Stevie Wonder - Biography - IMDb Stevie Wonder Biography Showing all 105 items Jump to: Overview (4) | Mini Bio (1) | Spouse (2) | Trade Mark (3) | Trivia (43) | Personal Quotes (52) Overview (4) 6' (1.83 m) Mini Bio (1) Born Stevland Hardaway Judkins in Saginaw, Michigan, United States, to Calvin Judkins and Lula Mae Hardaway. Due to being born six weeks premature, Stevie Wonder was born with a condition called retinopathy of prematurity, which made him blind. Stevie Wonder, even with this disability, made his landmark to be a pioneer and innovator in the music industry. Stevie Wonder's mother, Lula Mae Hardaway left her husband and moved herself and her children to Detroit. Due to her leaving Lula Hardaway Judkins changed her name to Lula Hardaway and changed Stevie's surname to Stevland Morris. Stevland Morris growing up played various instruments such as the piano, harmonica, drums, and bass. Stevland Morris never played a lot of outdoor activities due to his protective mother.

Stevland Morris due to his musical talent was also strongly apart of the church choir. Stevland Morris was originally discovered by Gerald White who often persuaded his brother, soul singer Ronnie White to visit the talented Stevland Morris. Ronnie White after seeing Stevland Morris brought Stevland and his mother to MoTown Records to visit Berry Gordy. Berry Gordy stated he was not impressed by Stevland's singing,or drumming,bongo skills and then he played the harmonica, which astounded Berry Gordy and Stevland Morris in 1961 at the age of eleven signed onto MoTown Records with the stage name, Little Stevie Wonder. The reason why Stevie Wonder had gotten that stage name was because many people were astounded by his ability to play numerous instruments and his ability to sing doing both at the same time, and people called Stevie "A Little Wonder". Stevie Wonder released his first album called,The Jazz Soul Of Little Stevie at the age of twelve followed by an additional album, Tribute To Uncle Ray dedicated to Ray Charles. In 1963, Stevie Wonder released a hit-song called, Fingertips Pt(2).

The song reached number one on the Billboard Pop Charts. Stevie Wonder became the first singer to have a number one album and single simultaneously. In the song were several percussion instruments played by Stevie Wonder and this song was added to the album,Recorded Live: The Twelve Year Old Genius. Stevie Wonder was then referred to as the child prodigy. Stevie Wonder in 1964 made in film debut in the movie, Muscle Beach Party as well as the sequel Bikini Beach both directed by William Asher. In this movie Stevie Wonder shows off his musical talent singing the songs, Happy Street and Happy Feeling (Dance And Shout). Stevie Wonder also dropped "Little" from this stage name as his voice started to change and he could no longer sing songs which Clarence Paul had written for him, as they were all written in a higher pitched note. Stevie Wonder then started focusing more on songwriting and came out with genuine hits like Uptight (Everything's Alright),With A Child's Heart, Blowing In The Wind, and a song which he wrote for Smokey Robinson and The Miracles, Tears Of A Clown.

Several other songs which were smashing hits in the 60's and 70's were I Was Made To Love Her, Signed Sealed And Delivered I'm Yours, which Stevie stated was an idea he had gotten from his mother,and For Once In My Life. In 1970 Stevie Wonder left MoTown and recorded two independent albums by himself. Berry Gordy was shocked to hear this by Stevie Wonder and Berry Gord agreed to Stevie Wonder's demand of more independence and full creative control and rights to all his songs. In 1972 Stevie Wonder returned to MoTown records and signed a thirteen million dollar contract with MoTown Records. This entitled Stevie Wonder to a higher royalty rate and more full creative control and the rights to his own songs, which few artists had gotten at that time period. This contract unleashed Wonder's songs to now talk about controversial issues such as poverty,war,drugs, and politics.Stevie is known for writing and performing political songs such as, You Haven't Done Nothing, which took a political stab at Richard Nixon. The first album he had released with his new agreement with MoTown was, Music Of My Mind in 1972.

In late 1972 Stevie Wonder released an album which today is known as a historic piece in music,Talking Book. Which included the number one hit-song, Superstition. This song featured the clavinet which Stevie Wonder was credited pioneer of, he later used the electric amplified keyboard instrument in many of his other albums along with the synthesizer. The song Superstition was seen as a significant contribution to the Funk genre. Talking Book also featured, You Are The Sunshine Of My Life which also peaked at number one. Stevie Wonder also toured with The Rolling Stones in 1972 which contributed to his album's success. Stevie Wonder struck a controversial issue with the album, Innervisions in 1973 with singles such as Living For The City which talked about poverty and was credited to African Americans.The album also included singles such as Golden Lady, and All Love Is Fair. On August,6, 1973 Stevie Wonder was in a car accident.

