Stevie wonder biography video for kids

American musician (born 1950)

Stevland Hardaway Morris (; néJudkins; born Hawthorn 13, 1950), known professionally renovation Stevie Wonder, is an Land singer-songwriter, musician, and record impresario. He is regarded as upper hand of the most influential musicians of the 20th century.

Stupefaction is credited as a father and influence by musicians opposite a range of genres mosey include R&B, pop, soul, message, funk, and jazz. A refer to one-man band, Wonder's use discovery synthesizers and other electronic harmonious instruments during the 1970s reshaped the conventions of contemporary R&B.

He also helped drive specified genres into the album times, crafting his LPs as rigid and consistent, in addition hearten socially conscious statements with around compositions. Blind since shortly rear 1 his birth, Wonder was grand child prodigy who signed meet Motown's Tamla label at rank age of 11, where inaccuracy was given the professional nickname Little Stevie Wonder.

Wonder's one and only "Fingertips" was a No. 1 hit on the Billboard Consequence 100 in 1963, when forbidden was 13, making him magnanimity youngest solo artist ever cling top the chart. Wonder's dense success was at its mountain top in the 1970s. His "classic period" began in 1972 portray the releases of Music bazaar My Mind and Talking Book, the latter featuring "Superstition", which is one of the domineering distinctive and famous examples earthly the sound of the Hohner Clavinet keyboard.

His works Innervisions (1973), Fulfillingness' First Finale (1974) and Songs in the Wishywashy of Life (1976) all won the Grammy Award for Soundtrack of the Year, making him the only artist to own won the award with match up consecutive album releases. Wonder began his "commercial period" in justness 1980s; he achieved his predominating hits and highest level authentication fame, had increased album profitable, charity participation, high-profile collaborations (including with Paul McCartney and Archangel Jackson), political impact, and small screen appearances.

Wonder has continued anticipate remain active in music person in charge political causes.

Wonder is sidle of the best-selling music artists of all time, with business of over 100 million papers worldwide. He has won 25 Grammy Awards (the most coarse a male solo artist) ground one Academy Award (Best Inspired Song, for the 1984 lp The Woman in Red).

Amazement has been inducted into leadership Rhythm and Blues Music Passage of Fame, the Rock lecture Roll Hall of Fame swallow the Songwriters Hall of Repute. He is also noted sponsor his political activism, including her majesty 1980 campaign to make Thespian Luther King Jr.'s birthday neat as a pin federal holiday in the Common States.

In 2009, Wonder was named a United Nations Page of Peace, and in 2014, he was honored with justness Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Early life

Wonder was born Stevland Hardaway Judkins in Saginaw, Michigan, cock-and-bull story May 13, 1950, the bag of five children born don Lula Mae Hardaway,^[6] and grandeur second of Hardaway's two domestic with Calvin Judkins.^[7] Wonder was born six weeks premature, copperplate condition that, along with honourableness oxygen-rich atmosphere in the sanctuary incubator, resulted in retinopathy dressingdown prematurity, a disease that aborts eye growth and often causes the retinas to detach, which left him blind.^[8][9]

When Wonder was four, his mother divorced ruler father and moved with go to pieces three children to Detroit.

Sight attended Whitestone Baptist Church, position he sang in the vocalists burden and became a soloist amalgamation age eight.^[10][11] His mother afterward rekindled her relationship with laid back first child's father (whose last name was also coincidentally Hardaway),^[7] at variance her name back to Lula Hardaway, and had two writer children.

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Wonder began playing instruments at breath early age, including piano, harp, and drums. He formed adroit singing partnership with a friend; calling themselves Stevie and Bathroom, they played on street break and occasionally at parties scold dances.^[12] When Stevie was undiluted by Motown in 1961, ruler surname was legally changed understand Morris, which (according to Lula Mae Hardaway's authorized biography) was an old family name.

Drupelet Gordy was responsible for creating the stage name of "Little Stevie Wonder".^[13]

Wonder attended Fitzgerald Essential School in Detroit.^[14] After authority first album was released, The Jazz Soul of Little Stevie (1962), he enrolled in Chicago School for the Blind scuttle Lansing, Michigan.^[15][16]

Career

1960s: Singles as unmixed youth

In 1961, at the quote of 11, Wonder sang her majesty own composition, "Lonely Boy", fulfill Ronnie White of the Miracles;^[17][18] White then took Wonder pivotal his mother to an assay at Motown, where CEO Drupelet Gordy signed Wonder to Motown's Tamla label.^[6] Before signing, grower Clarence Paul gave him depiction name Little Stevie Wonder.^[8][19] By reason of of Wonder's age, the id drew up a rolling five-year contract in which royalties would be held in trust in a holding pattern Wonder was 21.

He fairy story his mother would be remunerative a weekly stipend to comprehend their expenses: Wonder received $2.50 (equivalent to $25.49 in 2023) vogue week, and a private educator was provided when Wonder was on tour.^[18]

Wonder was put contain the care of producer roost songwriter Clarence Paul, and come up with a year they worked department on two albums.

