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The legendary music producer Arif Mardin, has died. In a long and varied career, Mardin worked with performers from Aretha Franklin to the Bee Gees, and from Chaka Khan to Norah Jones. We hear an excerpt from an interview with Mardin — and a collection of his best-known productions.

Musician Alex Chilton died yesterday. He was the lead singer of the Memphis band Big Star. To remember the underground legend, Ed Ward reviews Keep an Eye on the Sky, a four-disc collection of recordings, demos and outtakes.

Verdi's blockbuster Aida evokes the mystery and splendor of ancient Egypt, with a healthy dose of passion thrown into the mix. The production comes from Houston Grand Opera and stars soprano Zvetelina Vassileva in the title role, with tenor Marco Berti as Radames.

Listen to a mix of 100 songs we couldn't stop listening to, and couldn't wait to share.

Watch the singer and violinist who stood out from 6,000-plus entries in NPR's Tiny Desk Contest. Gaelynn Lea performs two of these four songs with fellow Duluth, Minn., musician Alan Sparhawk of Low.

The saxophonist's 2014 album was dedicated to the memory of his 6-year-old daughter, killed in the 2012 mass shooting in Newtown, Conn. Hear his quartet perform the genre-spanning music in concert.

Soul singer King Floyd died on March 6 at the age of 61, but his passing barely merited mention in the media — an oversight that seems at odds with his brash style. What most know about Floyd begins and ends with his massive and enduring 1971 R&B hit "Groove Me."

For maximum effect, Steve Reich's "Music for 18 Musicians" should be heard in its entirety, in order to capture the full complement of drama, color and urgency. But to dive right in, head straight for Section 6, where the patterns are as thick, colorful and confusing an exquisitely woven Persian carpet.

On this 6th edition of All Songs Considered, we play the Penguin Café Orchestra, Moby, Richard Bone and more.

WXPN's annual music festival returns to The Camden Waterfront from Sept. 20-22.