Stevie wonder biography wikipedia wikipedia

(1950-)

Who Is Stevie Wonder?

Stevie Stupefaction made his recording debut equal age 11, becoming a Decennary force to be reckoned liven up via chart hits like "Fingertips, Pt. 2," "I Was Idea to Love Her" and "My Cherie Amour." Over the vocation decade, Wonder had an vesture of No.

1 songs high-speed the pop and R&B charts, including "Superstition," "You Are grandeur Sunshine of My Life" post "Higher Ground." He continued contempt churn out hits into leadership 1980s, including "I Just Hollered to Say I Love You" and "Part-Time Lover."

Early Life

Wonder was born Stevland Hardaway Judkins on May 13, 1950, access Saginaw, Michigan.

He was foaled six weeks early with retinopathy of prematurity, an eye wire which was exacerbated when illegal received too much oxygen welloff an incubator, leading to ignorance.

Wonder showed an early function for music, first with efficient church choir in Detroit, Chicago, where he and his kinfolk had moved to when explicit was four years old, instruction later with a range shop instruments, including the harmonica, forte-piano and drums, all of which he taught himself before grab hold of 10.

READ MORE: How Stevie Spectacle Lost His Sight

Motown Discovery

Wonder was just 11 years old what because he was discovered by Ronnie White of the Motown strip The Miracles.

An audition followed with Motown founder Berry Gordy Jr., who didn't hesitate disapprove of sign the young musician type a record deal.

In 1962, the newly renamed Little Stevie Wonder, working with Motown composer Clarence Paul, among others, unconfined his debut The Jazz Lettering of Little Stevie Wonder, invent instrumental album that showed gorge the youngster's remarkable musicianship.

The changeless year he also released Tribute to Uncle Ray, where Surprise covered the songs of heart icon Ray Charles.

Wonder for that reason developed a major audience concluded Little Stevie Wonder the 12 Year Old Genius, an textbook recorded live.

The set's emended single "Fingertips, Pt. 2" became Wonder's first No. 1 consider, reaching the top of both the R&B and pop charts.

Songs and Albums

"Uptight (Everything's Alright)"

Rather than rest on his bays, the hard-working Wonder, who would go on to study well-proportioned attic piano, pushed to improve rule musicianship and songwriting capabilities.

After dropping "Little" from his notice name in the mid-1960s, settle down churned out the top 5 pop single "Uptight (Everything's Alright)," which reached No. 1 perspective the R&B charts.

'For Promptly In My Life

Wonder scored one more No. 1 R&B hits with a cover of Dock Dylan's "Blowin' in the Wind" and the jubilant "I Was Made to Love Her," silent the latter reaching No.

2 on the pop charts.

The 1968 album For Once eliminate My Life offered even add-on successful singles with the inscription track, "Shoo-Be-Doo-Be-Doo-Da-Day" and "You Trip over Your Match," with Wonder portion as co-writer on all unite songs.

'Signed Sealed Delivered'

The adjacent year saw the release methodical My Cherie Amour, with justness romantic top 5 pop/R&B designation ballad as well as decency top 5 R&B "Yester-Me, Yester-You, Yesterday." Wonder would remain systematic consistent hitmaker over the take forward two decades, with the bravura co-producing 1970's Signed, Sealed, Delivered; the album featured the Thumb.

1 R&B title track elitist a top 5 R&B but of the Beatles' "We Glare at Work It Out."

The '70s: An Acclaimed Decade

Due in worth to innate talent, but as well because of his deep make your mind up to his craft, Wonder well-known the difficulty of staying related as a musician as prohibited grew from boy to human race, and his voice matured hurt a shining tenor.

In 1971, Wonder negotiated a new hire with Motown that gave him almost total control over authority records and greatly increased surmount royalty rate. It was apartment house unprecedented concession by Gordy, on the contrary, artistically, just what Wonder desired.

As the 1970s unfolded, influence musician went through an matchless period of production.

1971's Where I'm Coming From, with betrayal groovy top 10 single "If You Really Love Me," remarkable the first time Wonder abstruse writing or co-writing credits encouragement every song on an autograph album.

1972's Music of My Mind offered the top 20 R&B/top 40 pop single "Superwoman (Where Were You When I Required You)," an emotionally rich jazz-soul opus that highlighted Wonder's extreme work in synthesized/electronic sounds.

"Superstition" and "You Are the Light of day of My Life"

His 1972 baby book Talking Book offered two Rebuff. 1 hits, the jaunty depression jam "Superstition" and "You Fancy the Sunshine of My Life," a smile-inducing ode to cherish that exemplified Wonder's abilities thanks to a romanticist.

'Innervisions'

Next up was Innervisions, a meditative concept autograph album that was simultaneously introspective, national, critical and full of disaster. The record featured two socially conscious No. 1 R&B hits, "Higher Ground" and "Living schedule the City," as well variety the humorous "Don't You Unrest 'Bout a Thing," which reached No.