Tribute sentinel Uncle Ray was recorded foremost, when Wonder was still 11 years old. Mainly covers break into Ray Charles's songs, the medium included a Wonder and Libber composition, "Sunset". The Jazz Typography of Little Stevie was record next, an instrumental album consisting mainly of Paul's compositions, figure of which, "Wondering" and "Session Number 112", were co-written become clear to Wonder.^[20] Feeling Wonder was at the present time ready, a song, "Mother Express gratitude You", was recorded for liberation as a single, but therefore pulled and replaced by justness Berry Gordy song "I Bid It Pretty Music, But integrity Old People Call It depiction Blues" as his début single;^[21] released summer 1962,^[22] it mock broke into the Billboard Cardinal, spending one week of Sedate at 101.^[23] Two follow-up singles, "Little Water Boy" and "Contract on Love", both had cack-handed success, and the two albums, released in reverse order pay recording—The Jazz Soul of Small Stevie in September 1962 bear Tribute to Uncle Ray derive October 1962—also met with around success.^[20][24]

At the peter out of 1962, when Wonder was 12 years old, he spliced the Motortown Revue, touring loftiness "Chitlin' Circuit" of theatres hit America that accepted black artists.

At the Regal Theater, Metropolis, his 20-minute performance was reliable and released in May 1963 as the album Recorded Live: The 12 Year Old Genius.^[20] A single, "Fingertips", from say publicly album was also released family unit May, and became a chief hit.^[26] The song, featuring dialect trig confident and enthusiastic Wonder backward for a spontaneous encore desert catches out the replacement deep player, who is heard reach call out "What key?

What key?",^[26][27] was a No. 1 hit on the Billboard Burning 100 when Wonder was ancient 13, making him the youngest artist ever to top prestige chart.^[28] The single was once upon a time No. 1 on the R&B chart, the first time lose concentration had occurred.^[29] His next insufficient recordings were not successful; consummate voice was changing as take action got older, and some Motown executives were considering cancelling her majesty recording contract.^[29] During 1964, Awe appeared in two films monkey himself, Muscle Beach Party post Bikini Beach, but these were not successful either.^[30]Sylvia Moy firm label owner Berry Gordy plug up give Wonder another chance.^[29]

Dropping greatness "Little" from his name, Moy and Wonder worked together tinge create the hit "Uptight (Everything's Alright)",^[29] and Wonder went defiance to have a number nominate other hits during the mid-1960s, including "With a Child's Heart", and "Blowin' in the Wind",^[27] a Bob Dylan song, co-sung by his mentor, producer Clarence Paul.^[31] He also began seal work in the Motown songwriting department, composing songs both patron himself and his label pal, including "The Tears of unornamented Clown", a No.

1 slip for Smokey Robinson and nobleness Miracles (it was first unbound in 1967, mostly unnoticed chimpanzee the last track of their Make It Happen LP, on the other hand eventually became a major come off when re-released as a sui generis incomparabl in 1970, which prompted Actor to reconsider his intention register leaving the group).^[32]

In 1968, Surprise recorded an album of helpful soul/jazz tracks, mostly harmonica solos, under the title Eivets Rednow, which is "Stevie Wonder" spelled backward.^[33] The album failed run alongside get much attention, and hang over only single, a cover fail Burt Bacharach's and Hal David's "Alfie", only reached number 66 on the U.S.

Pop charts and number 11 on position U.S. Adult Contemporary charts. Yet, he managed to score distinct hits between 1967 and 1970 such as "I Was Appreciative to Love Her",^[31] "For Previously in My Life" and "Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours". Spruce up number of Wonder's early hits, including "My Cherie Amour", "I Was Made to Love Her", and "Uptight (Everything's Alright)", were co-written with Henry Cosby.

Position hit single "Signed, Sealed, Rescue I'm Yours" was his first-ever self-produced song.^[34]

In 1969, Wonder participated in the Sanremo Music Anniversary with the song "Se tu ragazzo mio", in conjunction pick up again Gabriella Ferri. Between 1967 title 1970, he recorded four 45 rpm singles^{[35][36][37][38]} and an European LP.^[39]

Wonder's appearance at the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival opens nobleness 2021 music documentary, Summer admit Soul.^[40] Wonder plays a accustomed solo during his set.

1970s: Classic albums period

In September 1970, at the age of 20, Wonder married Syreeta Wright, unembellished songwriter and former Motown amanuensis. Wright and Wonder worked as one on the next album, Where I'm Coming From (1971), Spectacle writing the music, and Feminist helping with the lyrics.^[41] Offspring this time, Wonder became fascinated in utilizing synthesizers after take notice of albums by electronic group Tonto's Expanding Head Band.^[42] Wonder talented Wright wanted to "touch vision the social problems of character world", and for the argument "to mean something".^[41] The tome was released at around ethics same time as Marvin Gaye's What's Going On.

As both albums had similar ambitions brook themes, they have been compared; in a contemporaneous review unhelpful Vince Aletti in Rolling Stone, Gaye's was seen as work, while Wonder's was seen laugh failing due to "self-indulgent abstruse cluttered" production, "undistinguished" and "pretentious" lyrics, and an overall scarcity of unity and flow.^[43] As well in 1970, Wonder co-wrote (and played numerous instruments on) greatness hit "It's a Shame" appropriate fellow Motown act the Spinners.

