About Us
The Mission of Higher Ground
Higher Ground is dedicated to illuminating ancient as well as contemporary African-influenced musical traditions that are connected to many cultures and music styles around the world.
The weekly broadcast is designed to educate, edify and entertain Wisconsin Public Radio's listening audience, and building bridges between diverse communities.
Jonathan Overby, Host & Executive Producer
Jonathan Overby is the creator, executive producer and host of Wisconsin Public Radio's popular Saturday evening radio broadcast, "Higher Ground" - Now in it's 14th year.
Overby has enjoyed radio ever since his days as a student play-by-play sports announcer at Rufus King High School in Milwaukee. It was at King, that Jonathan first became interested in music. Today, he holds multiple music degrees in Arts Administration, vocal performance, choral conducting and, Afro Christian Sacred Music. Jonathan is currently pursuing his doctorate in world music at Edgewood College in Madison. Overby is founder and president of Africasong Communications, a nonprofit arts agency dedicated to the illumination of Wisconsins varied cultures through performance art, publications and education.
See the February 29, 2008 Capital Times story on Jonathan here.
Originally from Milwaukee, Overby, a lyric baritone is a classically-trained artist, conductor and musicologist best known for his powerful and stirring rendition of the "Star Spangled Banner", which he performs throughout the United States. He held the post of Music Director for Madison Campus Ministry based on the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus from (1987-94) and from (1989- 94), Artist-in-Residence in the Music Department of Edgewood College in Madison, WI (1988-92) where he conducted both the College Chorale and the Community Choir. From 1991-2003 Overby served on the Wisconsin Arts Board with two terms as the board’s Vice Chair. From (1989-2006) Overby hosted “The Best Of Gospel” Radio show on WORT-FM in Madison, Wisconsin.
Overby's artistic ventures include stage productions that illuminate the African-American experience in words and music. His concert work spans more than 30 years of vocal performance in the U.S., Japan, Czech Republic, Amsterdam, Germany, Switzerland, and Poland. Today, he produces Wisconsin’s annual "Tribute & Ceremony" honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. now in its 28th year and the "Wade In The Water" annual outdoor gospel music festival on the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus. He also conducts the 20 Voice Lighthouse Singers Choral Ensemble and the Highway To Heaven Gospel Project big band.
June 4, 5, 2004, Jonathan was a featured soloist at the 20th Annual Chicago International Gospel Music Festival which also showcased the legendary Canton Spirituals, Yolanda Adams, Bishop Edwin Hawkins, Chicago Mass Choir and Smokie Robinson. In July of 2004, Jonathan Overby was an invited participant at the Afro-Christian Worship and Social Transformation Seminar at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He was one of nine internationally selected scholars from Africa, Caribbean, Canada and the United States. In September of 2004, Overby joined Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle and a "Goodwill Delegation" of Wisconsin-based artists for a week-long performance tour of Japan. In September of 2008 he was an invited journalist at the Benny More’ International Music Festival in La Havana, Cuba. Jonathan’s travels and study of world music includes a February 2009 trip to Lima, Peru for the annual Afro-Peruvian Music Festival in Chincha.
Jonathan (third from left) joins the internationally celebrated recording artists The Gipsy Kings backstage after their Saturday, May 19, 2007 concert at the Paramount Theatre in Seattle, Washington.
The Story of Higher Ground
Higher Ground was first aired as a morning talk show on Sunday, July 3, 1994 on the Ideas Network of Wisconsin Public Radio. From 7:00 AM – 9:00 AM Jonathan featured conversation with authors, experts and everyday people on a variety of toimages important to Wisconsin, the nation and the world.
In 1996, Higher Ground transitioned to a new format as a 7:00-9:00PM Saturday night variety show that featured music, poetry, drama and a live audience. The new direction of the broadcast showcased Wisconsin talent through studio and remote broadcasts around the state.
On September 9, 2006 Higher Ground moved from the Ideas Network to the NPR and Classical Music Network of WPR. The new format has strong African roots and features extended studio performances and in-depth interviews with Wisconsin, regional, and international musicians. Higher Ground's mix of world music includes Salsa, Samba, Soul, Gospel, Delta Blues, Brazilian Folk, Afro-Pop, Zouk, Reggae and R&B. It's an international soul music festival on Wisconsin Public Radio.
Contact Us
Higher Ground with Jonathan Overby
821 University Avenue
Madison, WI 53706
Phone: (608) 263-4116
Fax: (608) 263-9763
Email: higherground@wpr.org
You can also email Jonathan during the actual broadcast of Higher Ground on Saturdays 7:00-10:00PM at highergroundlive@wpr.org