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In early 1997, two old friends with an interest in music and a propensity for research began corresponding about a song that hadn't been much studied: "Old Man," a song recorded in 1941 by the singer Leadbelly. The song represents a tradition of music sung by American workers.

Multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Jim Noir has crafted an album that's one part ear candy and one part sunshine. Sung in a whispery voice that recalls Simon & Garfunkel, his songs are nostalgic and sometimes naive, but still infectious and fun.

Grammy-winning guitarist Sharon Isbin and percussionist Thiago de Mello talk about their music with Performance Today host Fred Child on stage at the Aspen Music Festival. Then, we hear the duo perform two pieces by de Mello and a waltz by Antonio Lauro.

New tests confirm that Ludwig van Beethoven suffered from lead poisoning. The legendary composer, who experienced decades of illness that left him in misery for most of his life, died in 1827. Researchers aren't sure why his lead levels were so high, but they have some ideas.

On the 25th anniversary of John Lennon's death, we listen to his introspective song, "In My Life," which was released in 1965. The former Beatle and peace activist John Lennon was murdered outside his New York City apartment at age 40 on Dec. 8, 1980.

Wynton Marsalis, Norah Jones, Elvis Costello, Dianne Reeves and dozens more perform in a concert to benefit survivors of Hurricane Katrina, recorded Sept. 17 at New York's Rose Theater.

Playlist: Bob Dylan "Things Have Changed" The Wonderboy CD single — Bonnie Raitt "Two Lights in the Nighttime" Souls Alike — Taj Mahal "Corrina Corrina" Best Of Taj Mahal — Special Live on World Cafe: Dar Williams "Two Sides of the River" My Better Self

Playlist: Lyle Lovett "Funny How Time Slips Away" — Rhythm Country And Blues — Sufjan Stevens — "Chicago" — Come On Feel The Illinoise — Xtc — "The Ballad Of Peter Pump" — Nonsuch Kt Tunstall — "Another Place To Fall" — Eye To The Telescope

Host Fred Child wraps up his visit to La Jolla's SummerFest with composer Julian Milone, who has transformed familiar favorites and rewritten them for four violins and a double bass. After a chat with Milone, we hear a performance by violinists Cho Liang Lin, Jun Iwasaki, David Chan and Yoon Kwon, and bassist Jeremy Kurtz.

When the hit rap song "The Message" by Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five came out in the early 1980s, many rappers regarded it as an inspiration and political message. Melle Mel was the original vocalist on the song. (This interview originally aired August 4, 1992.)