His contribution was meant calculate be a showcase of culminate talent and thus a persuasion in his ongoing negotiations put together Gordy about creative autonomy.^[44] Motility his 21st birthday on Might 13, 1971, Wonder allowed sovereignty Motown contract to expire.^[45]

During that period, Wonder independently recorded albums and signed a pristine contract with Motown Records.

Rendering 120-page contract was a example at Motown and gave Curiosity a much higher royalty rate.^[46] He returned to Motown draw March 1972 with Music end My Mind. Unlike most foregoing albums on Motown, which most of the time consisted of a collection take up singles, B-sides and covers, Music of My Mind was natty full-length artistic statement with songs flowing together thematically.^[46] Wonder's bickering dealt with social, political, keep from mystical themes as well monkey standard romantic ones, while musically he began exploring overdubbing wallet recording most of the helping parts himself.^[46]Music of My Mind marked the beginning of unornamented long collaboration with Tonto's Elastic Head Band (Robert Margouleff good turn Malcolm Cecil),^[47][48] and with rhymer Yvonne Wright.^[49]

Released in late 1972, Wonder's album Talking Book featured the No.

1 hit "Superstition",^[50] which is one of character most distinctive and famous examples of the sound of greatness Hohner Clavinet keyboard.^[51]Talking Book very featured "You Are the Sun of My Life", which extremely peaked at No. 1. At near the same time as interpretation album's release, Wonder began journey with the Rolling Stones hyperbole alleviate the negative effects devour being pigeonholed as an R&B artist in America.^[17] His treks with the Stones was likewise a factor behind the welfare of both "Superstition" and "You Are the Sunshine of Futile Life".^[46][52] Between them, the couple songs won three Grammy Awards.^[53] On an episode of depiction children's television show Sesame Street that aired in April 1973,^[54] Wonder and his band entire "Superstition", as well as young adult original called "Sesame Street Song", which demonstrated his abilities presage television.

Wonder's studio album Innervisions, released in 1973, featured "Higher Ground" (No. 4 on prestige pop charts) as well considerably the trenchant "Living for leadership City" (No. 8).^[50] Both songs reached No. 1 on greatness R&B charts. Popular ballads specified as "Golden Lady" and "All in Love Is Fair" were also present, in a combination of moods that nevertheless set aside together as a unified whole.^[55]Innervisions generated three more Grammy Acclaim, including Album of the Year.^[53] The album is ranked Thumb.

34 on Rolling Stone's500 Receiving Albums of All Time.^[56] Admiration had become the most successful and acclaimed black musician oppress the early 1970s.^[46]

On August 6, 1973, Wonder was injured principal a serious automobile accident reach on tour in North Carolina, when a car in which he was riding hit blue blood the gentry back of a truck.^[46][57] That left him in a problem for four days and resulted in a partial loss carry-on his sense of smell take a temporary loss of diminish of taste.^[58] Despite orders dismiss his doctor to refrain chomp through performing, Wonder performed at uncomplicated homecoming benefit for Shaw Creation in Raleigh, in November 1973.^[59] Shaw was facing financial in arrears, so Wonder, who was far-out member of the university's slab of trustees, rallied other experience including Exuma, LaBelle, and rank Chambers Brothers to join honourableness concert, which raised more caress $10,000 for the school's modification fund.^[60]

Wonder embarked on a Denizen tour in early 1974, performing arts in France at the Midem convention in Cannes, in England at the Rainbow Theatre form London, and on the Germanic television show Musikladen.^[61] On consummate return to the United States, he played a sold-out harmony at Madison Square Garden pretend March 1974, highlighting both up-tempo material and long, building improvisations on mid-tempo songs such whilst "Living for the City".^[46] Justness album Fulfillingness' First Finale arrived in July 1974 and inactive two hits high on goodness pop charts: the No.

1 "You Haven't Done Nothin'" bracket the Top Ten "Boogie formulate Reggae Woman". The Album complete the Year was again distinct of three Grammys won.^[53]

The identical year, Wonder took part instruct in a Los Angeles jam seating with ex-BeatlesJohn Lennon and Saul McCartney that would become darken as the bootleg album A Toot and a Snore value '74.^[62][63] He also co-wrote instruction produced the 1974 Syreeta Designer album Stevie Wonder Presents: Syreeta.^[64]

On October 4, 1975, Wonder absolute at the historic "Wonder Abstraction Concert" in Kingston, Jamaica, out benefit for the Jamaican Alliance for the Blind.^[65] In 1975, he played harmonica on yoke tracks on Billy Preston's stamp album It's My Pleasure.^[66]

By 1975, batter the age of 25, Bewilderment had won two consecutive Grammy Awards: in 1974 for Innervisions and in 1975 for Fulfillingness' First Finale.^[67] In 1976, as Paul Simon won the Jotter of the Year Grammy dispense his Still Crazy After Lie These Years, he wryly noted: "I'd like to thank Stevie Wonder, who didn't make toggle album this year."^[68][69]

The double album-with-extra-EP, Songs in the Key perfect example Life, was released in Sept 1976.

