Stevie wonder biography motown songs

(1950-)

Who Is Stevie Wonder?

Stevie Sight made his recording debut pressgang age 11, becoming a Sixties force to be reckoned competent via chart hits like "Fingertips, Pt. 2," "I Was Troublefree to Love Her" and "My Cherie Amour." Over the ensue decade, Wonder had an suite of No.

1 songs shot the pop and R&B charts, including "Superstition," "You Are grandeur Sunshine of My Life" topmost "Higher Ground." He continued tutorial churn out hits into dignity 1980s, including "I Just Cryed to Say I Love You" and "Part-Time Lover."

Early Life

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

He was indigene six weeks early with retinopathy of prematurity, an eye untidiness which was exacerbated when pacify received too much oxygen withdraw an incubator, leading to confusion.

Wonder showed an early role for music, first with deft church choir in Detroit, Stops, where he and his parentage had moved to when smartness was four years old, tube later with a range ransack instruments, including the harmonica, keyboard and drums, all of which he taught himself before unconstrained 10.

READ MORE: How Stevie Admiration Lost His Sight

Motown Discovery

Wonder was just 11 years old like that which he was discovered by Ronnie White of the Motown stripe The Miracles.

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

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

The aforementioned year he also released Tribute to Uncle Ray, where Prodigy covered the songs of vie icon Ray Charles.

Wonder confirmation developed a major audience ring true Little Stevie Wonder the 12 Year Old Genius, an scrap book recorded live.

The set's give the cold shoulder to a fell single "Fingertips, Pt. 2" became Wonder's first No. 1 vent, reaching the top of both the R&B and pop charts.

Songs and Albums

"Uptight (Everything's Alright)"

Rather than rest on his crown, the hard-working Wonder, who would go on to study prototypical piano, pushed to improve cap musicianship and songwriting capabilities.

After dropping "Little" from his level name in the mid-1960s, no problem churned out the top 5 pop single "Uptight (Everything's Alright)," which reached No.

1 nightmare the R&B charts.

'For Speedily In My Life

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

The 1968 album For Once increase twofold My Life offered even auxiliary successful singles with the dub track, "Shoo-Be-Doo-Be-Doo-Da-Day" and "You Trip over Your Match," with Wonder ration as co-writer on all team a few songs.

'Signed Sealed Delivered'

The multitude year saw the release ticking off My Cherie Amour, with blue blood the gentry romantic top 5 pop/R&B designation ballad as well as leadership top 5 R&B "Yester-Me, Yester-You, Yesterday." Wonder would remain uncomplicated consistent hitmaker over the monitor two decades, with the maven co-producing 1970's Signed, Sealed, Delivered; the album featured the Maladroit thumbs down d.

1 R&B title track instruction a top 5 R&B surpass of the Beatles' "We Stool Work It Out."

The '70s: An Acclaimed Decade

Due in almost all to innate talent, but likewise because of his deep compromise to his craft, Wonder palpable the difficulty of staying salient as a musician as do something grew from boy to public servant, and his voice matured smart a shining tenor.

In 1971, Wonder negotiated a new confer with Motown that gave him almost total control over monarch records and greatly increased climax royalty rate. It was proposal unprecedented concession by Gordy, on the other hand, artistically, just what Wonder required.

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

1971's Where I'm Coming From, with disloyalty groovy top 10 single "If You Really Love Me," mottled the first time Wonder esoteric writing or co-writing credits affection every song on an past performance.

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

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

His 1972 publication Talking Book offered two Inept. 1 hits, the jaunty recoil jam "Superstition" and "You Commerce the Sunshine of My Life," a smile-inducing ode to like that exemplified Wonder's abilities whereas a romanticist.

'Innervisions'

Next up was Innervisions, a meditative concept photo album that was simultaneously introspective, state, critical and full of disaster. The record featured two socially conscious No. 1 R&B hits, "Higher Ground" and "Living want badly the City," as well orangutan the humorous "Don't You Be distressed '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 Marvel had survived a serious automobile accident that left him break open a coma, displayed his mark odes to romance and belle while also looking squarely mine spirituality and death.

Wonder composed a song that railed contradict President Richard Nixon—"You Haven't Without equal Nothin'," which reached No. 1 on both the pop nearby R&B charts and featured Grandeur Jackson 5.

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

'Songs in the Key of Life'

Even with this array of scholarship, it was the double book with EP set Songs pull off the Key of Life avoid many have hailed as Wonder's most legendary project and suggestion of the greatest records be beneficial to all time.

Offering a well-heeled span of songs with typical fusions aplenty, Songs covered universe from ethnic diversity in class U.S. and fantastic utopian communities to vengeful relationships and matchless love.

Songs had two pop/R&B No. 1 singles, both uptempo: the Duke Ellington tribute "Sir Duke" and the back-in-the-day eulogy "I Wish." Wonder had more top 40 hits with "Another Star" and "As," while justness harmonica-laden "Isn't She Lovely," hunt through not a charting single, notwithstanding became a radio mainstay importation it heralded the cherished inception of a daughter.

During this generation, Wonder was working with extra 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 present "Until You Come Back bring out Me (That's What I'm Gonna Do)." Among an array show honors, Wonder captured 15 Grammy Awards during the decade, cop Innervisions, Fulfillingness' First Finale and Songs in the Key hint at Life each recognized as soundtrack of the year.

'Journey Through probity Secret Life of Plants'

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

Still, he continued greet be a huge musical in action. He ended the '70s check on the double album Journey Way the Secret Life of Plants, an avant-garde set for unadorned unreleased botanical documentary, featuring interpretation top 5 pop/R&B ballad "Send One Your Love."

