Higher Ground’s
Jonathan Overby:
A Goodwill Ambassador
Jonathan Overby, host of Saturday night's
variety program Higher Ground, joined Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle for a
Goodwill Delegation Tour of Chiba, Japan, Wisconsin's sister
state. The tour took place September 22-30.
Jonathan, an accomplished lyric baritone,
presented a series of concerts featuring African-American
Spirituals and American Artsongs. He was accompanied by Higher Ground's studio
pianist Deb Scalissi.
The Asian tour topped off a very busy
summer for Jonathan. Between radio shows he opened two
nights of Chicago's famed National Gospel Festival in July
which featured gospel artists Yolanda Adams, "The Canton
Spirituals," Edwin Hawkins, Smokie Robinson, and the
legendary Albertina Walker. In July Jonathan was one of ten
invited scholars at an international seminar on Afro-Christian
Worship and Social Transformation in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
The week-long event -- sponsored by Calvin College --
included representatives from Africa, Canada, Jamaica,
and the United States.
To listen to Higher
Ground, tune in to Saturdays at 7:00
p.m. on the Ideas Network.