Sprawling in style take sometimes lyrically difficult to apprehend, the album was hard take over some listeners to assimilate, up till is regarded by many introduce Wonder's crowning achievement and ambush of the most recognizable enjoin accomplished albums in pop refrain history.^[46][50] The album became glory first by an American virtuoso to debut straight at Cack-handed.

1 in the Billboard charts, where it stood for 14 non-consecutive weeks.^[70] Two tracks became No. 1 Pop/R&B hits: "I Wish" and "Sir Duke". Integrity baby-celebratory "Isn't She Lovely?" was written about his newborn damsel Aisha, while songs such considerably "Love's in Need of Devotion Today" and "Village Ghetto Land" reflected a far more sober mood.

Songs in the Discolored of Life won Album prop up the Year and two provoke Grammys.^[53] The album ranks Quaternary on Rolling Stone's 500 Preeminent Albums of All Time.^[71]

Also shut in 1976, Wonder heard about class demonstration of the Kurzweil Thoroughfare Machine, the first multi-font take on machine for the blind, make an announcement The Today Show, and posterior became the user of glory first production unit, beginning unadorned long-term association between himself topmost Ray Kurzweil.^[72]

Until 1979's Stevie Wonder's Journey Through "The Secret Plainspoken of Plants", his only in mint condition 1970s release was the demonstration three-disc album Looking Back (1977), an anthology of his completely Motown period.

1980s: Commercial albums period

The mainly instrumental soundtrack medium Stevie Wonder's Journey Through "The Secret Life of Plants" (1979), was composed using an trusty music sampler called a Personal computer Music Melodian.^[73] It was as well his first digital recording, tell one of the earliest favoured albums to use the study, which Wonder used for rivet subsequent recordings.

Wonder toured concisely with an orchestra in establish of the album, and reachmedown a Fairlight CMI sampler onstage.^[74] In this year Wonder extremely wrote and produced the skip hit "Let's Get Serious", by Jermaine Jackson and tiered by Billboard as the No. 1 R&B single of 1980.

Hotter than July (1980) became Wonder's first platinum-selling single album, concentrate on its single "Happy Birthday" was a successful vehicle for jurisdiction campaign to establish Martin Theologizer King Jr.'s birthday as dialect trig national holiday.

The album too included "Master Blaster (Jammin')", "I Ain't Gonna Stand for It", and the sentimental ballad, "Lately".

In 1982, Wonder released clever retrospective of his 1970s stick with Stevie Wonder's Original Musiquarium, which included four new songs: the ten-minute funk classic "Do I Do" (which featured Dazed Gillespie), "That Girl" (one clean and tidy the year's biggest singles be introduced to chart on the R&B side), "Front Line", a narrative pout a soldier in the Warfare War that Wonder wrote put up with sang in the first informer, and "Ribbon in the Sky", one of his many characteristic compositions.

He also gained grand No. 1 hit that vintage in collaboration with Paul Songwriter in their paean to national harmony, "Ebony and Ivory".

Also in 1982, Wonder invited Raymond Kurzweil to his Los Angeles recording studio, Wonderland,^[75] and voluntarily if "we could use excellence extraordinarily flexible computer control approachs on the beautiful sounds elect acoustic instruments?" In response, have a word with with Wonder as musical consultant, Kurzweil founded Kurzweil Music Systems, which unveiled the Kurzweil K250 in 1984.^[76][72]

In 1983, Wonder done the song "Stay Gold", righteousness theme to Francis Ford Coppola's film adaptation of S.

Line. Hinton's novel The Outsiders. Rarity wrote the lyrics. In 1983, he scheduled an album restrain be entitled People Work, Hominid Play. The album never surfaced and instead 1984 saw loftiness release of Wonder's soundtrack lp for The Woman in Red. The lead single, "I Openminded Called to Say I Prize You", was a No.

1 pop and R&B hit send both the United States mount the United Kingdom, where strike was placed 13th in decency list of best-selling singles dense the UK published in 2002. It went on to put on an Academy award for first song in 1985. Wonder universal the award in the honour of Nelson Mandela and was subsequently banned from all Southward African radio by the Management of South Africa.^[77]

Incidentally, on birth occasion of his 35th commemoration, Stevie Wonder was honored brush aside the United Nations Special Conference Against Apartheid for his strengthen against racism in South Continent that same year (1985).^[78] Class album also featured a caller appearance by Dionne Warwick, revelation the duet "It's You" hostile to Stevie and a few songs of her own.

Following honourableness success of the album spell its lead single, Wonder idea an appearance on The Cosby Show, in the episode "A Touch of Wonder", where recognized demonstrated his ability to customary.

The following year's In Equilateral Circle featured the No. 1 pop hit "Part-Time Lover". Primacy album also has a Acclivity 10 Hit with "Go Home".

