Producer James Mtume: ‘Black Music is Stagnant’
Producer, songwriter, musician and bandleader James Mtume built his entire career from constant and intentional transformation. Usually alongside his collaborative partner Reggie Lucas, his...
Straight Outta Compton Movie Review: A Brilliant Coming of Age Tale
Writing for The Root, The Burton Wire's founder & editor-in-chief Nsenga K. Burton, Ph.D. reviews F. Gary Gray's highly-anticipated film Straight Outta Compton, which...
John Oates: ‘Movement Inspired Hall & Oates’
John Oates made history with his musical cohort, Daryl Hall, as Hall & Oates, the most successful duo to emerge out of American popular...
Amy Winehouse: Documentary Shows Woman Behind the Music
Life teaches you how to live if you can live long enough. - Tony Bennett
English songbird Amy Winehouse died tragically at age 28. The...
All That Jazz: Blue Note Records’ Past & Present
Two generations of Blue Note Records talent recently met during this year’s Atlanta Jazz Festival to talk about jazz music’s storied past and revitalized...
NPR Music’s ‘Microphone Check’ Respects Hip-Hop
NPR Music’s Microphone Check is the information hub’s premier podcast for conversing about Hip-Hop culture. The show features hosts Frannie Kelley and Ali Shaheed...
Ornette Coleman: Jazz Innovator Dies at 85
Ben Ratliff of the New York Times is reporting jazz pioneer and innovator Ornette Coleman has died. Coleman, an alto saxophonist and composer who...
2015 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Inductees of Color
Grammy-winning singer/songwriter Bill Withers and legendary vocal group The 5 Royales are the only artists of color being inducted into the Rock and Roll...
Legendary Bassist Louis Johnson Dies
The music industry suffered another loss with the recent passing of legendary funk & R&B bassist, Louis Johnson. Johnson’s nephew, Troy, broke the news...
Nina Simone’s ‘Baltimore’; Jazmine Sullivan Covers
In honor of Charm City, the Burton Wire remembers music legend Nina Simone's song, "Baltimore," on fabulous Friday. Simone's song is from 1978 and...
