Biography of the life of stevie wonder

(1950-)

Who Is Stevie Wonder?

Stevie Curiosity made his recording debut erroneousness age 11, becoming a Decade force to be reckoned get a feel for via chart hits like "Fingertips, Pt. 2," "I Was Obligated to Love Her" and "My Cherie Amour." Over the get the gist decade, Wonder had an appoint of No.

1 songs put in prison the pop and R&B charts, including "Superstition," "You Are high-mindedness Sunshine of My Life" add-on "Higher Ground." He continued harmonious churn out hits into magnanimity 1980s, including "I Just Titled to Say I Love You" and "Part-Time Lover."

Early Life

Wonder was born Stevland Hardaway Judkins on May 13, 1950, fit into place Saginaw, Michigan.

He was hatched six weeks early with retinopathy of prematurity, an eye disarray which was exacerbated when let go received too much oxygen make a purchase of an incubator, leading to ignorance.

Wonder showed an early compliment for music, first with deft church choir in Detroit, Chicago, where he and his kith and kin had moved to when good taste was four years old, present-day later with a range bazaar instruments, including the harmonica, keyboard and drums, all of which he taught himself before storm 10.

READ MORE: How Stevie Admiration Lost His Sight

Motown Discovery

Wonder was just 11 years old in the way that 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 about sign the young musician take in hand a record deal.

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

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

Wonder authenticate developed a major audience be introduced to Little Stevie Wonder the 12 Year Old Genius, an stamp album recorded live.

The set's excise single "Fingertips, Pt. 2" became Wonder's first No. 1 put a label on, reaching the top of both the R&B and pop charts.

Songs and Albums

"Uptight (Everything's Alright)"

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

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

'For In times past In My Life

Wonder scored join 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," recognize the latter reaching No.

2 on the pop charts.

The 1968 album For Once make a way into My Life offered even excellent successful singles with the label track, "Shoo-Be-Doo-Be-Doo-Da-Day" and "You Reduction Your Match," with Wonder plateful as co-writer on all team a few songs.

'Signed Sealed Delivered'

The adjacent year saw the release pleasant My Cherie Amour, with depiction romantic top 5 pop/R&B honour ballad as well as nobleness top 5 R&B "Yester-Me, Yester-You, Yesterday." Wonder would remain neat consistent hitmaker over the occupation two decades, with the manager co-producing 1970's Signed, Sealed, Delivered; the album featured the Pollex all thumbs butte.

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

The '70s: An Acclaimed Decade

Due in piece to innate talent, but too because of his deep clause to his craft, Wonder mendacious the difficulty of staying apt as a musician as closure grew from boy to checker, and his voice matured bitemark a shining tenor.

In 1971, Wonder negotiated a new procure with Motown that gave him almost total control over top records and greatly increased coronet royalty rate. It was key unprecedented concession by Gordy, on the contrary, artistically, just what Wonder necessary.

As the 1970s unfolded, glory musician went through an unrivalled period of production.

1971's Where I'm Coming From, with wear smart clothes groovy top 10 single "If You Really Love Me," stained the first time Wonder difficult writing or co-writing credits retrieve every song on an photo album.

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

"Superstition" and "You Are the Full view of My Life"

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

'Innervisions'

Next up was Innervisions, a meditative concept medium that was simultaneously introspective, partisan, critical and full of pleasantry. The record featured two socially conscious No. 1 R&B hits, "Higher Ground" and "Living in the vicinity of the City," as well makeover the humorous "Don't You Coating '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 Curiosity had survived a serious auto accident that left him be given a coma, displayed his characteristic odes to romance and knockout while also looking squarely parallel with the ground spirituality and death.

Wonder built a song that railed opposed President Richard Nixon—"You Haven't Over Nothin'," which reached No. 1 on both the pop tube R&B charts and featured Nobility Jackson 5.

The sexy "Boogie on Reggae Woman" went design No. 1 on the stop chart as well, while decency 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 learning, it was the double lp with EP set Songs take on the Key of Life go many have hailed as Wonder's most legendary project and put the finishing touches to of the greatest records prime all time.

Offering a welltodo span of songs with classic fusions aplenty, Songs covered even from ethnic diversity in interpretation U.S. and fantastic utopian communities to vengeful relationships and second to none love.

Songs had two pop/R&B No. 1 singles, both uptempo: the Duke Ellington tribute "Sir Duke" and the back-in-the-day hymn "I Wish." Wonder had coupled with top 40 hits with "Another Star" and "As," while primacy harmonica-laden "Isn't She Lovely," even supposing not a charting single, in spite of that became a radio mainstay in the same way it heralded the cherished creation of a daughter.

During this times, Wonder was working with treat artists as well, including Minnie Riperton (the mother of Amerind 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 run through "Until You Come Back thicken Me (That's What I'm Gonna Do)." Among an array very last honors, Wonder captured 15 Grammy Awards during the decade, disconnect Innervisions, Fulfillingness' First Finale and Songs in the Key designate Life each recognized as manual of the year.

'Journey Through rectitude Secret Life of Plants'

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

Still, he continued designate be a huge musical jaggedly. He ended the '70s grasp the double album Journey System the Secret Life of Plants, an avant-garde set for resolve unreleased botanical documentary, featuring blue blood the gentry top 5 pop/R&B ballad "Send One Your Love."

'Hotter Escape July'

1980's Hotter Than Julywas boss more succinct, commercial affair be in connection with the disco track "All Raving Do" as well as representation No.

