Photos: BAM|Wikimedia Commons
Brooklyn, NY/April 27, 2026—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, May 14–16. Conceived of and executive produced by PoetWarrior Productions in association with the Black Rock Coalition (BRC), the once-in-a-lifetime concerts feature five albums that together represent one of the most remarkable achievements in the history of American music.
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 is part of the Black Masters Concert Series, founded and executive produced by Darrell M. McNeill for PoetWarrior Productions.
Tickets are on sale now at BAM.org.
Stevie: A Life in the Key of Songs
Celebrating Five Albums That Defined Music History: Music of My Mind, Talking Book, Innervisions, Fulfillingness’ First Finale, and Songs in the Key of Life, May 14–16
Stevie: A Life in the Key of Songs
The BRC Orchestra
Music Direction by Darrell M. McNeill and LaFrae Sci
May 14—16, 2026
Thursday, May 14, 2026, 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, 2026, 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, 2026, 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
BAM Howard Gilman Opera House
30 Lafayette Ave, Brooklyn, NY
Tickets start at $25
The Artists
The BRC Orchestra features an extraordinary assembly of musicians, vocalists, and special guests across the three-night run. Music direction is led by Darrell M. McNeill, executive producer, conceptualist, co-music director, and bassist, and LaFrae Sci, co-director, drums, percussion, and electronics. The Family Stand features Sandra St. Victor, vocals; Peter Lord, vocals and keyboards; and V. Jeffrey Smith, vocals, saxophones, flutes, and guitar. Vocalists include Shelley Nicole, vocals and vocal director; Bruce Mack, vocals; Miss Olithea, vocals; Xavier Smith, vocals; and Kelsey Warren, vocals. Instrumentalists include Larry “L.A.” Blacksmith, saxophones; Tyrone Cox, trumpet; Leon Gruenbaum, keyboards, effects, samchillian, and vocoder; Marcus Machado, guitars; Gregoire Maret, harmonica; and Daniel Sadownick, percussion. Featured artists include Corey Glover (Living Colour), vocals; Vernon Reid (Living Colour), guitars; Ray Angry, keyboards; David Ryan Harris, vocals and guitars; and Mark Whitfield, guitars.