The twenty-three year old Stevie Wonder was in the passenger seat of a 1948 Dodge Flatbed Truck,he was sleeping and had his headphones on, the driver distracted by something, and failed to notice the truck ahead of them and crashed. This sent Stevie Wonder into a coma for several days. In a biography entitled, The Miraculous Journey Of Lula Mae Hardaway she retells the story, "There was a great, grinding screech as metal hit metal and, then, impossibly, as if in some lavishly produced Hollywood action movie, one of the great logs disencumbered itself of the truck and came crashing through the windshield, spearing Stevie square in the forehead." Wonder was sent to a hospital immediately after the accident, and was placed under intensive care, with what they described a "bruise on the head" Wonder then made a successful recovery and in 1974 released Fullfillingness' First Finale and which song topped number one on the Billboard Pop Charts was the political song, You Haven't Done Nothing.

By the age of twenty-five he was a multiple Grammy-Award winner, winning Grammies for albums such as Talking Book, Inner Vision, and Fullfillingness' First Finale and at the age of twenty-five with several talent musicians he was on the verge of making what came to be one of this most admirable masterpieces, an album called, Songs In The Key Of Life. The double-album, Songs In The Key Of Life was released in 1976 and the album became the first of an American artist to debut straight at number one where it remained for fourteen consecutive weeks. The album contained two tracks which rose to number one on the Billboard Charts,I Wish and Sir Duke. The album also contained an extraordinary sentimental song about his daughter Aisha Morris called,Isn't She Lovely". It also contained the song which focused strongly on poverty called, Village Ghetto Land. Rolling Stones listed the album as the 56th Greatest Album Of All Time out of 500. In 1979, Wonder released a soundtrack album called Journey Through The Secret Life Of Plants. It was featured in the film The Secret Life Of Plants.

Wonder also wrote the song,Let's Get Serious for Jermaine Jackson who left The Jacksons and was starting his own solo career. The song was ranked by Billboard to be the number one rhythm and blues song of 1980. In 1980, Stevie Wonder released the album called Hotter Than July. On this album was a song called Happy Birthday. That song was dedicated to Martin Luther King Jr, and Stevie Wonder was one of the pioneers to getting Martin Luther King Jr a national holiday. Stevie Wonder in 1985 received an Academy Award for his song, I Just Called To Say I Love in the film, The Woman In Red. In 1986, Stevie Wonder made a guest appearance on the hit-show The Cosby Show. It was during this episode in which people were astounded toward what the synthesizer could really do. In 1987 Stevie Wonder made a duet with Michael Jackson on his Bad album with the single, Just Good Friends. In the same year Michael Jackson did a duet on Stevie Wonder's characters album. In 1991, Stevie Wonder recorded a soundtrack album for Spike Lee in his new movie, Jungle Fever.

The album was entitled, Jungle Fever and the hit-song on it was entitled Jungle Fever. Other singles that came from this album were Gotta Have You,Feeding Off The Love Of The Land,and These Three Words. Stevie Wonder continued releasing new material throughout the 90's such as Natural Wonder, and Conversation Piece. In 1996 Stevie Wonder's A Song In The Key Of Life album became a documentary subject, and several of the musicians who contributed to the success of the album had a reunion. In 1997 Stevie Wonder collaborated with Babyface on the single, How Come How Long. In 2000 Stevie Wonder contributed to two sound track songs for Spike Lee's film Bamboozled. The two soundtrack songs were Misrepresented People and Some Years Ago. In 2006, Stevie Wonder's inspiration of his life, his mother, Lula Mae Hardaway died on May,31,2006.

Stevie Wonder then in 2007 announced his tour, A Wonder's Summer Night 13 concert tour- this was his first in over ten years, and he states, he wants to take all the sadness he feels,turn it around and celebrate. Stevie Wonder in 2008 was very involved in the Presidential Campaign, and why he thinks Obama will be a great president for America. Stevie Wonder talked at several press conferences about Obama and why America should vote for him. Stevie Wonder in 2009 was named the United Nations Messenger Of Peace.On February 23,2009 Stevie Wonder received the Gershwin Prize For Pop Music awarded to Stevie Wonder by Barack Obama. On June,25,2009 one of his best friends,Michael Jackson had died. Stevie Wonder attended the memorial and performed the song, Never Dreamed You'd Leave In Summer at the Staple's Center. Stevie Wonder recently in 2011 can be heard playing harmonica on Drake Graham's album Take Care.

Stevie Wonder's songs have been sampled by artists such as Jon Gibson,Red Hot Chilli Peppers,Mary J Blige and several other artists were inspired by Stevie's musical talent. Stevie Wonder will forever be known as a pioneer in music a philanthropist, and a messenger of peace addressing controversies in music which very few artists did at that time. Stevie Wonder has touched the hearts of millions through his music and his philanthropic generosity. - IMDb Mini Biography By: Peter Sean Spouse (2) Plays the chromatic harmonica Trivia (43) At age 49 he was youngest-ever recipient in the 22-year history of Kennedy Center Honors given annually for lifetime contribution to arts and culture, presented by President Bill Clinton in Wash DC, Dec. 5, 1999. Awarded the Polar Music Prize, the Royal Swedish Academy of Music Award, in 1999. Recorded an instrumental jazz album under the name "Eivets Rednow" ("Stevie Wonder" spelled backwards). At the age of 17 he performed with The Jimi Hendrix Experience playing drums at the BBC.

