The push for a federal Martin Luther King Jr. holiday began almost immediately after Dr. King’s assassination in April 1968, when the late Representative John Conyers introduced the first motion to make King’s birthday a federal holiday. Yet it would take another 11 years for the proposal to reach the floor of the House of Representatives for a vote in 1979. When the bill fell just five votes short of the two-thirds majority needed to pass, it was music that helped galvanize the nation.

In the world of music, few names resonate quite like that of Steely Dan. Often cited by critics as one of their finest works, Pretzel Logic — their third album — marks a significant evolution in their musical journey. In honor of its 50th anniversary, on this episode of Milestones we delve into the landmark album with GRAMMY winning guitarist Isaiah Sharkey, whose admiration for Steely Dan runs deep.

Lee Morgan's The Sidewinder is 60

The family of Max Roach discusses their iconic dad during centennial year

Pianist, composer, educator and advocate Bertha Hope-Booker, joins us to discuss her fascinating musical journey -- including her recording career and her legacy and preservation work. With a career spanning over six decades, we take a deep dive into the early years that brought her from Los Angeles to New York City, the keys to developing her own sound, the best advice she received from Philly Joe Jones and Johnny Griffin, and her thoughts on being an inspiration to women in jazz.

Legendary pianist, composer, arranger, and contemporary jazz giant Bob James joins Milestones as we delve into his experimental CTI debut, One, for its 50th anniversary.

Season 3 Episode 1: Soundtracking Society: Brian Jackson Talks Winter in America at 50

In Part Two of our special Isley Brothers celebration, award winning vocalist, instrumentalist, producer, composer, and cultural historian TL Cross is back to help unpack the genius of The Isley Brothers' 1973 classic '3+3.'

In Part One of this episode of the Milestones podcast, host Angelika Beener talks with vocalist, instrumentalist, producer, composer, and cultural historian TL Cross about the legacy of The Isley Brothers.