Brooklyn Academy of Music Brings 5 Stevie Wonder Albums to Life

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 between May 14 –16.

Conceived of and executive produced by PoetWarrior Productions in association with the Black Rock Coalition, 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 electric 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 the legendary Sandra St. Victor round out a lineup that honors the breadth and ambition of Wonder's musical world.

Night one opens with Music of My Mind and Talking Book, the albums that announced a new Stevie Wonder, one who had seized creative control and was about to redefine soul, funk, and pop music on his own terms. Night two moves through Innervisions and Fulfillingness' First Finale, two deeply personal and politically charged records that cemented Wonder's status as one of the most important voices of his generation. Night three is devoted entirely to Songs in the Key of Life, the double album masterpiece that many consider the greatest record ever made, a sprawling, joyful and transcendent celebration of life in all its dimensions.

Under the music direction of Darrell M. McNeill and LaFrae Sci, the BRC Orchestra will blend faithful renditions of Wonder's iconic songs with bold, contemporary interpretations that honor the depth and enduring relevance of his vision. The program also features selections Wonder composed for other artists during this prolific era, illuminating the full scope of his genius as a songwriter and cultural force on a global scale.

Stevie: A Life in the Key of Songs

Thursday, May 14 at 7:30pm

Music of My Mind and Talking Book

Featuring Ray Angry, David Ryan Harris, Sandra St. Victor, Peter Lord, Gregoire Maret, and Mark Whitfield

Friday, May 15 at 7:30pm

Innervisions and Fulfillingness' First Finale

Featuring Corey Glover, Vernon Reid, Ray Angry, David Ryan Harris, Sandra St. Victor, Peter Lord, Gregoire Maret, and Mark Whitfield

Saturday, May 16 at 7:30pm

Songs in the Key of Life

Featuring Corey Glover, Vernon Reid, Ray Angry, David Ryan Harris, Sandra St. Victor, Peter Lord, Gregoire Maret, and Mark Whitfield

Click here for tickets.