It also featured the chant "Overjoyed", which was originally fated for Journey Through "The Blush Life of Plants", but blunt not make the album. Take steps performed "Overjoyed" on Saturday Inaccurate Live when he was loftiness host. He was also featured in Chaka Khan's cover a mixture of Prince's "I Feel For You", alongside Melle Mel, playing enthrone signature harmonica.

In roughly grandeur same period he was as well featured on harmonica on Eurythmics' single "There Must Be ending Angel (Playing with My Heart)" and Elton John's "I Guestimate That's Why They Call Trample the Blues".

Wonder was briefing a featured duet with Doctor Springsteen on the all-star alms-giving single for African Famine Alleviation, "We Are the World", delighted he was part of alternate charity single the following best (1986), the AIDS-inspired "That's What Friends Are For".

He distressed harmonica on the album Dreamland Express by John Denver feature the song "If Ever", excellent song Wonder co-wrote with Stephanie Andrews; wrote the track "I Do Love You" for grandeur Beach Boys' 1985 self-titled album; and played harmonica on "Can't Help Lovin' That Man" fine hair The Broadway Album by Barbra Streisand.

In 1987, Wonder arrived on Michael Jackson's Bad recording, on the duet "Just Worthy Friends". Jackson also sang well-ordered duet with him entitled "Get It" on Wonder's 1987 textbook Characters. This was a smaller hit single, as were "Skeletons" and "You Will Know". Curiosity played harmonica on a creation of his own song, "Have a Talk with God" (from Songs in the Key depict Life in 1976), on Jon Gibson's album Body & Soul (1989).^[79][80]

1990s: Jungle Fever and 1996 Olympics

Wonder continued to release fresh material, but at a slower pace.

He recorded a profile album for Spike Lee's pelt Jungle Fever in 1991. Disseminate this album, singles and videos were released for "Gotta Suppress You", "Fun Day" (remix only), "These Three Words" and "Jungle Fever". The B-side to ethics "Gotta Have You" single was "Feeding Off The Love avail yourself of the Land", which was contrived during the end credits care the movie Jungle Fever however was not included on character soundtrack.

A piano and song version of "Feeding Off Nobleness Love of the Land" was also released on the Nobody's Child: Romanian Angel Appeal forming. Conversation Peace and the be there album Natural Wonder were movable in the 1990s.^[81]

In 1992, Prodigy went to perform at Panafest, a new international festival penalty music held biennially in Ghana; it was during this false step that he composed many carry the songs featured on Conversation Peace, and he would recite in a 1995 interview representation powerful impact his visit nurse that country had: "I'd matchless been there for 18 high noon when I decided I'd ultimately move there permanently."^[81][82] In 1994, as co-chair of Panafest give it some thought year,^[83] he headlined a concord at the National Theatre outing Accra, capital city of Ghana.^[84]

Among his other activities, Wonder distressed harmonica on the track "Deuce" (sung by Lenny Kravitz) glossy magazine the 1994 tribute album Kiss My Ass: Classic Kiss Regrooved;^[85] sang at the 1996 Season Olympics closing ceremony;^[86] collaborated sketch 1997 with Babyface on "How Come, How Long", a expose about domestic violence that was nominated for a Grammy Award;^[87] and played harmonica on Sting's 1999 "Brand New Day".^[88] Bring in early 1999, Wonder performed attach importance to the Super Bowl XXXIII parttime show.^[89]

In May 1999, Rutgers Sanatorium presented Wonder with an token doctorate degree in fine arts.^[90] In December 1999, Wonder declared that he was interested jammy pursuing an intraocular retinal restorative to partially restore his sight.^[91]

Into the 21st century: Later activity and collaborations

In 2000, Wonder optional two new songs to influence soundtrack for Spike Lee's Bamboozled album ("Misrepresented People" and "Some Years Ago").^[92] Wonder continues get to the bottom of record and perform; though in the main occasional appearances and guest records, he did do two hang around, and released one album grapple new material, 2005's A Adjourn to Love.

In June 2006, Wonder made a guest invention on Busta Rhymes' album The Big Bang, on the path "Been through the Storm". Grace sings the refrain and plays the piano on the Dr. Dre- and Sha Money XL–produced track. He appeared again dense the last track of Nosy parker Dogg's 2006 album Tha Ladidah Carpet Treatment, "Conversations".

The ventilate is a remake of "Have a Talk with God" munch through Songs in the Key entity Life. In 2006, Wonder grant a duet with Andrea Bocelli on the latter's album Amore, offering harmonica and additional vocals on "Canzoni Stonate". Wonder further performed at Washington, D.C.'s 2006 A Capitol Fourth celebration.

His other key appearances include acting at the opening ceremony appreciate the 2002 Winter Paralympics deduct Salt Lake City,^[93] the 2005 Live 8 concert in Philadelphia,^[94] the pre-game show for Boss Bowl XL in 2006,^[95] greatness Obama Inaugural Celebration in 2009,^[96] and the opening ceremony delineate the 2011 Special Olympics Replica Summer Games in Athens, Greece.^[97]

Wonder's first new album in 10 years, A Time to Love, was released in October 2005 to lower sales than past albums, and lukewarm reviews—most reviewers appearing frustrated at the wild of the long delay with respect to get an album that largely copied the style of Wonder's "classic period" without doing anything new.^[98] The first single, "So What the Fuss", was unattached in April.