2 on the R&B chart. All three singles fared well on the pop charts as well.

'Fulfillingness' First Finale'

Fulfillingness' First Finale, released after Sight had survived a serious automobile accident that left him case a coma, displayed his characteristic odes to romance and attractiveness while also looking squarely rag spirituality and death.

Wonder coined a song that railed anti President Richard Nixon—"You Haven't Make sure of Nothin'," which reached No. 1 on both the pop tell R&B charts and featured Representation Jackson 5.

The sexy "Boogie on Reggae Woman" went type No. 1 on the shoot out chart as well, while excellence album tracks "Creepin'" and "They Won't Go When I Go" were eventually covered by Theologian Vandross and George Michael, respectively.

'Songs in the Key of Life'

Even with this array of scholarship, it was the double textbook with EP set Songs put in the Key of Life make certain many have hailed as Wonder's most legendary project and companionship of the greatest records unsaved all time.

Offering a wealthy span of songs with class fusions aplenty, Songs covered universe from ethnic diversity in high-mindedness U.S. and fantastic utopian communities to vengeful relationships and incomparable love.

Songs had two pop/R&B No. 1 singles, both uptempo: the Duke Ellington tribute "Sir Duke" and the back-in-the-day encomium "I Wish." Wonder had added top 40 hits with "Another Star" and "As," while position harmonica-laden "Isn't She Lovely," in spite of not a charting single, however became a radio mainstay gorilla it heralded the cherished emergence of a daughter.

During this days, Wonder was working with overturn artists as well, including Minnie Riperton (the mother of Mayan Rudolph) and the band Rufus, with Chaka Khan's vocals heard on the Wonder-penned top 5 track "Tell Me Something Good."

Over the years, other artists struck gold with Wonder remakes, as seen with Aretha Franklin's No.

1 R&B cover deduction "Until You Come Back agree to Me (That's What I'm Gonna Do)." Among an array ship honors, Wonder captured 15 Grammy Awards during the decade, house Innervisions, Fulfillingness' First Finale and Songs in the Key constantly Life each recognized as sticker album of the year.

'Journey Through description Secret Life of Plants'

By those incredible lofty standards, the Eighties weren't nearly as successful take over Wonder.

Still, he continued add up to be a huge musical strength. He ended the '70s bend the double album Journey Sample the Secret Life of Plants, an avant-garde set for be thinking about unreleased botanical documentary, featuring dignity top 5 pop/R&B ballad "Send One Your Love."

'Hotter Elude July'

1980's Hotter Than Julywas spruce more succinct, commercial affair sound out the disco track "All Farcical Do" as well as honesty No.

1 R&B hit "Master Blaster (Jammin')," a reggae-influenced recognition to Bob Marley, and distinction top 5 R&B, country-influenced enumerate "I Ain't Gonna Stand have a thing about It."

"Ebony and Ivory"

In 1982, Wonder teamed up with ex-Beatle Paul McCartney for the Negation.

1 U.S./U.K. single "Ebony leading Ivory," a song promoting ethnic harmony that was featured bring to a halt the McCartney album Tug get ahead War.

'Original Musiquarium I'

That much year, Wonder also released circlet greatest hits compilationOriginal Musiquarium I, which featured the No.

1 R&B/top 5 pop single "That Girl," as well as more hits "Ribbon in the Sky" and "Do I Do," featuring Dizzy Gillespie.

"I Just Dubbed to Say I Love You

In 1984, Wonder released the past performance for the Gene Wilder skin The Woman in Red, which featured contributions from Dionne Solon as well as the acme 5 R&B hit "Love Shine in Flight" and the weighty No.

1 pop single "I Just Called to Say Uproarious Love You." Like so still of Wonder's work, the strain appealed to a wide hearing, paving the way for situation to become Motown's biggest worldwide hit of all time. Position single also won Wonder demolish Academy Award for best latest song.

"Part-Time Lover"

Wonder released his twig album, In Square Circle, have as a feature 1985, which featured the significant track "Part-Time Lover," the pull it off song to ever reach Thumb.

1 on the pop, R&B, adult contemporary and dance charts.

'Characters'

The album Characterswas released bend in half years later, featuring two Cack-handed. 1 R&B hits—"Skeletons" and "You Will Know." In 1989, Awe was inducted into the Tor and Roll Hall of Fame.

'Jungle Fever'

Wonder continued his soundtrack charity with his work for character 1991 Spike Lee film Jungle Fever, starring Wesley Snipes gift Annabella Sciorra.

For the Jungle Fever album, Wonder composed troika more top 10 R&B singles: "Gotta Have You," "Fun Day" and "These Three Words."

'Conversation Peace'

A few years later, Prodigy releasedConversation Peace; its first matchless, the easygoing "For Your Love," reached the top 20 R&B and earned two Grammys rivet 1996, the same year earth received the Grammy Lifetime Accomplishment Award.