(Jammin'/I was made to love her, BBC Sessions) Elected to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989. His first #1 hit was the half-improvised "Fingertips - Part 2", recorded live in concert (The first live pop single to ever reach #1). It topped the Pop Music and R&B charts in 1963 when Stevie Wonder was only 12. You can the hear the musicians struggling to keep up with the young vocalist and harmonica player as he improvises rhythm and blues riffs, and at one point in the recording a musician is heard shouting "What key? What key?" Has won 21 Grammy awards (a record for most Grammy awards) He was voted the 15th Greatest Rock 'n' Roll Artist of all time by Rolling Stone. "Little Stevie" Wonder grew up to not very little at all, as he stands over 6' tall. In 1988, he announced his interest in running for mayor of Detroit in the 1992 election. However, he never followed through with a campaign.

His ex-wife, Syreeta , died of breast cancer in Los Angeles on July 6, 2004. In his acceptance speech for the Oscar for Best Song in 1984, Wonder dedicated his award to imprisoned civil rights leader Nelson Mandela . The South African government promptly banned Wonder's music from the country. He has 7 children. The last of these, Mandla Kadjaly Carl Stevland Morris, was born May 13, 2005. He was born on his 55th birthday and is his and Kai's first child. Mandla means "Powerful/Defiant" in Zulu. Kadjaly is Swahili for "Born from God" In addition to his being blind, he also has loss of smell due to a 1973 car crash in North Carolina from which he also has a scar. Shortly after reaching his 21st birthday in the spring of 1971, he became the first Motown Recording artist to gain complete artistic control of his records.

Collaborated on the 1985 smash hit "We Are the World" (USA for Africa) His 1976 song "Isn't She Lovely" (from album "Songs in the Key of Life") was dedicated to then newborn daughter Aisha whose name and "baby sounds" can be heard on the track Joined friends Dionne Warwick , Gladys Knight and Elton John on the 1986 chart-topper "That's What Friends Are For", the proceeds of which were donated to AIDS research. Also played harmonica on the recording. Oddly enough, two other vocalists introduced his 1973 smash hit "You Are the Sunshine of My Life" (from album "Talking Book") before Wonder actually sang any lyrics. Respectively, these singers were James Gilstrap and Lani Groves .

Played harmonica on Chaka Khan 's 1984 hit "I Feel For You" Wrote "Superstition" originally for friend Jeff Beck while completing his 1973 album "Talking Book." Though Beck had actually recorded the number in 1972, Motown rush-released Wonder's cut ahead of the album, and "Superstition" became his second number one hit in January 1973 Has been blind since birth Father of Aisha Morris , and Keita Morris . Son of Lula Mae Hardaway. Became the very first blind recipient of an Academy Award when his composition "I Just Called to Say I Love You" won Best Original Song from The Woman in Red (1984) soundtrack. Inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1983. Wrote the tribute for Mariah Carey 's endorsement in Time magazine's "100 Most Influential People in the World" (Artists & Entertainers section / Issue May 12, 2008). Voted the ninth greatest singer of the rock era in a Rolling Stone magazine poll in 2008.

He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Recording at 7050 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California. Received the Second Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song on February 25, 2009. Selection was announced September 2008. Friend Dizzy Gillespie played the trumpet solo on "Do I Do" from Wonder's "Musiquarium" compilation album (1982). He was nominated for a 2010 New Jersey Hall of Fame for his services and contributions to Arts and Entertainment. Named U.N. Messenger of Peace [December 2, 2009]. Dedicated his song "Sir Duke" (from "Songs in the Key of Life" (1976)) to lifelong hero Duke Ellington . Dedicated the finale of his 2008 "Live At Last" London concert to the memory of his beloved mother who had died 31 May 2006. Wonder performed his song "As" (from album "Songs in the Key of Life") to commemorate the moment.

The funky "guitar riff" that underscores most of his song "Superstition" was actually generated on a Hohner D6 Clavinet keyboard that is still, to this day, a mainstay among Wonder's array of keyboard instruments. Inducted into the Apollo Legends Hall of Fame in 2011. He is a lifelong staunch liberal Democrat. A guest at the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Concert. His song "Another Star" was chosen by BBC television as the theme tune for their coverage of the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil. Awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama 24 November 2014. Freddie Mercury once said he thought Wonder was the best ballad writer in the world. First African-American artist to win the Grammy Award for "Album of the Year" for "Innervisions" (1973). The trophy was presented by Telly Savalas and Cher (Hollywood Palladium / 2 March 1974). Personal Quotes (52) Just because a man lacks the use of his eyes doesn't mean he lacks vision. Before I ride with somebody who's been drinking, I'll drive myself. I just dig audiences.

