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Lynne's new album Revelation Road contains both a torchy pop ballad and a startlingly direct song about her parents' murder-suicide. Rock critic Ken Tucker says the album is an excellent showcase for Lynne's sharp songwriting and fantastic voice.

When Stephen Hawking's computer voice was in danger of disappearing, his team called Eric Dorsey for help. The Palo Alto-based engineer worked for the company that helped create Hawking's CallText 5010 speech system.

South Africa's Soweto Gospel Choir combines traditional African gospel and Western Christian music to form a rich sound. In a visit to NPR, the group performs songs from a new CD, Voices from Heaven.

American consumers still talk a lot on their smart phones, but one key function consistently falls short — voice quality. Recent studies by Consumer Reports and others find that it hasn't kept pace with advances in screen display, Web browsing and battery life.

American consumers still talk a lot on their smart phones, but one key function consistently falls short — voice quality. Recent studies by Consumer Reports and others find that it hasn't kept pace with advances in screen display, Web browsing and battery life.

She had a voice of striking, unusual beauty — and looks to match — yet she spent much of her life misunderstood and under-recorded. Now, 15 years after her death, the elusive folk singer's music has never been more popular.

The late Hawaiian musician known best for his ukulele-backed rendition of "Over the Rainbow" was a man with a standout voice and tremendous size. At more than 6 feet tall and weighing close to 1,000 pounds, "IZ" died when he was only 38.

Suburbs are now the most diverse areas in America. This transformation isn't just turning the suburbs "purple," it's also fueling so-called culture wars and white racial resentment.

Peter Sallis, who was the voice of Wallace in the beloved Wallace and Gromit films, died last week. He was 96 years old.

Independent music critic Christian Bordal talks with NPR's Alex Chadwick about the latest CD by the relatively obscure "indie-rock" band Guided by Voices.

The Trump administration is gutting an agency that funds Voice of America. For decades, the broadcaster reached audiences in countries that often offered no other free media -- including China.

The president observed some of the worst-hit areas during a helicopter tour, including Florida homes that had been ripped from their foundations. "Some of them have no trace of a home," Trump said.

Congress is widely expected to approve billions in aid for flood-stricken areas, but it may take awhile to arrive.

John McCain is the clear winner in Pennsylvania, but he's not holding post-election campaign rallies. He spent Tuesday in Ohio, courting voters in economically distressed places as part of his tour of "forgotten areas." NPR's Scott Horsley talks with Melissa Block.

A federal appeals court said it would not intervene — at least for now — to thwart the Trump administration's plans for the near-total dismantlement of Voice of America.

A rock 'n' roll pioneer, Orbison possessed a distinctive voice and melancholy style that had a tremendous influence on American rock and pop music. Orbison co-wrote and recorded such classics as "Only the Lonely," "Crying" and "Oh, Pretty Woman."

Coming up along with a slew of British singers who look back to classic '60s girl groups, Adele stands out with a big, bluesy voice. At just 20, she sounds wise beyond her years, writing songs of heartbreak and loneliness. Here, Adele performs songs from her debut CD, 19, with just a guitarist for accompaniment.

Some automated phone systems have begun using computer voices with colloquial traits and an improved capacity to interact with callers. But designers can't agree whether computers should be efficient, robotic machines or pretend to have personality. For All Things Considered, NPR's David Kestenbaum reports.

Commentator Brian McConnachie reveals the results of the last "Vocal Impressions" challenge to listeners and issues a new one. How would you describe the voices of singer Bob Dylan, actor Sean Connery, singer Odetta and actress Mae West?

Madison McFerrin, daughter of renowned musician Bobby McFerrin, describes her new album Scorpio and the power of finding her own voice and sound.