Tag: Colleen Murphy

How did an album about mental illness, mortality and the need for human empathy stay on the U.S. Billboard Charts for 741 weeks (14 years)?

This album is named after a members-only club that was opened in Havana in pre-Castro times, a period of unbelievable musical activity in Cuba. Check out this playlist of music that inspired the album.

Nigerian icon Fela Kuti pioneered Afrobeat and was a political and social renegade. He also led a life and had an impact that was uniquely singular. Listen to the story and music.

A Tribe Called Quest, The Pharcyde, Digable Planets, Camp Lo and many more were inspired by the jazz-influenced sounds of De La Soul. Check out this playlist of music that was inspired by De La Soul.

Sixteen video streams featuring a diverse range of both established and up & coming artists funded by The Arts Council of England.

This was the last album to be released in Lady Day's lifetime and one that saw her return to full orchestral arrangements with a poignantly matured voice. Listen to the story and music.

“It is not addressed to white people - it does not put you down in any way, it simply ignores you… For my people need all the inspiration and love they can get.” Nina Simone.

The album's songs — which featured 18-year-old Nils Lofgren on guitar and piano, helped create a ragged and almost disjointed record that’s never quite sure if it’s electric or acoustic.

Colleen 'Cosmo' Murphy explores Nina Simone's live album that captured the rage and hope of the civil rights movement with political activist Angela Davis and composer Terri Lyne Carrington.