That to me is the most worthwhile thing about this whole business. Just people coming to have a good time and letting me sing for them. I do believe in women. I really do. I am not a normal man. I am all for stem cell research. For the most part, I feel really comfortable with what I've given to the people. I want to give it to them again. First of all, I'm no better than the next person. Blind don't mean you can't, you know, listen. Time is long but life is short. Eyes lie if you ever look into them for the character of the person. Clearly, love is love, between a man and a woman, a woman and a man, a woman and a woman and a man and a man. What I'm not confused about is the world needing much more love, no hate, no prejudice, no bigotry and more unity, peace and understanding. Period. I am what I am. I love me! And I don't mean that egotistically - I love that God has allowed me to take whatever it was that I had and to make something out of it. Life has meaning only in the struggle.

Triumph or defeat is in the hands of the Gods. So let us celebrate the struggle! Ya gots to work with what you gots to work with. Minds ripen at very different ages. Do you know, it's funny, but I never thought of being blind as a disadvantage, and I never thought of being black as a disadvantage. God gave me life to continue to do things that I would never have done. Ability may get you to the top, but it takes character to keep you there. Music, at its essence, is what gives us memories. And the longer a song has existed in our lives, the more memories we have of it. You can't base your life on other people's expectations. Mama was my greatest teacher, a teacher of compassion, love and fearlessness. If love is sweet as a flower, then my mother is that sweet flower of love. You know, I always when people ask me, like, what is my most favorite song, I quote Duke Ellington, when they would ask him, what's his favorite composition? And I say, I haven't written it yet. Because, you know, there are different songs for different occasions.

This is like one thing that I've tried to do, and I think successfully, that when you realize that nothing really belongs to you, you begin to appreciate having an understanding of just where your head is at, and you feel so much better. I remember the beginnings of the Kurzweil reading machine. I was one of the first to meet Ray Kurzweil and purchase the reading machine in Boston. To think that the machine was at least two and a half large suitcases at the time, and now you have a camera and it takes a picture and you have sound. I can't say that I'm always writing in my head but I do spend a lot of time in my head writing or coming up with ideas. And what I do usually is write the music and melody and then, you know, maybe the basic idea. But when I feel that I don't have a song or just say, God, please give me another song. And I just am quiet and it happens. You know, I have seven children, so I guess I know some things about life. The right to bear arms? What about the right to live?

Sometimes I wish I could drive a car, but I'm gonna drive a car one day, so I don't worry about that. Some people have a desire to be with the same sex. But that's them. People can misconstrue closeness for love. Of course I read Braille, yes. No one has been a greater advocate for the power of love in this world than I; both in my life and in my music. My father really was not the dominant person who raised the family, it was my mother who raised the family. Let us come together before we're annihilated. I've had threats. A Biography of Steveland Judkins Morris, an American Musician | Kibin A Biography of Steveland Judkins Morris, an American Musician Sign Up & Access Essays Already a member? Login here Pages: 3 This preview is partially blurred. Sign up to view the full document. Sign Up & Access Essays Already a member? Login here End of preview Upgrade to view the full document This is an unformatted preview.

Sign up to view the full document Upgrade to view the full document Error getting document data Please contact a hrefmailtohelpkibincomhelpkibincoma berror SCA1 code zFU8ziYfb @Kibin is a lifesaver for my essay right now!! - Sandra Slivka, student @ UC Berkeley Wow, this is the best essay help I've ever received! - Camvu Pham, student @ U of M If I'd known about @Kibin in college, I would have gotten much more sleep - Jen Soust, alumni @ UCLA Stevie Wonder Biography (Singer/Songwriter) Best known as: The singer of "You Are the Sunshine of My Life" Name at birth: Stevland Judkins Songs like "Isn't She Lovely," "Superstition" and "You Are the Sunshine of My Life" won Stevie Wonder more than 20 Grammy Awards and made him one of the most popular rhythm and blues musicians of the 1960s and 1970s. Wonder grew up in Detroit, singing in church choirs and listening to early Motown music.

In 1961 he was "discovered" and signed to a Motown contract himself, taking the stage name of Little Stevie Wonder. (Wonder's blindness led to inevitable comparisons with Ray Charles , at the time an R&B superstar.) Wonder went from wunderkind to groovy young man in the late 1960s, turning out cheerful and romantic pop hits along with protest songs about Vietnam and race relations while experimenting with funky, Moog -driven electronic sounds. From 1972-76 he released five albums that are regarded as his masterworks: Music of My Mind (1972), Talking Book (1972), Innervisions (1973), Fulfillingness' First Finale (1974) and Songs in the Key of Life (1976). In the 1980s he reached elder statesman status, winning an Oscar for the pop tune "I Just Called to Say I Love You" (from the Gene Wilder movie The Woman in Red). He also emerged as a steady advocate for making the birthday of Martin Luther King a national holiday.

