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One of the first Chicano rock bands, Thee Midniters were often called East L.A.'s Beatles. Their instrumental track "Whittier Blvd." was a regional smash that pointed to a coming cultural movement.
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When NPR asked listeners for their personal American anthems, many responded with Simon & Garfunkel's "America." We asked them to tell us why.
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From family memorials to jam sessions to every show at the Grand Ole Opry, the familiar singalong helps people feel connected to those who have died — whether legendary musicians or loved ones.
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Don Gonyea visits musician Lee Greenwood to talk about the song that, after three decades in political campaigns, might be more popular than "Hail to the Chief."
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"The Star-Spangled Banner" has been played at major sporting events as far back as the Civil War, even before it was officially named the national anthem. How and why did the tradition stick?
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Talk about ironic: Twisted Sister's 1984 anthem to bucking authority has since been adopted by religious entities, teachers and even politicians, each bending it to their own definition.
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Julia Ward Howe wrote a rousing anthem for the Union in the Civil War. Since then, it's been caught in a cultural tug-of-war over who it's an anthem for.
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Born as a children's song, transformed by the civil rights movement into an anthem, "This Little Light of Mine" works by letting the singer control their own story.
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Some sprout from the cities and states they rep for; others are imports, held up in pride by a sister community. NPR's American Anthem series continues with a list of place-based bangers.