music

Italian opera singer Andrea Bocelli has shared a statement confirming that he and family members contracted COVID-19 earlier this year. “The pandemic which has shaken the world has also affected — albeit mildly — me and certain members of my family,” Bocelli wrote Tuesday on Facebook. “Out of respect for those for whom contracting the virus has had more serious consequences,...

The pop superstars dropped their collaboration “Rain On Me” overnight. The track is the second single from Gaga’s upcoming sixth studio album, “Chromatica.”

Little Richard has been laid to rest at his alma mater in north Alabama

Pop star Sia is notoriously private, but in a recent interview, she opened up about becoming an adoptive mom. The “Chandelier” singer explained via video conference with SiriusXM’s “The Morning Mash Up” that she had adopted two teens about to age out of the foster care system. “I actually adopted two sons last year,” she said. “They’re both 19...

Songwriters are taking their writing sessions online during the pandemic, sometimes co-writing songs across continents

Retirees in multiple states have become volunteer DJs for a new online radio hour known as “Radio Recliner.”

Betty Wright is best known for her popular R&B hits like “Tonight Is the Night,” “No Pain, (No Gain),” “Clean Up Woman” and “Girls Can’t Do What the Guys Do.”

Andre Harrell, the Uptown Records founder who shaped the sound of hip-hop and R&B in the late ’80s and ’90s with acts such as Mary J. Blige and Heavy D and also launched the career of mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs, has died. He was 59. Diddy’s REVOLT company confirmed the death Saturday but no other details were immediately available....

Andre Harrell, founder of record label Uptown Records, has died at 59.

Hundreds of billions of dollars are spent each year on large events like conferences, sports and concerts. Like so many other industries, COVID-19 quarantines have devastated event-based businesses. The major sports leagues — the National Basketball Association, Major League Baseball and National Hockey League — have put games on hold indefinitely. “Our revenue in essence has dropped to zero,” NBA Commissioner…

Musicians including Luke Combs, Pitbull, Mike Love and Bon Jovi have taken on the coronavirus in song form

The Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation has launched a $1 million emergency fund to support freelance New York City-area jazz musicians during the coronavirus pandemic. The organization’s board of directors on Thursday announced The Louis Armstrong Emergency Fund for Jazz Musicians. It is aimed at providing financial support to jazz vocalists and instrumentalists who have lost income because of the coronavirus,…

Stuck at home during the coronavirus pandemic? Professional beatboxer Tom Thum teaches you two basic techniques to help you make a beatboxing tune.

Recording artist Doug E. Fresh has recruited other rappers and R&B artists for a new “20 Seconds or More” handwashing PSA. NBC New York’s Adam Harding reports.

Hopeful birdsong and foreboding sirens

Taran Tien, 9, and his sister Calliope, 6, gave their high-risk neighbor a cello concert from their porch to keep up her spirits as she is quarantined during the coronavirus pandemic.

Manu Dibango, who fused African rhythms with funk to become one of the most influential musicians in world dance music has died with the coronavirus

A PSA never seemed so good, so good. Neil Diamond shared on Twitter Sunday an updated version of his hit “Sweet Caroline” that encourages hand washing and social distancing during the coronavirus outbreak. The YouTube-style video opens with Diamond’s dog in the foreground then reveals the award-winning songwriter in a black baseball cap, seated in front of a blazing...