Morning Edition: Music

Over the years, Yankovic has written several songs that appeal particularly to Minnesotans – from “Spam” to “The Biggest Ball of Twine in Minnesota.”
The song was influential as well as popular: Chic’s bass player, Bernard Edwards, told the “New Musical Express” that he taught his counterpart in Queen the bass line, which ended up in “Another One Bites the Dust.”
The Twin Cities-based group The Sounds of Blackness will be in Hampton, Va. this weekend to participate in a commemoration of 400th anniversary of the first enslaved people arriving from Africa in what would become the United States. There are a series of events planned at Fort Monroe which is near where the first ship arrived. The Sounds of Blackness and Common will be featured in a concert that will take place tomorrow night. MPR News’ Tim Nelson caught up with the group as it rehearsed this week and talked to music director Gary Hines.
What you need to know about this year’s State Fair
MPR News intern Sophia Sura was at the fairgrounds early Thursday morning, and talked to MPR News host Cathy Wurzer about what fairgoers can expect to find there.
Williams is celebrating with a party Wednesday night at the Dakota Jazz Club in Minneapolis.