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Every year, the Tiny Desk Contest attracts thousands of unsigned musicians — like powerhouse singer Danielle Ponder. Her entry, "Poor Man's Pain," was inspired by her work as a public defender.

Oliver Nelson began his career playing with the Jeter-Pillars Orchestra and St. Louis big bands. In a 1961 jam session, Nelson was joined by Eric Dolphy, Roy Haynes, Bill Evans, Oliver Nelson, Paul Chambers and Freddie Hubbard. The result was one of the great classics of the blues, The Blues and the Abstract Truth.

A new book argues that Motown was a step in the evolution of the American popular song, a tradition reaching back to songwriters like Irving Berlin, George Gershwin and Cole Porter.

After a rendition on American Idol, a tune by Jeff Buckley rocked the iTunes charts. Offering a tour of Buckley's career is David Browne, music journalist and author of Dream Brother, a dual biography of Jeff and his father Tim.

Shirley Bassey, famed singer of James Bond's "Goldfinger," releases a CD revamping some of her classic hits and introducing new songs, including a cover of Pink's "Get the Party Started."

Eighties absurdo-disco band Was Not Was has a new album. David Was shares some of his thoughts about embarking on a rock and roll odyssey at a time when he should be figuring out how to stretch his Social Security check.

The Jupiter String Quartet has been playing together for just seven years, but it's already racked up an impressive collection of awards. The group takes music by Benjamin Britten to the WGBH studios in Boston.

The sound of New Orleans Jazz is unmistakable. If you're in the Crescent City, there's one place you're sure to find it: Preservation Hall. A new, jam-packed box set celebrates the Preservation Hall Jazz Band master tapes that survived Hurricane Katrina.

English-Australian singer, songwriter and actress Olivia Newton-John has died at age 73. She was one of the the biggest pop stars in the 1970's and early 1980's.

In 1971, Motown founder Berry Gordy created MoWest, a California label that would last only two years before being dismantled. A new anthology documents this odd and little-known chapter in Motown's history.