(It became one in 1986.) Wonder's 2005 album A Time To Love won him six more Grammy nominations, and he win for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance ("From the Bottom of My Heart"). His other albums include The 12 Year Old Genius (his first album, 1963), For Once In My Life (1968), and the retrospective Original Musiquarium (1982). He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989. Extra credit: Stevie Wonder co-wrote the music for the tune “The Tears of a Clown,” a #1 single for Smokey Robinson and The Miracles in 1970… Wonder’s birth name is the source of some confusion. His official site lists his birth name as Steveland Morris, but most sources agree his birth name was Steveland Judkins or Steveland Hardaway Judkins (his parents were Lula Hardaway and Calvin Judkins).

Other sources spell it “Stevland,” without the second “e.” We have relied on his mother’s authorized biography, Blind Faith: The Miraculous Journey of Lula Hardaway, Stevie Wonder’s Mother (2002, Simon and Schuster). The book states, “Stevland Judkins was born on May 13, 1950.” Blind Faith also says that his surname was legally changed to Morris, “an old family name,” when he signed with Motown in 1961… Wonder has been blind almost since birth. According to Contemporary Black Biography, Wonder “was blinded by a surfeit of oxygen in his incubator shortly after his premature birth”… Wonder was comatose for nearly a week after a 1973 auto accident, but recovered and continued his career… The birth of his daughter, Aisha Morris, inspired the song “Isn’t She Lovely.” Copyright © 1998-2017 by Who2?, LLC. All rights reserved. Steveland Hardaway Judkins Bio - Stevie Wonder Net Worth Steveland Hardaway Judkins Bio Read more... Stevie Wonder Stevie Wonder Net Worth is $110 Million.

Stevie Wonder was born in Michigan and has an estimated net worth of $110 million dollars. A multi-instrumentalist, composer, and songwriter, considered by many to be a genius, Stevie Wonder was signed to Mo. Stevland Hardaway Morris (bo... Stevie Wonder Net Worth is $110 Million. Stevie Wonder Net Worth is $110 Million. Stevie Wonder was born in Michigan and has an estimated net worth of $110 million dollars. A multi-instrumentalist, composer, and songwriter, considered by many to be a genius, Stevie Wonder was signed to Mo Stevland Hardaway Morris , known by his stage name Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and activist. Blind since shortly after birth, Wonder signed with Motown's Tamla label at the age of eleven, and continues to perform and record for Motown to this day. Among Wonder's best known works are singles such as "Superstition", "Sir Duke", "I Wish" and "I Just Called to Say I Love You". Well known albums also include Talking Book, Innervisions and Songs in the Key of Life.

He has recorded more than thirty U.S. top ten hits and received twenty-two Grammy Awards, the most ever awarded to a male solo artist. Wonder is also noted for his work as an activist for political causes, including his 1980 campaign to make Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday a holiday in the United States. In 2009, Wonder was named a United Nations Messenger of Peace. In 2008, Billboard magazine released a list of the Ho... Cop Fights Back Tears When He Is Finally Reunited With Injured Pit Bull He Rescued Stevie Wonder is a blind pit bull with a sweet disposition. But sadly for Stevie, he was attacked by a pack of dogs – ones he’d formerly considered family. His owner’s other dogs had bitten and scarred him up pretty badly, and the owner was so upset ... Posted: January 17, 2017, 6:51 pm Famous birthdays Jan. 15; and Stevie Wonder’s MLK birthday gift Leave it to Stevie Wonder to make something funky out of a lobbying effort.

On this day in 1981, the R&B legend performed at a rally in Washington, D.C., to press Congress for a national holiday marking Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday. No doubt the ... Posted: January 17, 2017, 3:23 pm Stevie Wonder reworks 'My Cherie Amour' lyrics for Michelle Obama Stevie Wonder visited The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on Wednesday and performed a medley of “Isn’t She Lovely” and “My Cherie Amour,” but instead of sticking to the script, the iconic star tweaked a few of the lyrics to sing to a ... Posted: January 12, 2017, 7:55 am Michael Blackson puts Sidney Starr on blast after she slides in his DMs: “Even Stevie Wonder can tell you used to be a man” [PHOTO] As if his comedy routines were no indication, Michael Blackson has zero chill. The past few hours, Michael Blackson spent them sharing his clapbacks on Instagram DMs. Everybody that came at him got it back, twice as hard. Sidney Starr has become a much ...

