Guardian Music — Conventional wisdom has it that pop music began in the 1950s, but as early as the 1920s, dance bands were soundtracking British life in the same way, writes Maddy CostaWhen Bert Ambrose died, on 11 June 1971, he was down on his luck. He was the manag... more info

Guardian Music — Ian Jack's anecdotal impression of the importance of the Beatles' music (The music that brushed away repression, 19 December) recognises no continuum in popular music, but merely reinforces the old saw of a socially inevitable 60s step change in soun... more info

Brooklyn Vegan — Check out a collection of David Bowie Christmas videos below...... more info

NME - Pinglewood — I'm already eaten five advent calendars worth of chocolate today so Christmas can't be far off. Here to aid my festive slump into gluttony is The Brute Chorus with a wistful Hawaiian Christmas song. Singer and moustache model James explains: "We w... more info

All About Jazz — "Like buried treasure reclaimed from the past, this remarkable set is like no other Bing Crosby collection ever released. Here is the great crooner and a quartet led by his longtime accompanist Buddy Cole, occasionally augmented by a few wind instrum... more info

Guardian Music — Julian Casablancas's alternative festive anthem might be great, but its ironic coolness can never compete with the supreme naffness of Cliff, Shakey and SladeLet's be clear: Christmas is, in no way, "cool". It's the one time of year when you're emoti... more info

Live Daily — Dylan fans, brace yourselves: the folk-rock legend sings in Latin on his Christmas album, which will be in stores Oct. 13. While Dylan is finalizing the track listing for "Christmas in the Heart," he gave permission for six of the album's tracks ... more info

All About Jazz — A Toluca Lake home referred to as the Bing Crosby Estate is listed at $10 million. The singer and actor lived on the property from 1936 until early January 1943, when the 20-room house was gutted in a Christmas tree fire, according to news reports... more info

Live Daily — Les Paul, who helped broker the marriage between guitars and electric amplification, paving the way for generations of rock and rollers to come, has died at the age of 94. The guitarist and innovator died from complications of severe pneumonia at ... more info

Guardian Music — Guitarist and inventor with huge influence on pop and jazzSome pop sounds of the 1950s irresistibly remind us how utterly different a musical world it was. Whatever an Elvis Presley or Bill Haley might do to drive the nails of rock'n'roll into the co... more info