live ... Show More
Oct 7
Taylor Swift’s Showgirl Sound: How to actually listen to the album
Taylor Swift's twelfth album has sparked endless speculation about who each song is "really about," but that might be the wrong question entirely. The Life of a Showgirl isn’t biography, it’s polyphonic auto-fiction, where Swift writes from multiple character perspectives while b ... Show More
1h 9m
Oct 3
The Power of the Trio (ft. Trousdale live at USC)
There's no lead singer in Trousdale. The trio of Quinn D'Andrea, Georgia Greene, and Lauren Jones, has shared vocal duties equally since they started singing together as students at the University of Southern California's Thornton School of Music. Since then, they've touring the ... Show More
48m 39s
May 2025
This Moment in Music History for 05-23-2025
On May 23, 1969, The Who released their groundbreaking rock opera album, "Tommy." This concept album tells the story of a "deaf, dumb, and blind" boy named Tommy Walker, who experiences various trials and tribulations before ultimately finding enlightenment and becoming a messian ... Show More
1m 55s
Oct 2024
Neil Finn's songs of ascension
Neil Finn is one of our greatest living songwriters. In Split Enz and Crowded House, solo and in his collaborations, his tunes have become the soundtrack to our lives. I’ve been chasing Neil to Take 5 for the TV series since the beginning, and finally he said yes. Even better, he ... Show More
1h 1m
May 2025
This Moment in Music History for 05-18-2025
On May 18, 1980, Ian Curtis, the lead singer and lyricist of the influential post-punk band Joy Division, tragically took his own life at the age of 23. His untimely death came just on the eve of the band's first North American tour and two months prior to the release of their se ... Show More
2m 12s
May 2025
This Moment in Music History for 05-16-2025
On May 16, 1966, one of the most influential albums in rock history was released: "Pet Sounds" by The Beach Boys. Produced and arranged by Brian Wilson, this groundbreaking album pushed the boundaries of what was possible in the recording studio and set a new standard for pop mus ... Show More
2m 2s
Oct 2024
This Moment in Music History for 10-18-2024
On October 18, 1957, Paul McCartney made his debut performance with John Lennon's band, The Quarrymen, at a social club in Liverpool, England. This event marked the beginning of a legendary musical partnership that would change the course of music history.
McCartney, then just 15 ... Show More
1m 52s
May 2023
Arnold Schoenberg: The Man who Changed Music
Captain, We Hit A Schoenberg! Did Arnold Schoenberg break Classical music? Widely considered the greatest composer of the 20th century, Schoenburg’s innovations in ‘atonality’ (a term he detested throughout his life) changed the trajectory of music forever. In this episode, Joann ... Show More
27m 21s