Jonathan Overby

Jonathan Overby is a lyric baritone known for his powerful rendition of the National Anthem, which he performs throughout the United States. His production honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is the nation's oldest state celebration of the famed civil rights leader. Before joining Wisconsin Public Radio in 1994, Overby was Music Director for the UW-Madison Campus Ministry for nearly a decade and from 1987-1992, he served as Artist-in-Residence at Edgewood College in Madison where he conducted both the Community Choir and the College Chorale. Today, Overby is the executive producer and host of Wisconsin Public Radio's statewide variety talk show, "Higher Ground", host of the "Best of Gospel" on WORT Radio in Madison and is Executive Director of Africasong Communications, a non-profit arts agency.

Recently, Overby was reappointed to his fourth term as a member of the Wisconsin Arts Board by the Governor of Wisconsin.

Overby's endeavors include concertizing as a solo artist, producing gospel events and conducting several musical ensembles including the Mt. Zion Baptist Church Male Chorus, the Lighthouse Singers, a sixteen voice choral group dedicated to the performance of culturally inclusive music and the Highway To Heaven Gospel Project, a big band with emphasis on gospel music. His forthcoming CD, "Here I Stand" will be released in December 2001 and will feature American ballads, art songs and selected spirituals.