Posted: January 17, 2017, 9:22 pm Stevie Wonder | American singer, composer, and musician | Britannica.com American singer, composer, and musician Written By: Alternative Titles: Little Stevie Wonder, Steveland Judkins, Steveland Morris Stevie Wonder American singer, composer, and musician Also known as Stevie Wonder, original name Steveland Judkins or Steveland Morris (born May 13, 1950, Saginaw , Michigan , U.S.), American singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist, a child prodigy who developed into one of the most creative musical figures of the late 20th century. Stevie Wonder, 1994. Jeff Christensen—Reuters/© Archive Photos Blind from birth and raised in inner-city Detroit, he was a skilled musician by age eight. Renamed Little Stevie Wonder by Berry Gordy, Jr. , the president of Motown Records—to whom he was introduced by Ronnie White, a member of the Miracles—Wonder made his recording debut at age 12.

The soulful quality of his high-pitched singing and the frantic harmonica playing that characterized his early recordings were evident in his first hit single, “ Fingertips (Part 2), ” recorded during a show at Chicago’s Regal Theatre in 1963. But Wonder was much more than a freakish prepubescent imitation of Ray Charles , as audiences discovered when he demonstrated his prowess with piano, organ , harmonica, and drums. By 1964 he was no longer described as “Little,” and two years later his fervent delivery of the pounding soul of “ Uptight (Everything’s Alright), ” which he also had written, suggested the emergence of both an unusually compelling performer and a composer to rival Motown’s stable of skilled songwriters. (He had already cowritten, with Smokey Robinson , “ The Tears of a Clown. ”) Over the next five years Wonder had hits with “ I Was Made to Love Her, ” “ ” (both cowritten with producer Henry Cosby), and “ For Once in My Life, ” songs that suited dancers as well as lovers.

Where I’m Coming From, an album released in 1971, hinted not merely at an expanded musical range but, in its lyrics and its mood, at a new introspection. Music of My Mind (1972) made his concerns even more plain. In the interim he had been strongly influenced by Marvin Gaye ’s What’s Going On, the album in which his Motown stablemate moved away from the label’s “hit factory” approach to confront the divisive social issues of the day. Any anxieties Gordy may have felt about his protégé’s declaration of independence were amply calmed by the run of recordings with which Wonder obliterated the competition in the mid-1970s. Those albums produced a steady stream of classic hit songs, among them “ Superstition, You Are the Sunshine of My Life, ” “ Ringling Bros. Folds Its Tent Although still only in his mid-20s, Wonder appeared to have mastered virtually every idiom of African-American popular music and to have synthesized them all into a language of his own.

His command of the new generation of electronic keyboard instruments made him a pioneer and an inspiration to rock musicians, the inventiveness of his vocal phrasing was reminiscent of the greatest jazz singers, and the depth and honesty of his emotional projection came straight from the black church music of his childhood. Such a fertile period was unlikely to last forever, and it came to an end in 1979 with a fey and overambitious extended work called Stevie Wonder’s Journey Through the Secret Life of Plants. Thereafter his recordings became sporadic and often lacked focus, although his concerts were never less than rousing. The best of his work formed a vital link between the classic rhythm-and-blues and soul performers of the 1950s and ’60s and their less commercially constrained successors. Yet, however sophisticated his music became, he was never too proud to write something as apparently slight as the romantic gem “ I Just Called to Say I Love You ” (1984). He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989 and received a Grammy Award for lifetime achievement in 2005.

In 2009 Wonder was awarded the Gershwin Prize for Popular Song from the Library of Congress . Stevie Wonder. Stevie Wonder Page b. Steveland Hardaway Judkins, 13th May 1950, Saginaw, Michigan, U.S.A. Stevie Wonder has been a major figure within the Black Music scene over the last fifty years. Stevie Wonder was born Steveland Judkins, however, he now prefers to be known as Steveland Morris after his mother's married name. stevie with his mother Placed in an incubator immediately after his birth, baby Steveland was thought to have been given too much oxygen at birth, however he was suffering from Retinopathy of Prematurity (R.O.P.). In fact, without the oxygen that he received he would not be here. The cause was the prematurity of the eye. Blood vessels in the back of the eye had not reached the front of the eye thus when he was born, prematurely, that growth temporarly halted then wildly took off branching out into the Vitreous of the eye.

When it reached a certain point it caused scar tissue to pull at the retina eventually causing the retina to detach. (that piece of information was sent to me by a mother, who has a daughter suffering from the same condition as Stevie. I would like to thank that mother and send my best wishes to her daughter) Despite this handicap, he began to learn the piano at the age of seven, and had also mastered drums and harmonica by the age of nine. After his family moved to Detroit in 1954, Steveland joined a church choir, musically juxtaposed by the R & B of Ray Charles and Sam Cooke . In 1961, he was discovered by Ronnie White of the Miracles , who arranged an audition at Motown Records . Berry Gordy immediately signed Steveland to the label. clarence paul with a young stevie Clarence Paul came up with the 'Wonder' surname stating that 'We can't keep introducing him as the '8th Wonder Of The World'. Stevie was placed in the care of writer / producer Clarence Paul , who supervised his early recordings. These helped him develop his talents as a multi-instrumentalist, but did not indicate a clear musical direction.