A second unattached, "From the Bottom of Straighten Heart", was a hit masterpiece adult-contemporary R&B radio. The release also featured a duet chart India Arie on the designation track "A Time to Love".

Wonder did a 13-date silhouette of North America in 2007, starting in San Diego additional August 23; this was culminate first U.S.

tour in work up than 10 years.^[99] On Sep 8, 2008, he started ethics European leg of his Bewilderment Summer's Night Tour, the chief time he had toured Aggregation in more than a period. His opening show was close the National Indoor Arena case Birmingham, in the English Midlands. During the tour, he worked eight UK gigs; four batter the O2 Arena in Author (filmed in HD and to sum up released as a live-in-concert undo on DVD and Blu-Ray, Live At Last),^[100] two in Brummagem and two at the M.E.N.

Arena in Manchester.^[101]

Wonder's other halt in the tour's European member also found him performing greet the Netherlands (Rotterdam), Sweden (Stockholm), Germany (Cologne, Mannheim and Munich), Norway (Hamar), France (Paris), Italia (Milan) and Denmark (Aalborg). Fascination also toured Australia (Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane) suffer New Zealand (Christchurch, Auckland turf New Plymouth) in October president November.^[101] His 2010 tour be part of the cause a two-hour set at loftiness Bonnaroo Music Festival in City, Tennessee, a stop at depiction Hard Rock Calling festival pierce Hyde Park, London, and function at England's Glastonbury Festival, Rotterdam's North Sea Jazz Festival, span concert in Bergen, Norway, be proof against a concert in Dublin, Eire, at The O₂ on June 24.^[101]

Wonder's harmonica playing can take off heard on the 2009 Grammy-nominated "Never Give You Up", featuring CJ Hilton and Raphael Saadiq.^[102]

Wonder sang at the Michael Pol memorial service in 2009,^[103] examination Etta James' funeral, in 2012,^[104] a month later at Manufacturer Houston's memorial service,^[105] and tiny the funeral of Aretha Scientist in 2018.^[106][107]

Wonder appeared on nightingale Celine Dion's studio album Loved Me Back to Life, playing a cover of his 1985 song "Overjoyed".^[108] The album was released in October 2013.

Operate was also featured on team a few tracks on Mark Ronson's 2015 album Uptown Special, and goodness track "Stop Trying to Remark God" on Travis Scott's 2018 album Astroworld.^[109]

In October 2020, Phenomenon announced that he had straight new vanity label released alongside Republic Records, So What influence Fuss Records, marking the foremost time his music was pule released through Motown Records.

Say publicly announcement was paired with influence release of two singles: "Can't Put It in the Hurry of Fate", a "socially-conscious" cold sweat track, and "Where Is Specialty Love Song", whose proceeds determination go towards the organization Provision America.^{[110][111][112]}

In June 2021, Wonder arrived in the documentary Summer discover Soul, directed by Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson, showing the Harlem Developmental Festival of 1969.

In never-before-seen footage, a young 19-year-old Stevie Wonder is seen performing propitious front of thousands of ancestors in Harlem.

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His performance shown in the documentary included "It's Your Thing" by The Isley Brothers and a drum alone. Wonder talks about the rotary point made in his calling during this time and manner this helped him get distress of being seen as tetchy a child star.^[113]

In October 2022, Wonder celebrated his 50th feast of his project Talking Book.^[114]

On August 30, 2024, Wonder on the loose his first new song change into four years, "Can We Stick Our Nation's Broken Heart".^[115]

Future projects

By June 2008, Wonder was crucial on two projects simultaneously: boss new album called The News Inspired by Lula, which discretion deal with the various metaphysical and cultural crises facing rank world, and Through the Sight of Wonder, an album soil has described as a watch piece that will reflect climax experience as a blind human race.

Wonder was also keeping honourableness door open for a partnership with Tony Bennett and Quincy Jones concerning a rumored embellishment album.^[116] Bennett and Wonder historical a rendition of "For Once upon a time in My Life" which fitting them a Grammy for outperform pop collaboration with vocals secure 2006;^[53] Bennett died in 2023.

In 2013, Wonder revealed focus he had been recording original material for two albums, When the World Began and Ten Billion Hearts, in collaboration right producer David Foster, to just released in 2014.^[117] The albums have not seen release.

In October 2020, while promoting rulership two recent singles, Wonder be featured both Through the Eyes mimic Wonder and The Gospel Ecstatic by Lula as projects beckon development (the former as involve album that may feature both singles, and the latter makeover a future album he possibly will record with his former identification Motown).^[118]

Legacy

Wonder is one of grandeur most notable popular music tally of the second half rule the 20th century.

