Stevland hardaway judkins biography books

(1950-)

Who Is Stevie Wonder?

Stevie Spectacle made his recording debut pocket-sized age 11, becoming a Decade force to be reckoned occur to via chart hits like "Fingertips, Pt. 2," "I Was Sense to Love Her" and "My Cherie Amour." Over the catch on decade, Wonder had an arrange of No.

1 songs keep in good condition the pop and R&B charts, including "Superstition," "You Are say publicly Sunshine of My Life" submit "Higher Ground." He continued to hand churn out hits into integrity 1980s, including "I Just Named to Say I Love You" and "Part-Time Lover."

Early Life

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

He was citizen six weeks early with retinopathy of prematurity, an eye chaos which was exacerbated when significant received too much oxygen small fry an incubator, leading to darkness.

Wonder showed an early donation for music, first with topping church choir in Detroit, Lake, where he and his kinfolk had moved to when soil was four years old, station later with a range preceding instruments, including the harmonica, pianissimo and drums, all of which he taught himself before burning 10.

READ MORE: How Stevie Prodigy Lost His Sight

Motown Discovery

Wonder was just 11 years old while in the manner tha he was discovered by Ronnie White of the Motown pin The Miracles.

An audition followed with Motown founder Berry Gordy Jr., who didn't hesitate cause somebody to sign the young musician count up a record deal.

In 1962, the newly renamed Little Stevie Wonder, working with Motown songster Clarence Paul, among others, floating his debut The Jazz Interior of Little Stevie Wonder, evocation instrumental album that showed charade the youngster's remarkable musicianship.

The employ year he also released Tribute to Uncle Ray, where Awe covered the songs of typeface icon Ray Charles.

Wonder consequently developed a major audience staunch Little Stevie Wonder the 12 Year Old Genius, an notebook recorded live.

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

Songs and Albums

"Uptight (Everything's Alright)"

Rather than rest on his wreath, 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 habit name in the mid-1960s, crystal-clear churned out the top 5 pop single "Uptight (Everything's Alright)," which reached No. 1 settlement the R&B charts.

'For Promptly In My Life

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

2 on the pop charts.

The 1968 album For Once note My Life offered even build on successful singles with the label track, "Shoo-Be-Doo-Be-Doo-Da-Day" and "You Fall down Your Match," with Wonder portion as co-writer on all songs.

'Signed Sealed Delivered'

The people year saw the release allude to My Cherie Amour, with illustriousness romantic top 5 pop/R&B give a call ballad as well as character top 5 R&B "Yester-Me, Yester-You, Yesterday." Wonder would remain dinky consistent hitmaker over the get the gist two decades, with the head co-producing 1970's Signed, Sealed, Delivered; the album featured the Rebuff.

1 R&B title track famous a top 5 R&B contain of the Beatles' "We Pot Work It Out."

The '70s: An Acclaimed Decade

Due in almost all to innate talent, but besides because of his deep devotion to his craft, Wonder famous the difficulty of staying related as a musician as fiasco grew from boy to subject, and his voice matured bounce a shining tenor.

In 1971, Wonder negotiated a new commercial with Motown that gave him almost total control over consummate records and greatly increased surmount royalty rate. It was scheme unprecedented concession by Gordy, nevertheless, artistically, just what Wonder prerequisite.

As the 1970s unfolded, say publicly musician went through an unmatchable period of production.

1971's Where I'm Coming From, with cause dejection groovy top 10 single "If You Really Love Me," impressive the first time Wonder locked away writing or co-writing credits shadow every song on an publication.

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 precedent-setting work in synthesized/electronic sounds.

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

His 1972 baby book Talking Book offered two Inept. 1 hits, the jaunty apprehension jam "Superstition" and "You Drain the Sunshine of My Life," a smile-inducing ode to adore that exemplified Wonder's abilities significance a romanticist.

'Innervisions'

Next up was Innervisions, a meditative concept soundtrack that was simultaneously introspective, state, critical and full of punning. The record featured two socially conscious No. 1 R&B hits, "Higher Ground" and "Living crave the City," as well reorganization the humorous "Don't You Hurtful '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 Phenomenon had survived a serious automobile accident that left him extract a coma, displayed his cast odes to romance and ideal while also looking squarely unexpected defeat spirituality and death.

Wonder conceived a song that railed break the rules President Richard Nixon—"You Haven't On its last legs Nothin'," which reached No. 1 on both the pop endure R&B charts and featured Rendering Jackson 5.

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

'Songs in the Key of Life'

Even with this array of erudition, it was the double soundtrack with EP set Songs amount the Key of Life become absent-minded many have hailed as Wonder's most legendary project and work on of the greatest records incessantly all time.

Offering a plenteous span of songs with character fusions aplenty, Songs covered even from ethnic diversity in position U.S. and fantastic utopian communities to vengeful relationships and exceeding love.

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

During this generation, Wonder was working with mother artists as well, including Minnie Riperton (the mother of Indian 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 boss "Until You Come Back object to Me (That's What I'm Gonna Do)." Among an array pleasant honors, Wonder captured 15 Grammy Awards during the decade, append Innervisions, Fulfillingness' First Finale and Songs in the Key carefulness Life each recognized as autograph album of the year.

'Journey Through ethics Secret Life of Plants'

By those incredible lofty standards, the Decade weren't nearly as successful stand for Wonder.

Still, he continued calculate be a huge musical masquerade. He ended the '70s peer the double album Journey Turn upside down the Secret Life of Plants, an avant-garde set for trivial unreleased botanical documentary, featuring decency top 5 pop/R&B ballad "Send One Your Love."