the jazz soul of little stevie - 1962 / tribute to uncle ray - 1962 / the 12 year old genius - 1963 / with a song in my heart - 1963 In 1962, the release of the live recording 'Fingertips' established his commercial success, and Motown quickly marketed him on a series of albums as 'the 12-year-old genius' in an attempt to link him with the popularity of 'the late genius', Ray Charles . Attempts to repeat the success of 'Fingertips' proved difficult, and Wonder's career was placed on hold during 1964 while his voice was breaking. stevie at the beach - 1964 / up-tight - 1966 / down to earth - 1966 / i was made to love her - 1967 He re-emerged in 1965 with a sound that was much closer to the Motown mainstream, achieving a worldwide hit with 'Uptight (Everything's Alright)', which he co-wrote with Henry 'Hank' Cosby and Sylvia Moy. This began a run of U.S.

Top 40 hits that continued unbroken (apart from seasonal Christmas releases) for over six years. someday at christmas - 1967 / for once in my life - 1968 / my cherie amour - 1969 / live - 1970 From 1965-70, Stevie Wonder was marketed like the other major Motown stars, recording material that was chosen for him by the label's executives, and issuing albums that mixed conventional soul compositions with pop standards. Stevie also recorded his versions of Bob Dylan's 'Blowin ln The Wind' and Ron Miller's 'A Place In The Sun' in 1966. He co-wrote almost all of his singles from 1967 onwards, and also began to collaborate on releases by other Motown artists, most notably co-writing Smokey Robinson And The Miracles ' hit 'The Tears Of A Clown', and writing and producing the (Motown) Spinners ' 'It's A Shame'.

signed, sealed, delivered - 1970 / where i'm coming from - 1971 His contract with Motown expired in 1971, rather than re-signing immediately, as the label expected, Stevie financed the recording of two albums of his own material, playing almost all the instruments himself, and experimenting for the first time with more ambitious musical formats. He pioneered the use of the synthesizer in Black Music, and also broadened his lyrical concerns to incompass racial problems and spiritual questions. Stevie then used these recordings as a lever to persuade Motown to offer a more open contract, which gave him total artistic control over his music, plus the opportunity to hold the rights to the music publishing with his own company, Black Bull Music. The signing of the contract with the release of the solo recordings 'Where I'm Coming From' and 'Music Of My Mind', which, despite lukewarm critical reaction in the British music media, quickly established him at the forefront of, not only, Black music, but mainstream music generally.

music of my mind - 1972 / talking book - 1972 / innervisions - 1973 / fulfillingness first finale - 1974 'Talking Book', in 1972, combined the technological advances of recent albums with major commercial success, producing hit singles from the driving 'Superstition', to the ballad standard 'You Are The Sunshine Of My Life'. with tonto's expanding head band ('living for the city' session) 'Innervisions' (1973) consolidated the growth and success of 'Talking Book', bringing further hit singles with the socially aware 'Living For The City' and 'Higher Ground'. malcolm cecil and robert margouleff For the former release, Stevie enlisted the programming skills of the Malcolm Cecil and Robert Margouleff. Their group, Tonto's Expanding Head Band, Stevie had become interested in, regarding their creative use of synthesisers on their own recordings. Tragedy struck later that year, when Stevie was seriously injured in a car accident.

The release of 'Fulfillingness First Finale' in 1974 realised a more thoughtful and spiritual approach to his music, showcased by the impressive 'Heaven Is 10 Zillion Light Years Away'. 'Fulfillingness' also featured 'Boogie On Reggae Woman', 'Creepin', 'They Won't Go When I Go', 'Bird Of Beauty' and 'You Haven't Done Nothin'. with syreeta Stevie married fellow Motown artist Syreeta on 14th September 1970, and showcased many of his new production techniques on 'Syreeta' (1972) and 'Stevie Wonder Presents Syreeta' (1974), for which he also wrote, or co-wrote, most of the material. The album featured the popular songs 'I'm Going Left', 'Spinnin' and Spinnin' and 'Your Kiss Is Sweet'.

songs in the key of life - 1976 / journey through the secret life of plants - 1979 / hotter than july - 1980 / original musiquarium - 1982 The double album 'Songs In The Key Of Life', in 1976, was widely greeted as his most ambitious and satisfying work to date. It demonstrated a mastery and variety of musical forms and instruments, offering a tribute to Duke Ellington on 'Sir Duke', and paying tribute to major black figures on 'Black Man'. Surprisingly, following on from this enormous success, no new recordings surfaced for over three years, as Stevie concentrated on perfecting the soundtrack music to the documentary film 'The Secret Life Of Plants'. This primarily instrumental double album was greeted with disappointing reviews and sales. Stevie quickly delivered the highly successful, 'Hotter Than July' in 1980, which included a tribute song to the late Dr. Martin Luther King, 'Happy Birthday', and 'All I Do'.