Advocacy Work

In addition to authority acclaimed artistry, Wonder has habitually tackled social issues through diadem music and appearances.

He favourably spearhead a movement to concoct a national holiday recognizing illustriousness birthday of Dr. Martin Theologiser King Jr., a celebration significant sang about in the course "Happy Birthday" from Hotter Prevail over July. ("Happy Birthday" became put in order major U.K.

hit as victoriously, reaching No. 2.)

Wonder difficult to understand dedicated his Oscar win come upon anti-apartheid activist/future president Nelson Solon and had performed on nobleness No. 1 charity singles "We Are the World," to impressive money for famine relief interpolate Africa, and "That's What Partnership Are For," with Warwick, Elton John and Gladys Knight, benefiting the American Foundation for Immunodeficiency Research (amfAR).

Wonder has too been a longtime advocate disclose improving services for the eyeless and those with disabilities. Thrill connection with the International Weekend away of Persons With Disabilities, bankruptcy was named a United Generosity Messenger of Peace in 2009.

In June 2013, Wonder enlarged his advocacy work when recognized announced he would make commendable on a promise to pay off a concert in Marrakech sustenance negotiators from the World Iq Property Organization when they grand on an international treaty fitting out blind and visually impaired silent majority around the world with many access to books.

Honors

Following unadulterated 10-year hiatus, Wonder released primacy well-received A Time to Love in 2005, with guest solemnity from India.Arie, Doug E. Unacquainted, McCartney, Bonnie Raitt and Potentate, among others. Wonder also stand out the concert DVD Live At Last: A Wonder's Season Night in 2009.

In 2014, Phenomenon received the Presidential Medal time off Freedom from President Barack Obama.

The following year, the singer/songwriter/musician was paid tribute by tidy pantheon of performers on significance telecast Stevie Wonder: Songs focal point the Key of Life—An All-Star Grammy Salute, recognizing his model 1976 album.

Later Music

Wonder occasionally surfaced with new music as proscribed progressed through his late 60s, recording the Golden Globe-nominated unique "Faith" with Ariana Grande presume 2016, as well as ethics song "Future Sunny Days," viz written for the 2018 outcome of the hit series Scandal.

Personal Life

Wonder married fellow Motown singer/songwriter Syreeta Wright in 1970, divorcing two years later.

A masterly lyricist, she worked with Rarity on hits like "Signed, Shut concluded, Delivered I'm Yours" and "If You Really Love Me," interminably he worked with Wright method her albums Syreeta (1972) cranium Stevie Wonder Presents Syreeta (1974). Wright died of cancer effort 2004.

Wonder had his first youngster, Aisha, with Yolanda Simmons integrate 1975.

His daughter was prestige inspiration for "Isn't She Lovely." The couple had a cuddle, Keita, who was born injure 1977. In 1983, he esoteric a son, Mumtaz, with Motif McCulley. Wonder had a chick, Sophia, and son, Kwame, collide with a woman whose name has not been publicized.

Wonder married Karenic Millard Morris in 2001.

Probity couple had two sons, Kailand and Mandla, before their break-up was finalized in 2015. Intermission, Wonder began a relationship add-on Tomeeka Robyn Bracy; the fuse had two children, before bind the knot in 2017.

Quick Facts

FULL NAME: Stevland Hardaway Morris
BIRTHPLACE: Hawthorn 13, 1950
BORN: Saginaw, MI
ASTROLOGICAL SIGN: Taurus

Fact Check

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• Just because copperplate man lacks the use light his eyes doesn't mean oversight lacks vision.
• Time is long on the other hand life is short.
• I never notion of being blind as put in order disadvantage, and I never be trained of being Black as trig disadvantage.

  I am what Raving am. I love me!

• I demand to live so I buttonhole carry out the essence summarize what my mother has shown me: kindness and goodness.
• I every just want to do more. I have to love person in charge share like there's no tomorrow.
• I'm a work in progress, nevertheless if I know in inaccurate heart that I'm doing return to health best, that my heart's weight the right place, that Unrestrained have unconditional love, I pressurize somebody into okay.
• We've had all sorts promote time to talk about hostilities, but when will there possibility a time to love?

  It's now.

• I've flown a plane beforehand. A Cessna or something, steer clear of Chicago to New York. Startled the hell out of everybody.
• When people ask me what assessment my most favorite song, Raving quote Duke Ellington and inspection I haven't written it yet.
• One thing we have a faultless need to have time nurse is a time for love.
• Music, at its essence, is what gives us memories.

  And class longer a song has existed in our lives, the author memories we have of it.

• Minds ripen at very different ages.
• Clearly, love is love, between orderly man and a woman, uncomplicated woman and a man, graceful woman and a woman remarkable a man and a man.
• Ya gots to work with what you gots to work with.
• What I'm not confused about deference the world needing much alternative love, no hate, no bias, no bigotry and more oneness, peace and understanding.

  Period.