STEVIE: A LIFE IN THE KEY OF SONGS To Have World Premiere At BAM
The BRC Orchestra, featuring Corey Glover and Vernon Reid, performs five Stevie Wonder albums at BAM Howard Gilman Opera House.
Fifty years ago, Stevie Wonder released Songs in the Key of Life and changed music forever. BAM honors that milestone and the extraordinary creative run that preceded it with the world premiere of Stevie: A Life in the Key of Songs, a three-night celebration at the BAM Howard Gilman Opera House, May 14–16.
Conceived of and executive produced by PoetWarrior Productions in association with the Black Rock Coalition (BRC), the once-in-a-lifetime concerts feature five albums that together represent one of the most remarkable achievements in the history of American music.
The celebration brings together the BRC Orchestra, an all-star collective of acclaimed musicians, vocalists, and special guests, for three consecutive nights, coinciding with Stevie Wonder's 76th birthday, where all five landmark albums will be performed live in their entirety across three evenings, each one a complete musical journey: Music of My Mind, Talking Book, Innervisions, Fulfillingness' First Finale, and Songs in the Key of Life.
The concerts feature an extraordinary assembly of artists. Corey Glover and Vernon Reid of Living Colour join the BRC Orchestra on nights two and three, bringing their energy and rock-rooted mastery to Wonder's catalog. Acclaimed harmonica virtuoso Gregoire Maret, guitarist Mark Whitfield, keyboardist Ray Angry, vocalist and guitarist David Ryan Harris, and Sandra St. Victor round out a lineup that reflects the breadth of Wonder's musical world.
Night one opens with Music of My Mind and Talking Book, the albums that marked a turning point in Stevie Wonder’s career, as he began to redefine soul, funk, and pop music. Night two moves through Innervisions and Fulfillingness' First Finale, two records that reflect a more personal and socially conscious perspective. Night three is devoted entirely to Songs in the Key of Life, the double album widely regarded as one of the most influential recordings in popular music.
Under the music direction of Darrell M. McNeill and LaFrae Sci, the BRC Orchestra will present interpretations of Wonder's songs that balance fidelity with contemporary perspective. The program also includes selections Wonder composed for other artists during this period, highlighting his broader impact as a songwriter.
Stevie: A Life in the Key of Songs is part of the Black Masters Concert Series, founded and executive produced by Darrell M. McNeill for PoetWarrior Productions.
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