After compiling the retrospective double album 'Stevie Wonder's Original Musiquarium' in 1982, which included four new recordings (including 'Do I Do' and 'Ribbon In The Sky') alongside the cream of his post-1971 work, Stevie scheduled an album entitled 'People Move Human Play' in 1983. the woman in red - 1984 / in square circle - 1985 / characters - 1987 / jungle fever - 1991 This never appeared, instead, he composed the soundtrack music for the film 'The Woman In Red', which oddly included his biggest-selling single to date, the MOR ballad, 'I Just Called To Say I Loved You'. The album on which he had been working since 1980 eventually appeared in 1985 as 'In Square Circle'. His status as an elder statesman of bIack music, and as a champion of black rights, was boosted by his campaign in the early 80's to have the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King celebrated as a national holiday in the U.S.A.

This request was granted by the late President Reagan, and the first Martin Luther King Day was celebrated on 15th January 1986 with a concert at which Wonder topped the bill. Like his next project, 'Characters', in 1987, the album represented a return to the accessible, melodic music of the previous decade. Stevie was then inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 1989. Stevie has been generous in offering his services as a writer, producer, singer and musician to other performers. His most public collaborations included work with Paul McCartney, which produced the hit, 'Ebony And Ivory', Gary Byrd, Michael Jackson and the Eurythmics, and on the benefit records by U.S.A. For Africa and Dionne Warwick & Friends. 'Conversation Peace' was released in in 1995, an album featuring 'Sensuous Whisper' (featuring Anita Baker , amongst others) and 'I'm New' (featuring Take 6 and Deniece Williams ).

On the 3rd of December 1999 a story appeared from Reuters which read: 'American pop superstar Stevie Wonder told fellow worshippers at a church service in Detroit December 2 that he is to undergo an operation that would enable him to see again. Wonder hopes to have the operation, which involves the insertion of a microchip in his eye, at Baltimore's John Hopkins University's Wilmer Eye Institute.' His songs can be heard on Spike Lee's movie 'Bamboozled, entitled 'Misrepresented People' and 'Some Years Ago' and represented a return to Stevie's political commentary. conversation peace - 1995 / a time 2 love - 2005 After the September 11th disaster that year, he recorded with the group Take 6 on a version of 'Love's In Need Of Love Today', dedicated to those who passed away that day. Stevie returned to recording in 2005 with the album 'A Time 2 Love'. A single entitled 'So What The Fuss' was released prior to the album, which also featured, the popular 'Sweetest Somebody I Know', 'Moon Blue', and the radio friendly 'My Love Is On Fire'.

The album featured an impressive supporting cast, including Hubert & Debra Laws , Kirk Franklin, Doug E. Fresh, Narada Michael Walden , En Vogue, Greg Phillinganes , Bonnie Raitt, Paul McCartney, and the recently passed artist, Prince . Stevie also appeared at the Live 8 U.S. concert in 2005, where he paid his respect to the late Luther Vandross and also performed at the man's funeral. Stevie Wonder re-married, in 2012, to Tomeeka Robyn Bracy. He was previously married to the fashion designer Kai Millard Morris. Stevie Wonder has been, probably, the most inspirational and influential Black Music artist over the last 5 decades. Stevie Wonder (Author of The Stevie Wonder Anthology) edit data Stevie Wonder (born Steveland Hardaway Judkins, name later changed to Steveland Hardaway Morris) is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and record producer.

A prominent figure of 20th century popular music, Wonder has recorded more than thirty top ten hits, won twenty-five Grammy Awards (a record for a solo artist), plus one for lifetime achievement, won an Academy Award for Best Song and been inducted into both the Rock and Roll and Songwriters halls of fame. Blind from infancy, Wonder signed with Motown Records as a pre-adolescent at age twelve, and continues to perform and record for the label to this day. He has nine U.S. number-one hits to his name and album sales totaling more than 100 million units. Wonder has record Stevie Wonder (born Steveland Hardaway Judkins, name later changed to Steveland Hardaway Morris) is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and record producer. A prominent figure of 20th century popular music, Wonder has recorded more than thirty top ten hits, won twenty-five Grammy Awards (a record for a solo artist), plus one for lifetime achievement, won an Academy Award for Best Song and been inducted into both the Rock and Roll and Songwriters halls of fame.

Blind from infancy, Wonder signed with Motown Records as a pre-adolescent at age twelve, and continues to perform and record for the label to this day. He has nine U.S. number-one hits to his name and album sales totaling more than 100 million units. Wonder has recorded several critically acclaimed albums and hit singles, and writes and produces songs for many of his label mates and outside artists as well. A multi-instrumentalist, Wonder plays the piano, synthesizer, talk box, harmonica, congas, drums, bongos, bass guitar, organ, melodica, and clarinet. In his early career, he was best known for his harmonica work, but today he is better known for his keyboard skills.

Question: Which singer/musician was born Steveland Judkins?
Answer: Stevie Wonder