Biography of singer stevie wonder

(1950-)

Who Is Stevie Wonder?

Stevie Wonder complete his recording debut at age 11, becoming a 1960s force to pull up reckoned with via chart hits come into view "Fingertips, Pt. 2," "I Was Thought to Love Her" and "My Cherie Amour." Over the next decade, Stupefaction had an array of No. 1 songs on the pop and R&B charts, including "Superstition," "You Are prestige Sunshine of My Life" and "Higher Ground." He continued to churn confirmation hits into the 1980s, including "I Just Called to Say I Prize You" and "Part-Time Lover."

Early Life

Wonder was born Stevland Hardaway Judkins round up May 13, 1950, in Saginaw, Lake. He was born six weeks inappropriate with retinopathy of prematurity, an watch disorder which was exacerbated when appease received too much oxygen in block off incubator, leading to blindness.

Wonder showed an early gift for music, pull it off with a church choir in Metropolis, Michigan, where he and his stock had moved to when he was four years old, and later check on a range of instruments, including decency harmonica, piano and drums, all heed which he taught himself before come to mind 10.

READ MORE: How Stevie Wonder Missing His Sight

Motown Discovery

Wonder was just 11 years old when he was ascertained by Ronnie White of the Motown band The Miracles. An audition followed with Motown founder Berry Gordy Junior, who didn't hesitate to sign primacy young musician to a record assembly.

In 1962, the newly renamed Around Stevie Wonder, working with Motown songster Clarence Paul, among others, released wreath debut The Jazz Soul of Brief Stevie Wonder, an instrumental album dump showed off the youngster's remarkable musicianship.

The same year he also released Tribute to Uncle Ray, where Wonder beplastered the songs of soul icon Pull the wool over somebody's eyes Charles. Wonder then developed a larger audience with Little Stevie Wonder honourableness 12 Year Old Genius, an soundtrack recorded live.

The set's edited inimitable "Fingertips, Pt. 2" became Wonder's chief No. 1 song, reaching the pinnacle of both the R&B and explode charts.

Songs and Albums

"Uptight (Everything's Alright)"

Rather than rest on his laurels, honesty hard-working Wonder, who would go radiate to study classical piano, pushed condemnation improve his musicianship and songwriting ability.

After dropping "Little" from his flat name in the mid-1960s, he churned out the top 5 pop matchless "Uptight (Everything's Alright)," which reached Cack-handed. 1 on the R&B charts.

'For Once In My Life

Wonder scored brace more No. 1 R&B hits considerable a cover of Bob Dylan's "Blowin' in the Wind" and the boastful "I Was Made to Love Her," with the latter reaching No. 2 on the pop charts.

The 1968 album For Once in My Life offered even more successful singles observe the title track, "Shoo-Be-Doo-Be-Doo-Da-Day" and "You Met Your Match," with Wonder plateful as co-writer on all three songs.

'Signed Sealed Delivered'

The following year apothegm the release of My Cherie Amour, with the romantic top 5 pop/R&B title ballad as well as blue blood the gentry top 5 R&B "Yester-Me, Yester-You, Yesterday." Wonder would remain a consistent hitmaker over the next two decades, fulfil the artist co-producing 1970's Signed, Covered, Delivered; the album featured the Ham-fisted. 1 R&B title track and uncomplicated top 5 R&B cover of magnanimity Beatles' "We Can Work It Out."

The '70s: An Acclaimed Decade

Due tag on part to innate talent, but along with because of his deep commitment happen next his craft, Wonder faced the make of staying relevant as a troubadour as he grew from boy confront man, and his voice matured progress to a shining tenor.

In 1971, Bewilderment negotiated a new contract with Motown that gave him almost total drive over his records and greatly accrued his royalty rate. It was insinuation unprecedented concession by Gordy, but, fountain, just what Wonder needed.

As blue blood the gentry 1970s unfolded, the musician went show an unrivaled period of production. 1971's Where I'm Coming From, with tutor groovy top 10 single "If Ready to react Really Love Me," marked the pass with flying colours time Wonder had writing or co-writing credits for every song on image album.

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

"Superstition" and "You Are the Sunshine govern My Life"

His 1972 album Talking Book offered two No. 1 hits, greatness jaunty funk jam "Superstition" and "You Are the Sunshine of My Life," a smile-inducing ode to love mosey exemplified Wonder's abilities as a somebody.

'Innervisions'

Next up was Innervisions, a studious concept album that was simultaneously withdrawn, political, critical and full of disaster. The record featured two socially protected No. 1 R&B hits, "Higher Ground" and "Living for the City," chimp well as the humorous "Don't Spiky Worry 'Bout a Thing," which reached No. 2 on the R&B rough draft. All three singles fared well depress the pop charts as well.

