WPR's Higher Ground with Jonathan Overby

World Music with African Roots and more... Saturday Evenings 7:00-10:00 PM WPR Logo

Each edition of Higher Ground features Jonathan's weekly blend of new and legendary artists from around the globe. His three hour broadcast celebrates a soulful mix of Salsa, Samba, Urban and Southern Gospel, Merengue, Bachata, Delta Blues, Reggae, Bossa Nova, Cuban, Brazilian folk, Afro-Pop, Zouk, Reggae, R&B and jazz.

Hear Higher Ground on most WPR's Music Stations and on WHAD-FM 90.7 in Milwaukee. You can also listen to WPR's Live Streams using RealPlayer, Windows Media Player and iTunes.

Host Jonathan Overby
"Join me each Saturday night when we celebrate, dance to, and learn about world music with African roots and more.... You'll hear unique styles from artists whose music connects people with prominent places around the globe."
- Jonathan Overby, Host/Executive Producer

More about Jonathan


Traveling the globe? Tell Jonathan about your trip, the music you heard with suggestions for artists and styles you'd like to hear on Saturday nights. HigherGround@wpr.org

Upcoming Broadcasts

Saturday, November 14, 2009 at 7:00 PM:
Taking in music from around the globe helps to expand our ideas and increase our cultural understanding of diverse communities. Hear an encore broadcast first aired on November 8, 2009 as Jonathan shares music from Cuba to Cameroon with featured performances by Cesaria Evora, Oscar Peterson, Celia Cruz, Taj Mahal and, the Ink Spots.

Weekly Playlist

drumsListing of the music played on Higher Ground: song titles, albums, bands, etc.

Access the Playlist


World Music Spotlight

New Orleans music icon Allen Toussaint talks with Jonathan Overby about his storied career and his plans to move forward in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

Every week, Higher Ground explores the World Music scene with interviews and music clips from special guests around the globe.

For more click here

Events Calendar

Carnival of RioThe Higher Ground calendar lists upcoming events, concerts in Wisconsin, Twin Cities and Chicago areas.

Browse the Calendar

Theme Song

Each broadcast opens with the theme song "Higher Ground", composed by Jonathan in 1976 while he was a music student at San Francisco State University. He originally created the piece for the Hunter's Point Naval Shipyard Chapel's Youth Choir in San Francisco where he served as music director. When he arrived at Wisconsin Public Radio in 1994, Jonathan incorporated a revised application of the tune for his original Sunday morning talk show. The current framing of the song features the Lighthouse Chamber Singers with Jonathan singing the lead.

Listen to the theme

Podcasts

Higher Ground podcasts interviews and music from the World Music spotlights artists.

Subscribe to the podcast

Live Chat

Email comments, suggestions or questions to Jonathan during the actual live broadcast at: highergroundlive@wpr.org

Contact us

About Higher Ground

Click here to find out more about the mission of Higher Ground, Jonathan Overby and the history of the show.


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