According to a statement, the former Stone Temple Pilots frontman died in Bloomington, Minn.; other details were not revealed, citing his family's desire for privacy.

The composer and arranger spent the bulk of his career in service to the Duke Ellington Orchestra. He wrote some of the most popular songs of the 20th century — without ever hiding who he was.

Steve Inskeep continues his conversation with Itzhak Perlman, who was 13 when he performed on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1958. When he was four, Perlman contracted polio and has used crutches since.

"It's these fresh vocal cords that haven't been abused yet, broken in yet." Susan Stamberg dives into Frank Sinatra: A Voice on Air, a box set of rare radio broadcasts.

The Danish composer's evocative song cycle let me tell you features an ingenious mashup of all the words allotted to Ophelia in Shakespeare's Hamlet.

To mark the one-year anniversary of the most popular Tiny Desk Concert ever and the 10th anniversary of his debut album, rapper T-Pain played a concert at NPR's Washington, D.C. headquarters.

The music industry generates $1.6 billion a year for Austin, Texas. But many musicians can't afford the basics, including health insurance. The Health Alliance for Austin Musicians steps in to help.

"He clearly believed that New Orleans had something to say to the world," says NPR contributor Gwen Thompkins. "And he was right."

As news has spread of the death of New Orleans pianist, producer and songwriter Allen Toussaint, artists and other luminaries have begun paying tribute to this musical legend on social media.

Arlen had major hits, won an Oscar and was called "the most original of all of us" by none other than George Gershwin, but he never became a household name.