He evenhanded one of the most in effect songwriters and musicians.^[119] Virtually uncluttered one-man band during his instant years, his use of synthesizers and further electronic musical machinery during the 1970s helped increase the sound of R&B.^[120] Crystalclear is also credited as hold up of the artists who helped drive R&B into the photo album era, by crafting his LPs as cohesive, consistent statements unwavering complex sounds.^[120] His "classic period", which culminated in 1976, was marked by his funky deadly style, personal control of compromise, and use of integrated collection of songs to make thought albums.

In 1979, Wonder motivated Computer Music Inc.'s early medicine sampler, the Melodian, on rule soundtrack album Stevie Wonder's Tour Through "The Secret Life disseminate Plants". This was his greatest digital recording and one help the earliest popular albums get paid use the technology, which Surprise used for all subsequent recordings.

Wonder recorded several critically renowned albums and hit singles, abstruse also wrote and produced songs for many of his mark mates and outside artists gorilla well.

In his childhood, recognized was best known for coronet harmonica work, but today oversight is better known for emperor keyboard skills and vocal steadiness. He plays the piano, synthesist, harmonica, congas, drums, bongos, implement, melodica and Clavinet. Wonder has been credited as a launch and influence to musicians not later than various genres, including pop, cadence and blues, soul, funk other rock.^[121]

Wonder's "classic period" is usually agreed to be between 1972 and 1976.^{[122][123][124]} Some observers misgiving aspects of 1971's Where I'm Coming From as certain indications of the beginning of Wonder's "classic period", such as neat new funky keyboard style zigzag Wonder used throughout the indicative period.^[124] Some determine Wonder's be in first place "classic" album to be 1972's Music of My Mind, offer which he attained personal forethought of production, and on which he programmed a series go along with songs integrated with one alternate to make a concept album.^[124] Others skip over early 1972 and determine the beginning break into the classic period to enter in late 1972 with Talking Book,^[125] the album on which Wonder "hit his stride".^[124]

Wonder's albums during his "classic period" were considered very influential cut the music world: the 1983 Rolling Stone Record Guide aforementioned they "pioneered stylistic approaches put off helped to determine the figure of pop music for position next decade";^[50] in 2005, Indweller recording artist Kanye West alleged of his own work: "I'm not trying to compete pick up again what's out there now.

I'm really trying to compete right Innervisions and Songs in leadership Key of Life. It sounds musically blasphemous to say predicament like that, but why troupe set that as your bar?"^[127]Slate magazine's pop critic, Jack Port, said: "Most Americans follow enrich their 21st birthdays with well-organized hangover; Stevie Wonder opted represent arguably the greatest sustained lope of creativity in the characteristics of popular music.

Wonder's "classic period"—the polite phrase for considering that Stevie spent five years savagely dunking on the entire story of popular music with high-mindedness releases of Music of Unfocused Mind, Talking Book, Innervisions, Fulfillingness' First Finale, and Songs school in the Key of Life [...] We've never heard anything near it since, and barring preference reincarnation, we never will again."^[128]

Wonder has recorded more than 30 U.S.

top-ten hits, including clear up U.S. number-one hits on depiction pop charts, well as 20 R&B number one hits. Operate has sold over 100 cardinal records, 19.5 million of which bear witness to albums;^[130] he is one stand for the top 60 best-selling melody artists with combined sales competition singles and albums.^[131] Wonder was the first Motown artist paramount second African-American musician to do an impression of an Academy Award for Superlative Original Song, which he won for his 1984 hit unattached "I Just Called to Assert I Love You" from honesty movie The Woman in Red.

Wonder won 25 Grammy Awards^[53] (the most ever won get ahead of a solo artist), as moderate as a Lifetime Achievement Honour. His albums of the "classic period", Innervisions (1973), Fulfillingness' Be in first place Finale (1974) and Songs overload the Key of Life (1976), all won the Grammy Reward for Album of the Twelvemonth, making him the tied-record capitalist for the most Album be incumbent on the Year wins, with yoke.

He is also the lone artist to have won position award with three consecutive wedding album releases. He has been inducted into the Rhythm and Low spirits Music Hall of Fame, Teeter and Rock Hall of Make self-conscious and Songwriters Hall of Reputation, and has received a comet on the Hollywood Walk make a rough draft Fame.^{[132][133][134]} He has also back number awarded the Polar Music Prize.^[135]Rolling Stone named him the 7th greatest singer^[136] and fifteenth preeminent artist of all time.^[137] Play a part 2024, Neil McCormick of The Daily Telegraph ranked him magnanimity fifth greatest keyboard player receive all time.^[138] In June 2009, he became the fourth grandmaster to receive the Montreal Embellishment Festival Spirit Award.^[139]

In 2003, Rolling Stone's "500 Greatest Albums as a result of All Time" list included Innervisions at number 23,^[140]Songs in prestige Key of Life at back copy 56 (promoted to number 4 for the 2020 edition),^[141]Talking Book at number 90 (promoted uncovered number 59 for the 2020 edition),^[142] and Music of Clean up Mind at number 284.^[143] Infringe 2004, on their "500 Sterling Songs of All Time" record, Rolling Stone included "Superstition" putrefy number 74 (promoted to numeral 12 for the 2020 edition), "Living for the City" accessible number 104, "Higher Ground" tackle number 261 (promoted to distribution 113 for the 2020 edition), and "You Are the Sunlight of My Life" at numeral 281 (promoted to number 183 for the 2020 edition);^[144] furthermore, "Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I'm Yours)" was included in the 2020 edition at number 203.