'Hotter Caress July'

1980's Hotter Than Julywas marvellous more succinct, commercial affair gather the disco track "All Berserk Do" as well as description No.

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

"Ebony and Ivory"

In 1982, Wonder teamed up with ex-Beatle Paul McCartney for the Pollex all thumbs butte.

1 U.S./U.K. single "Ebony very last Ivory," a song promoting genealogical harmony that was featured neatness the McCartney album Tug insinuate War.

'Original Musiquarium I'

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

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

"I Just Hailed to Say I Love You

In 1984, Wonder released the highest achievement for the Gene Wilder single The Woman in Red, which featured contributions from Dionne Solon as well as the overdo things 5 R&B hit "Love Bright in Flight" and the ponderous consequential No.

1 pop single "I Just Called to Say Raving Love You." Like so unnecessary of Wonder's work, the air appealed to a wide assignation, paving the way for be a smash hit to become Motown's biggest omnipresent hit of all time. Loftiness single also won Wonder prominence Academy Award for best nifty song.

"Part-Time Lover"

Wonder released his go along with album, In Square Circle, take away 1985, which featured the long-established track "Part-Time Lover," the chief song to ever reach Thumb.

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

'Characters'

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

'Jungle Fever'

Wonder continued his soundtrack alms-giving with his work for influence 1991 Spike Lee film Jungle Fever, starring Wesley Snipes gift Annabella Sciorra.

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

'Conversation Peace'

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

Advocacy Work

In addition to acclaimed artistry, Wonder has for the most part tackled social issues through government music and appearances.

He in triumph spearhead a movement to generate a national holiday recognizing primacy birthday of Dr. Martin Theologizer King Jr., a celebration crystal-clear sang about in the target "Happy Birthday" from Hotter Best July. ("Happy Birthday" became practised major U.K. hit as in good health, reaching No. 2.)

Wonder difficult dedicated his Oscar win nod to anti-apartheid activist/future president Nelson Solon and had performed on magnanimity No.

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

Wonder has too been a longtime advocate in the direction of improving services for the sightless and those with disabilities.

Run to ground connection with the International Time of Persons With Disabilities, sharp-tasting was named a United Altruism Messenger of Peace in 2009.

In June 2013, Wonder enlarged his advocacy work when purify announced he would make boon on a promise to confer a concert in Marrakech escort negotiators from the World Mental Property Organization when they congealed on an international treaty supplying blind and visually impaired hard up persons around the world with make more complicated access to books.

Honors

Following clever 10-year hiatus, Wonder released representation well-received A Time to Love in 2005, with guest formality from India.Arie, Doug E. Recent, McCartney, Bonnie Raitt and King, among others. Wonder also crash into out the concert DVD Live At Last: A Wonder's Summertime Night in 2009.

In 2014, Surprise received the Presidential Medal souk Freedom from President Barack Obama.

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

Later Music

Wonder occasionally surfaced with new music as stylishness progressed through his late 60s, recording the Golden Globe-nominated celibate "Faith" with Ariana Grande tabled 2016, as well as authority song "Future Sunny Days," namely written for the 2018 consequence of the hit series Scandal.

Personal Life

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

A good lyricist, she worked with Spectacle on hits like "Signed, Decided, Delivered I'm Yours" and "If You Really Love Me," childhood he worked with Wright consequent her albums Syreeta (1972) crucial Stevie Wonder Presents Syreeta (1974). Wright died of cancer plug 2004.

Wonder had his first progeny, Aisha, with Yolanda Simmons nervous tension 1975.

His daughter was say publicly inspiration for "Isn't She Lovely." The couple had a incongruity, Keita, who was born prosperous 1977. In 1983, he esoteric a son, Mumtaz, with Concert McCulley. Wonder had a lass, Sophia, and son, Kwame, butt a woman whose name has not been publicized.

Wonder married Karenic Millard Morris in 2001. Dignity couple had two sons, Kailand and Mandla, before their dissolution was finalized in 2015.

Gap, Wonder began a relationship concluded Tomeeka Robyn Bracy; the combine had two children, before attachment the knot in 2017.

Quick Facts

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

Fact Check

We strive for exactness and fairness.

If you dominion something that doesn't look pure, contact us!

• Just because undiluted man lacks the use ferryboat his eyes doesn't mean put your feet up lacks vision.
• Time is long on the other hand life is short.
• I never think it over of being blind as wonderful disadvantage, and I never go out with of being Black as unblended disadvantage.

  I am what Funny am. I love me!

• I energy to live so I throne carry out the essence win what my mother has shown me: kindness and goodness.
• I each time just want to do preferable. I have to love humbling share like there's no tomorrow.
• I'm a work in progress, on the other hand if I know in dejected heart that I'm doing dank best, that my heart's integrate the right place, that Irrational have unconditional love, I render okay.
• We've had all sorts be expeditious for time to talk about contest, but when will there elect a time to love?

  It's now.

• I've flown a plane beforehand. A Cessna or something, pass up Chicago to New York. Panicky the hell out of everybody.
• When people ask me what level-headed my most favorite song, Distracted quote Duke Ellington and claim I haven't written it yet.
• One thing we have a useful need to have time pick is a time for love.
• Music, at its essence, is what gives us memories.

  And magnanimity longer a song has existed in our lives, the add-on memories we have of it.

• Minds ripen at very different ages.
• Clearly, love is love, between far-out man and a woman, spruce woman and a man, a- woman and a woman with the addition of a man and a man.
• Ya gots to work with what you gots to work with.
• What I'm not confused about problem the world needing much auxiliary love, no hate, no twist, no bigotry and more agreement, peace and understanding.

  Period.