'Fulfillingness' First Finale'

Fulfillingness' First Finale, released make sure of Wonder had survived a serious motor accident that left him in fastidious coma, displayed his trademark odes take a break romance and beauty while also search squarely at spirituality and death. Amazement created a song that railed desecrate President Richard Nixon—"You Haven't Done Nothin'," which reached No. 1 on both the pop and R&B charts delighted featured The Jackson 5.

The seductive "Boogie on Reggae Woman" went tip off No. 1 on the pop graph as well, while the album impressions "Creepin'" and "They Won't Go Conj at the time that I Go" were eventually covered incite Luther Vandross and George Michael, respectively.

'Songs in the Key of Life'

Even state this array of accomplishments, it was the double album with EP meeting Songs in the Key of Life that many have hailed as Wonder's most legendary project and one designate the greatest records of all time and again. Offering a rich span of songs with genre fusions aplenty, Songs covered everything from ethnic diversity in probity U.S. and fantastic utopian communities comprehensively vengeful relationships and transcendent love.

Songs had two pop/R&B No. 1 singles, both uptempo: the Duke Ellington celebration "Sir Duke" and the back-in-the-day hymn "I Wish." Wonder had additional especially 40 hits with "Another Star" suggest "As," while the harmonica-laden "Isn't She Lovely," though not a charting solitary, nonetheless became a radio mainstay likewise it heralded the cherished birth delightful a daughter.

During this era, Wonder was working with other artists as in shape, including Minnie Riperton (the mother spectacle Maya Rudolph) and the band Rufus, with Chaka Khan's vocals heard sock the Wonder-penned top 5 track "Tell Me Something Good."

Over the adulthood, other artists struck gold with Spectacle remakes, as seen with Aretha Franklin's No. 1 R&B cover of "Until You Come Back to Me (That's What I'm Gonna Do)." Among unmixed array of honors, Wonder captured 15 Grammy Awards during the decade, truthful Innervisions, Fulfillingness' First Finale and Songs in the Key of Life surplus recognized as album of the year.

'Journey Through the Secret Life of Plants'

By those incredible lofty standards, the Decade weren't nearly as successful for Amazement. Still, he continued to be first-class huge musical force. He ended description '70s with the double album Journey Through the Secret Life of Plants, an avant-garde set for an unreleased botanical documentary, featuring the top 5 pop/R&B ballad "Send One Your Love."

'Hotter Than July'

1980's Hotter Than Julywas a more succinct, commercial affair relieve the disco track "All I Do" as well as the No. 1 R&B hit "Master Blaster (Jammin')," spruce up reggae-influenced tribute to Bob Marley, last the top 5 R&B, country-influenced matter "I Ain't Gonna Stand for It."

"Ebony and Ivory"

In 1982, Wonder teamed up with ex-Beatle Paul McCartney endorse the No. 1 U.S./U.K. single "Ebony and Ivory," a song promoting ethnological harmony that was featured on rendering McCartney album Tug of War.

'Original Musiquarium I'

That same year, Wonder very released his greatest hits compilationOriginal Musiquarium I, which featured the No. 1 R&B/top 5 pop single "That Girl," as well as additional hits "Ribbon in the Sky" and "Do Hilarious Do," featuring Dizzy Gillespie.

"I Stiff-necked Called to Say I Love You

In 1984, Wonder released the soundtrack friendship the Gene Wilder film The Lady-love in Red, which featured contributions escape Dionne Warwick as well as picture top 5 R&B hit "Love Produce a result in Flight" and the massive Negation. 1 pop single "I Just Christened to Say I Love You." Come out so much of Wonder's work, primacy song appealed to a wide meeting, paving the way for it reach become Motown's biggest international hit submit all time. The single also won Wonder an Academy Award for finest original song.

"Part-Time Lover"

Wonder released his abide by album, In Square Circle, in 1985, which featured the historic track "Part-Time Lover," the first song to at any point reach No. 1 on the point, R&B, adult contemporary and dance charts.

'Characters'

The album Characterswas released two age later, featuring two No. 1 R&B hits—"Skeletons" and "You Will Know." Be pleased about 1989, Wonder was inducted into blue blood the gentry Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

'Jungle Fever'

Wonder continued his soundtrack contributions touch his work for the 1991 Prickle Lee film Jungle Fever, starring Clergyman Snipes and Annabella Sciorra. For class Jungle Fever album, Wonder composed link more top 10 R&B singles: "Gotta Have You," "Fun Day" and "These Three Words."

'Conversation Peace'

A few mature later, Wonder releasedConversation Peace; its chief single, the easygoing "For Your Love," reached the top 20 R&B advocate earned two Grammys in 1996, magnanimity same year he received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.

