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The Tavis Smiley Show bids music legend Ray Charles a final goodbye. On Thursday, a long line formed around the Los Angeles Convention Center where people paid their final respects to the music legend. We hear from Mable John, who wrote more that 52 songs for Ray Charles and served as lead vocalist and director of the Raylettes backup singing group.

NPR's Steve Inskeep reports that a National Hip-Hop Political Convention in New Jersey hopes to create a political platform for the hip-hop community and encourage people to vote.

Los Lobos' new CD, appropriately named The Ride, celebrates the band's 30 years together. Hear their extended interview with NPR's Renee Montagne and live performance at NPR.

Tom Moon reviews Jill Scott's new CC, Beautifully Human: Words and Sounds Vol. 2. Scott had an incredibly successful debut recording 4 years ago. She has kept a fairly low profile until now. Tom Moon says her new recording is in a tradition of great soul singers writing about the political in personal terms.

Music commentator Miles Hoffman, a nationally renowned violist, and NPR's Steve Inskeep visit the Library of Congress' small, priceless collection of Stradivarius instruments. Hoffman plays some of the rarest instruments in the collection, including a violin called the "Betts," crafted in 1704 by Antonio Stradivari.

NPR's Madeleine Brand speaks with NPR arts editor Bill Wyman about the cancellation of this year's Lollapalooza music festival, due to poor ticket sales.

Built in 1929, the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles has been the scene for many movies and outdoor concerts. Like many outdoor venues, it's a romantic setting but troublesome for acoustics. On June 25, the venue's new shell will be unveiled. It's designed to give musicians more space and better acoustics -- the latest in a series of redesigns over the years. Gene Parrish reports.

Music critic Sarah Bardeen reviews Bedtime Beats: The Secret to Sleep, a new album of classical music meant to whisk listeners away to dreamland.

He composed the tune that became an anthem for the Depression, and he discovered Shirley Temple, but few people remember his name. Now, his widow has written a memoir in tribute to her late husband, composer Jay Gorney. It shares the title of his most famous work: "Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?"

Music critic Christian Hoard reviews Show Your Bones, the new album by the rock group the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and the follow-up to their wildly successful debut, 2003's Fever to Tell.