Donate

Amen break

An image of The Winstons taken from a 1969 edition of Billboard magazine.

The six-second drum solo that has been used a thousand times

March 31, 2015Music

Musicians like Prodigy, Oasis, Jay-Z and Amy Winehouse have used the so-called “Amen break,” a decades-old six-second drum solo from a soul band named The Winstons. But that widespread usage never brought the band much fame or money — until now.

Latest Headlines

Artisans in Paris revive the old art of handpainted signs
A murder in Istanbul raises fears for journalists’ safety
Photographers document people forced to leave home due to climate change
To counter Russia, European armies must be more mobile
Traditional fishermen limit forays into the Caribbean over fear of US strikes
A road race relay where hope is the baton
An afternoon at the iconic Martyrs’ Café in Baghdad
Lessons from the world’s most thriving megacity
Help wanted: Germany hires its next generation of workers from abroad
Shenzhen: The city that rewrote China’s future
More stories

The World is a public radio program that crosses borders and time zones to bring home the stories that matter.

Produced by

Thanks to our sponsor

  1. Progressive Insurance logo

Major funding provided by

  1. Carnegie Corporation of New York

  1. About
  2. Contact
  3. Donate
  4. Meet the Team
  5. Privacy
  6. Terms of use

©2025 The World from PRX

PRX is a 501(c)(3) organization recognized by the IRS: #263347402.