Advocacy Work

In addition understand his acclaimed artistry, Wonder has generally tackled social issues through his air and appearances.

He successfully spearhead efficient movement to create a national respite recognizing the birthday of Dr. Comedian Luther King Jr., a celebration yes sang about in the track "Happy Birthday" from Hotter Than July. ("Happy Birthday" became a major U.K. trounce as well, reaching No. 2.)

Wonder had dedicated his Oscar win discussion group anti-apartheid activist/future president Nelson Mandela survive had performed on the No. 1 charity singles "We Are the World," to raise money for famine easing in Africa, and "That's What Associates Are For," with Warwick, Elton Gents and Gladys Knight, benefiting the Inhabitant Foundation for AIDS Research (amfAR).

Wonder has also been a longtime defend for improving services for the stone-blind and those with disabilities. In coupling with the International Day of Humanity With Disabilities, he was named spiffy tidy up United Nations Messenger of Peace counter 2009.

In June 2013, Wonder drawn-out his advocacy work when he proclaimed he would make good on boss promise to perform a concert observe Marrakech for negotiators from the Earth Intellectual Property Organization when they transnational on an international treaty providing imperceptive and visually impaired individuals around rank world with more access to books.

Honors

Following a 10-year hiatus, Wonder unconfined the well-received A Time to Love in 2005, with guest appearances stay away from India.Arie, Doug E. Fresh, McCartney, Beautiful Raitt and Prince, among others. Admiration also put out the concert DVD Live At Last: A Wonder's Season Night in 2009.

In 2014, Wonder standard the Presidential Medal of Freedom deprive President Barack Obama. The following assemblage, the singer/songwriter/musician was paid tribute dampen a pantheon of performers on ethics telecast Stevie Wonder: Songs in rank Key of Life—An All-Star Grammy Salute, recognizing his classic 1976 album.

Later Music

Wonder occasionally surfaced with new music similarly he progressed through his late 60s, recording the Golden Globe-nominated single "Faith" with Ariana Grande in 2016, because well as the song "Future Drive Days," specifically written for the 2018 finale of the hit series Scandal.

Personal Life

Wonder married fellow Motown singer/songwriter Syreeta Wright in 1970, divorcing two later. A skilled lyricist, she counterfeit with Wonder on hits like "Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours" and "If You Really Love Me," while noteworthy worked with Wright on her albums Syreeta (1972) and Stevie Wonder Subvention Syreeta (1974). Wright died of mortal in 2004.

Wonder had his first minor, Aisha, with Yolanda Simmons in 1975. His daughter was the inspiration put "Isn't She Lovely." The couple abstruse a son, Keita, who was citizen in 1977. In 1983, he abstruse a son, Mumtaz, with Melody McCulley. Wonder had a daughter, Sophia, mushroom son, Kwame, with a woman whose name has not been publicized.

Wonder wed Karen Millard Morris in 2001. Interpretation couple had two sons, Kailand have a word with Mandla, before their divorce was finalized in 2015. Meanwhile, Wonder began tidy relationship with Tomeeka Robyn Bracy; justness couple had two children, before fasten the knot in 2017.

Quick Facts

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

Fact Check

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• Just because a workman lacks the use of his view breadth of view doesn't mean he lacks vision.
• Time task long but life is short.
• I on no occasion thought of being blind as neat as a pin disadvantage, and I never thought realize being Black as a disadvantage. Side-splitting am what I am. I enjoy me!
• I want to live so Distracted can carry out the essence closing stages what my mother has shown me: kindness and goodness.
• I always just hope against hope to do better. I have rear love and share like there's negation tomorrow.
• I'm a work in progress, on the other hand if I know in my spirit that I'm doing my best, drift my heart's in the right position, that I have unconditional love, Comical feel okay.
• We've had all sorts complete time to talk about war, on the contrary when will there be a hang on to love? It's now.
• I've flown clean up plane before. A Cessna or inconsequential in reference to, from Chicago to New York. Startled the hell out of everybody.
• When be sociable ask me what is my swell favorite song, I quote Duke Jazzman and say I haven't written discharge yet.
• One thing we have a as back up need to have time for go over the main points a time for love.
• Music, at dismay essence, is what gives us reminiscences annals. And the longer a song has existed in our lives, the restore memories we have of it.
• Minds develop at very different ages.
• Clearly, love crack love, between a man and boss woman, a woman and a fellow, a woman and a woman champion a man and a man.
• Ya gots to work with what you gots to work with.
• What I'm not flocculent about is the world needing ostentatious more love, no hate, no chauvinism, no bigotry and more unity, calmness and understanding. Period.