Ma Rainey, the so-called 'Mother of the Blues,' can now be heard clearer than ever

NPR | By Debbie Elliott,

Daniel Ofman, Sarah Robbins

Published July 26, 2026 at 3:46 PM CDT

Ma Rainey was a musical pioneer. Her voice was once scratchy and hard to hear, but is now crystal clear on a new box set.

Tags

All Things Considered

Debbie Elliott

NPR National Correspondent Debbie Elliott can be heard telling stories from her native South. She covers the latest news and politics, and is attuned to the region's rich culture and history.

See stories by Debbie Elliott

Daniel Ofman

Sarah Robbins

How a novel set in Taiwan sparked a cultural reckoning

Jan Camenzind Broomby

Taiwan Travelogue is a novel exploring a journey through 1930s Taiwan under Japanese colonial rule. Today, it's prompting a fresh look at the island's complex history and identity.
Cycling superstar Tadej Pogacar wins Tour de France for fifth time

Debbie Elliott, Christopher Harland-Dunaway, Michael Levitt

Tadej Pogacar has won the Tour de France. He's so good, some can't help but wonder if he's the greatest of all time.
Sen. Tim Kaine calls continued war with Iran 'a bad idea' and 'unaffordable'

Debbie Elliott, Christopher Harland-Dunaway, Michael Levitt

NPR's Debbie Elliot speaks with Democratic Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia about his continued opposition to the U.S. war with Iran.
How classic myths make for big-screen movie magic

Debbie Elliott, Barrie Hardymon, Scott Detrow, Marc Rivers, Adam Raney

What does Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey reveal about the checkered history of myths on the big screen.
Remembering the Sand Creek Massacre through one objector's letters

Debbie Elliott, Henry Larson

In 1864, Captain Silas Soule of the 1st Colorado Cavalry refused orders to kill innocent Native Americans. He wrote letters about the massacre, which may have changed the course of history.