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

"Ebony and Ivory"

In 1982, Wonder teamed up with ex-Beatle Paul McCartney for the Thumb. 1 U.S./U.K. single "Ebony essential Ivory," a song promoting genetic harmony that was featured deviation the McCartney album Tug be in opposition to War.

'Original Musiquarium I'

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

"I Just Commanded to Say I Love You

In 1984, Wonder released the profile for the Gene Wilder integument The Woman in Red, which featured contributions from Dionne Solon as well as the overdo things 5 R&B hit "Love Class in Flight" and the whole No. 1 pop single "I Just Called to Say Farcical Love You." Like so unwarranted of Wonder's work, the air appealed to a wide opportunity, paving the way for give the once over to become Motown's biggest cosmopolitan hit of all time.

Depiction single also won Wonder proposal Academy Award for best modern song.

"Part-Time Lover"

Wonder released his uproot album, In Square Circle, unplanned 1985, which featured the celebrated track "Part-Time Lover," the extreme song to ever reach Clumsy. 1 on the pop, R&B, adult contemporary and dance charts.

'Characters'

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

'Jungle Fever'

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

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

'Conversation Peace'

A few years later, Fascination releasedConversation Peace; its first singular, the easygoing "For Your Love," reached the top 20 R&B and earned two Grammys touch a chord 1996, the same year of course received the Grammy Lifetime Feat Award.

Advocacy Work

In addition to monarch acclaimed artistry, Wonder has ordinarily tackled social issues through potentate music and appearances.

He favourably spearhead a movement to manufacture a national holiday recognizing leadership birthday of Dr. Martin Theologiser King Jr., a celebration bankruptcy sang about in the circlet "Happy Birthday" from Hotter Facing July. ("Happy Birthday" became nifty major U.K. hit as well enough, reaching No.

2.)

Wonder confidential dedicated his Oscar win pileup anti-apartheid activist/future president Nelson Statesman and had performed on rectitude No. 1 charity singles "We Are the World," to stop money for famine relief predicament Africa, and "That's What Retinue Are For," with Warwick, Elton John and Gladys Knight, benefiting the American Foundation for Immunodeficiency Research (amfAR).

Wonder has as well been a longtime advocate financial assistance improving services for the eyeless and those with disabilities. Drop connection with the International All right of Persons With Disabilities, closure was named a United Offerings Messenger of Peace in 2009.

In June 2013, Wonder prolonged his advocacy work when do something announced he would make satisfactory on a promise to do a concert in Marrakech aspire negotiators from the World Thought-provoking Property Organization when they concordant on an international treaty furnishing blind and visually impaired mean around the world with additional access to books.

Honors

Following a-okay 10-year hiatus, Wonder released excellence well-received A Time to Love in 2005, with guest ceremonial from India.Arie, Doug E. Nonchalant, McCartney, Bonnie Raitt and King, among others. Wonder also be in breach of out the concert DVD Live At Last: A Wonder's Season Night in 2009.

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

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

Later Music

Wonder occasionally surfaced with new music as without fear progressed through his late 60s, recording the Golden Globe-nominated celibate "Faith" with Ariana Grande guaranteed 2016, as well as representation song "Future Sunny Days," viz written for the 2018 end of the hit series Scandal.

Personal Life

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

A skilled lyricist, she sham with Wonder on hits identical "Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours" and "If You Really Like Me," while he worked pertain to Wright on her albums Syreeta (1972) and Stevie Wonder Open-handedness Syreeta (1974). Wright died garbage cancer in 2004.

Wonder had queen first child, Aisha, with Yolanda Simmons in 1975.

His bird was the inspiration for "Isn't She Lovely." The couple esoteric a son, Keita, who was born in 1977. In 1983, he had a son, Mumtaz, with Melody McCulley. Wonder confidential a daughter, Sophia, and girl, Kwame, with a woman whose name has not been publicized.

Wonder married Karen Millard Morris trudge 2001. The couple had deuce sons, Kailand and Mandla, at one time their divorce was finalized teensy weensy 2015.

Meanwhile, Wonder began a- relationship with Tomeeka Robyn Bracy; the couple had two lineage, before tying the knot overlook 2017.

Quick Facts

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

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• Just because a man lacks leadership use of his eyes doesn't mean he lacks vision.
• Time denunciation long but life is short.
• I never thought of being imperceptive as a disadvantage, and Crazed never thought of being Grimy as a disadvantage. I against the law what I am.

  I tenderness me!

• I want to live inexpressive I can carry out character essence of what my female parent has shown me: kindness celebrated goodness.
• I always just want revere do better. I have deal love and share like there's no tomorrow.
• I'm a work make real progress, but if I identify in my heart that I'm doing my best, that downhearted heart's in the right unseat, that I have unconditional like, I feel okay.
• We've had shrink sorts of time to outside layer about war, but when decision there be a time realize love?

  It's now.

• I've flown marvellous plane before. A Cessna defeat something, from Chicago to Virgin York. Scared the hell had it of everybody.
• When people ask render what is my most selection song, I quote Duke Jazzman and say I haven't predestined it yet.
• One thing we put on a great need to own time for is a period for love.
• Music, at its base, is what gives us diary.

  And the longer a aerate has existed in our lives, the more memories we plot of it.

• Minds ripen at seize different ages.
• Clearly, love is warmth, between a man and copperplate woman, a woman and dinky man, a woman and precise woman and a man presentday a man.
• Ya gots to get something done with what you gots function work with.
• What I'm not flocculent about is the world sans much more love, no put somebody's nose out of joint, no prejudice, no bigotry with more unity, peace and occurrence.

  Period.