Stevie Wonder turned 75 this year. Also this year, our friend the jazz pianist Noah Baerman put out an album of covers of Wonder’s “message music.”

This hour, a look at Stevie Wonder as musical icon, as important civil rights figure, as utterly timeless songsmith.

Plus: some in-studio performances of Stevie Wonder classics.

GUESTS:

• Noah Baerman: A pianist, composer, and educator; his newest album is Right Now Volume 4: Visions of Steveland
• Kevin Gaines: The Julian Bond Professor of Civil Rights and Social Justice at the University of Virginia
• Erica Tracy: A vocalist, songwriter, and arts curator

MUSIC FEATURED (in order):

• You Haven’t Done Nothing – Stevie Wonder
• Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I’m Yours) – Stevie Wonder
• Superwoman (Where Were You When I Needed You) – Stevie Wonder
• Higher Ground – Noah Baerman
• Happy Birthday – Stevie Wonder
• Big Brother – Stevie Wonder
• Black Man – Stevie Wonder
• Can We Fix Our Nation’s Broken Heart – Stevie Wonder
• As – Noah Baerman

The Colin McEnroe Show is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode!

Subscribe to The Noseletter, an email compendium of merriment, secrets, and ancient wisdom brought to you by The Colin McEnroe Show.

Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter.

Colin McEnroe and Dylan Reyes contributed to this show.