Milo Miles

World music critic Milo Miles says that some of the first recorded black music in the United States was calypso, despite the fact that that the style originated in the Caribbean. Calypso, most often performed during Carnival, was known for being extremely topical -- performers were expected to improvise songs on the spot about current events.

World music critic Milo Miles examines the vocal music of South Africa, and he examines the career of the country's leading vocal group, "Ladysmith Black Mambazo."

World music critic Milo Miles on the significance of Billboard magazine starting a world music chart.

World music critic Milo Miles checks out the music of Ethiopia.

Milo Miles looks at the career of Cameroonian musician Manu Dibango.

World Music Critic Milo Miles reviews music of Chicano bandleader and accordionist Steve Jordan. The eclectic performer's recorded almost 40 albums and has provided music for films like, "Born in East L.A." and "True Stories."

World Music critic Milo Miles takes a look at the music of two Latin American singers who live as ex-patriots: Celia Cruz and La Lupe. And he considers how being an ex-patriot can influence a singer's work (originally broadcast 12/15/89).

World music commentator Milo Miles talks about compas (or kompa, or konpa), the popular music of Haiti. He shows how the roots of compas are in the eclectic musical influences Haiti has absorbed over the years.

World music commentator Milo Miles explores the continuing influence of punk rock on Japanese music in the second of his two-part examination of Japanese pop music. Milo looks at two Japanese groups -- The Plastics and The Frank Chickens.

World music commentator Milo Miles gives an overview of the Japanese pop scene, focusing on Ryuichi Sakamoto (ree-OO-chee sa-kuh-MO-to), who starred with David Bowie in the film, "Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence," and composed the soundtrack. Milo says Sakamoto manages to combine many musical styles into a harmonious whole.