Published July 10, 2026 at 1:00 PM EDT

In 2025, Stevie Wonder turned 75, and 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

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Colin McEnroe and Dylan Reyes contributed to this show, which originally aired December 12, 2025.