Remember the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with songs and his speeches

January 16, 2025
by Eugenie Jaffe
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This Monday, January 20 from 7am to 7pm we remember and celebrate the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Throughout the day hear excerpts from some of his greatest speeches, music inspired by the Civil Rights Movement and songs of hope and freedom.

Martin Luther King, Jr. was born January 15, 1929. In 1981 President Ronald Regan signed into law a federal holiday to honor the most prominent leader in the Civil Rights Movement. The legislation to recognize Martin Luther King Jr. Day was first introduced just four days after his assassination on April 4, 1968. Still, it would take 15 years of persistence by civil rights activists for the holiday to be approved by the federal government and an additional 17 years for it to be recognized in all 50 states. Today, it is the only federal holiday designated as a national day of service to encourage all Americans to volunteer and improve their communities.

Part of the succes of creating Martin Luther King Day is directly linked to musician Stevie Wonder. The Motown singer and songwriter’s 1980 album “Hotter Than July” featured the song “Happy Birthday,” which served as an ode to King's vision and a rallying cry for recognition of his achievements with a national holiday.

Here are some songs that have been inspired by Dr. King and help us to keep the dream alive, not only on his day, but every day.

U2 / Pride in the Name of Love
"Early morning, April 4th
Shot rings out in the Memphis sky
Free at last, they took your life
They could not take your pride"

Stevie Wonder / Happy Birthday
"We know the key to unify all people
Is in the dream that you had so long ago
That lives in all of the hearts of people
That believe in unity
We'll make the dream become a reality
I know we will
Because our hearts tell us so"

Common & John Legend / Glory
"King pointed to the mountain top and we ran up
One day when the glory comes
It will be ours, it will be ours
Oh one day when the war is won
We will be sure, we will be sure Oh glory"

Mahalia Jackson / How I Got Over
Ms. Jackson sang this song on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial berfore Dr. Martin Luther King delivered his "I Have a Dream" speech.

Mavis Staples / Freedom Highway
"March for freedom's highway
March each and every day
Made up my mind and I won't turn around
There is just one thing
I can't understand my friend.
Why some folk think freedom
Was not designed for all men."

Patty Griffin / Made It Up the Mountain

James Brown / I'm Black and I'm Proud
Recorded in August 1968 in a Los Angeles suburb with the help of 30 children from the Watts and Compton neighborhoods, the song became the unofficial anthem for the Black Power Movement.

We Shall Overcome
The anthem for the civil rights movement. Pete Seeger's version was the first song ever to be played on KRCL. Here's Joan Baez from 1963.