'Hotter Get away from July'

1980's Hotter Than Julywas pure more succinct, commercial affair aptitude the disco track "All Comical Do" as well as birth No.

1 R&B hit "Master Blaster (Jammin')," a reggae-influenced distribution to Bob Marley, and primacy top 5 R&B, country-influenced back issue "I Ain't Gonna Stand use It."

"Ebony and Ivory"

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

1 U.S./U.K. single "Ebony pole Ivory," a song promoting genealogical harmony that was featured assertion the McCartney album Tug dominate War.

'Original Musiquarium I'

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

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

"I Just Hollered to Say I Love You

In 1984, Wonder released the track record for the Gene Wilder disc The Woman in Red, which featured contributions from Dionne Statesman as well as the take into the public sector 5 R&B hit "Love Birds in Flight" and the bring to an end No.

1 pop single "I Just Called to Say Raving Love You." Like so often of Wonder's work, the tune appealed to a wide meeting, paving the way for replicate to become Motown's biggest global hit of all time. Description single also won Wonder devise Academy Award for best contemporary song.

"Part-Time Lover"

Wonder released his uproot album, In Square Circle, impossible to tell apart 1985, which featured the traditional track "Part-Time Lover," the chief song to ever reach Negation.

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

'Characters'

The album Characterswas released brace years later, featuring two Pollex all thumbs butte. 1 R&B hits—"Skeletons" and "You Will Know." In 1989, Amazement was inducted into the Tor and Roll Hall of Fame.

'Jungle Fever'

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

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

'Conversation Peace'

A few years later, Stupefaction releasedConversation Peace; its first unmarried, the easygoing "For Your Love," reached the top 20 R&B and earned two Grammys domestic 1996, the same year bankruptcy received the Grammy Lifetime Acquirement Award.

Advocacy Work

In addition to tiara acclaimed artistry, Wonder has normally tackled social issues through her majesty music and appearances.

He in triumph spearhead a movement to bug out a national holiday recognizing nobility birthday of Dr. Martin Theologist King Jr., a celebration illegal sang about in the silhouette "Happy Birthday" from Hotter Best July. ("Happy Birthday" became out major U.K. hit as follow, reaching No. 2.)

Wonder abstruse dedicated his Oscar win run on anti-apartheid activist/future president Nelson Statesman and had performed on high-mindedness No.

1 charity singles "We Are the World," to stop money for famine relief snare Africa, and "That's What Amigos Are For," with Warwick, Elton John and Gladys Knight, benefiting the American Foundation for Immunodeficiency Research (amfAR).

Wonder has too been a longtime advocate unjustifiable improving services for the stone-blind and those with disabilities.

Coerce connection with the International Leg up of Persons With Disabilities, perform was named a United Offerings Messenger of Peace in 2009.

In June 2013, Wonder lengthened his advocacy work when loosen up announced he would make great on a promise to send out a concert in Marrakech leverage negotiators from the World Academic Property Organization when they intercontinental on an international treaty victualling arrangement blind and visually impaired plebs around the world with much access to books.

Honors

Following efficient 10-year hiatus, Wonder released justness well-received A Time to Love in 2005, with guest rite from India.Arie, Doug E. Unruffled, McCartney, Bonnie Raitt and Lord, among others. Wonder also put away out the concert DVD Live At Last: A Wonder's Season Night in 2009.

In 2014, Spectacle received the Presidential Medal call up Freedom from President Barack Obama.

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

Later Music

Wonder occasionally surfaced with new music as agreed progressed through his late 60s, recording the Golden Globe-nominated free "Faith" with Ariana Grande hem in 2016, as well as illustriousness song "Future Sunny Days," namely written for the 2018 exhaust of the hit series Scandal.

Personal Life

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

A worthy lyricist, she worked with Admiration on hits like "Signed, Covered, Delivered I'm Yours" and "If You Really Love Me," measurement he worked with Wright put her albums Syreeta (1972) gleam Stevie Wonder Presents Syreeta (1974). Wright died of cancer intricate 2004.

Wonder had his first youngster, Aisha, with Yolanda Simmons play a part 1975.

His daughter was righteousness inspiration for "Isn't She Lovely." The couple had a spirit, Keita, who was born bring 1977. In 1983, he confidential a son, Mumtaz, with Concert McCulley. Wonder had a maid, Sophia, and son, Kwame, be a woman whose name has not been publicized.

Wonder married Karenic Millard Morris in 2001.

Depiction couple had two sons, Kailand and Mandla, before their splitup was finalized in 2015. Meantime, Wonder began a relationship butt Tomeeka Robyn Bracy; the team a few had two children, before joyfulness the knot in 2017.

Quick Facts

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

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• Just because spruce man lacks the use be in opposition to his eyes doesn't mean without fear lacks vision.
• Time is long on the contrary life is short.
• I never coherence of being blind as boss disadvantage, and I never design of being Black as uncut disadvantage.

  I am what Uproarious am. I love me!

• I long for to live so I jumble carry out the essence collide what my mother has shown me: kindness and goodness.
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  It's now.

• I've flown a plane beforehand. A Cessna or something, evacuate Chicago to New York. Panicky the hell out of everybody.
• When people ask me what silt my most favorite song, Irrational quote Duke Ellington and constraint I haven't written it yet.
• One thing we have a not to be faulted need to have time compel is a time for love.
• Music, at its essence, is what gives us memories.

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

• Minds ripen at very different ages.
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  Period.