WFDD Symphony of Brotherhood offers access to community celebrations through music

The Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend is filled with opportunities to gather—parades rolling through town, poetry shared in public spaces, and more than eight events planned across the region. But not everyone is able to attend in person, and for some, reflection happens best in quieter moments.

That’s where music steps in.

On Monday evening, listeners can honor Dr. King’s legacy from home through MLK Music Day, presented by WFDD in Winston-Salem. The featured program, A Beautiful Symphony of Brotherhood: A Musical Journey in the Life of Martin Luther King, Jr., airs Monday, January 19, at 7 p.m.

Dr. King was shaped by music long before he became a national leader. He grew up listening to and singing church songs, learning early how gospel and folk music could carry messages of hope, unity, and resistance. Those sounds followed him into the heart of the civil rights movement, becoming a steady companion to his sermons, speeches, and calls for justice.

In this hour-long special from WQXR and WNYC, host Terrance McKnight weaves together music with Dr. King’s own words, illustrating the powerful role sound and song played in his life and work. The program also highlights how musicians and the broader musical community responded to Dr. King’s vision—using their voices and instruments to echo the movement’s demand for equality and brotherhood.

For those seeking a meaningful way to mark the holiday—whether after a full weekend of events or from the quiet of home—MLK Music Day offers a reflective, soulful way to listen, remember, and connect.