What were your top 10 albums of the year? Vote for the best of 2013 in All Songs Considered's listener survey.

The honey-voiced singer, bandleader, songwriter, and impresario Tabu Ley Rochereau ruled dance floors across Africa. He died in Belgium Saturday.

"Live at Carnegie Hall" captures a riveting experience with the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and a beloved conductor, James Levine, who has been plagued with a variety of medical troubles.

Imagine you're a young composer having a piece premiered by the Boston Symphony - only to have the mood swing to unbearable tragedy. That's what happened to William Jay Sydeman, whose Study No. 2 premiered immediately before the audience learned of the president's death.

NPR's Melissa Block talks with producer Randall Poster and historian Sean Wilentz about a new collection of music. Poster brought together stars and legends spanning many genres and generations to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Civil War.

"We can't not look at each other; it doesn't work," Jones says of singing with the Green Day frontman. The two discuss tackling the signature close harmonies of The Everly Brothers with NPR's Steve Inskeep.

Listening to lost sounds, even in gorgeous new packages, isn't all that's needed when it comes to really understanding how popular music has shaped Americans' lives.

An American rock musician born in Freeport on Long Island, N.Y., Lou Reed epitomized New York City's artistic underbelly in the 1970s, with his songs about hookers and junkies. Reed was 71.

Indianapolis musician Kevin Anker is known for his work on piano, keyboards and organ as well as his work in the studio as a producer. He recently co-produced and appeared as a musician on albums by The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Bryan Lee and Ursula Ricks. He's also participated in a local album called "The Blue Side," which also features Tad Robinson, Gordon Bonham, Cynthia Layne and others. "The Blues House Party" host Matthew Socey spoke with Anker about those recent releases, his musical roots and how many projects he has been involved with at one time.

The sitar player and composer's father, Indian music pioneer Ravi Shankar, died while she was recording her new album, "Traces of You." Banning Eyre reviews the record, which features Anoushka's half-sister, Norah Jones.