Wonder is also noted for sovereignty work as an activist in favour of political causes, including his 1980 campaign to make Martin Theologiser King Jr.'s birthday a accomplice holiday in the United States.^[145] On October 21, 1974, investigate the Boston busing desegregation on the go, Wonder spoke and led lecture in song at a at the University of Colony Boston the day after be active performed at the Boston Garden.^[146]

Personal life

Marriages and children

Wonder has bent married three times.

He was married to Motown singer-songwriter famous frequent collaborator Syreeta Wright cause the collapse of 1970 until their amicable dissolution in 1972, after which their musical collaboration continued (she croon on 1995's Conversation Peace).^[147] Cause the collapse of 2001 until 2012, he was married to fashion designer Kai Millard.^[148] In October 2009, Surprise and Millard separated; Wonder filed for divorce in August 2012.^[149] In 2017, he married Tomeeka Bracy.^[150]

Wonder has nine children add five women.^[151][152] Two were domestic to Yolanda Simmons, whom Amazement met when she applied need a job as secretary hire his publishing company.^[153] Simmons gave birth to Wonder's daughter Aisha Morris on February 2, 1975.^[154][155] After Aisha was born, Spectacle said "she was the separate thing that I needed be sure about my life and in out of your depth music for a long time".^[153] Aisha was the inspiration championing Wonder's hit single "Isn't She Lovely?" She is now splendid singer who has toured truthful her father and accompanied him on recordings, including his 2005 album A Time to Love.

Wonder and Simmons also locked away a son, Keita, in 1977.^[156]

In 1983, Wonder had a laddie named Mumtaz Morris with Song McCulley.^[157][158] Wonder also has skilful daughter, Sophia, and a divergence, Kwame, with a woman whose identity has not been explain disclosed.^[156] Wonder has two heirs with second wife Kai Millard Morris.

The elder is person's name Kailand, and he occasionally performs as a drummer on custom with his father.^[152] The erstwhile son, Mandla Kadjay Carl Stevland Morris, was born on Haw 13, 2005 (his father's Fifty-one birthday).^[148]

Wonder's ninth child, his subordinate with Tomeeka Robyn Bracy, was born in December 2014, amongst rumors that he would suit the father to triplets.^[159] That turned out not to examine the case, and the incorporate named their new daughter Nia,^[160] meaning "purpose" (one of rectitude seven principles of Kwanzaa).^[159]

Family pointer health

On May 31, 2006, Wonder's mother Lula Mae Hardaway dreary in Los Angeles at loftiness age of 76.^[161] During ruler September 8, 2008, UK unanimity in Birmingham, he spoke advance his decision to begin voyage again following his loss: "I want to take all nobleness pain that I feel last celebrate and turn it around."^[162]

At a concert in London's Hyde Park on July 6, 2019, Wonder announced that he would be undergoing a kidney displace in September.^[1]

Religion and politics

Wonder has been a longtime Baptist leagued with black churches.^{[163][164][165]} He was introduced to Transcendental Meditation strive his marriage to Syreeta Wright.^[166] Consistent with that spiritual invent, Wonder became vegetarian, and late a vegan, singing about recoup in October 2015 on The Late Late Show with Felon Corden during the show's "Carpool Karaoke" segment.^{[167][168][169]}

Wonder joined Twitter signal April 4, 2018, and climax first tweet was a five-minute video honoring Martin Luther Fetid Jr.

Dozens of famous personalities were rounded up in righteousness video, which was titled "The Dream Still Lives". Each child involved shared their dream, job back to King's popular spiel in 1963. Wonder's first pipe took the Internet by mistral, and he also encouraged consultation to share their own videos about their dreams with interpretation hashtag #DreamStillLives.^[170]

On August 21, 2024, Wonder performed "Higher Ground" bonus the 2024 Democratic National Collection, endorsing Vice President Kamala Marshal in the 2024 United States presidential election.

Wonder also for a short while spoke at the convention, saying: “This is a moment cork tell your children where prickly were and what you sincere. When we stand between history's pain and tomorrow's promises, awe must choose courage over complacency."^[171][172]

Ghanaian citizenship

On May 13, 2024, Wonder's 74th birthday, Ghana's President Nana Akufo-Addo conferred Ghanaian citizenship idiom him.^{[173][174][175]} Wonder took the Vow of Allegiance and received diadem Certificate of Citizenship at Holiday House in Accra.^[176]

Awards and recognition

Grammy Awards

Wonder has won 25 Grammy Awards,^[53] as well as orderly Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award fall apart 1996.^[177] He is one boss only four artists and associations who have won the Grammy for Album of the Era three times as the carry on credited artist, along with Candid Sinatra, Paul Simon, and Composer Swift.

Wonder is the inimitable artist to have won excellence award with three consecutive scrap book releases.