Saturday 4 February 2012

Born Stevland Hardaway Judkins in Michigan, Stevie Wonder followed his musical interests from a tender age. He went blind after birth as a result of receiving too much oxygen in the incubator as a premature baby, Stevie showed an early gift for music. He taught himself to play the harmonica, piano, and drumsall before the age of ten years.

Stevie Wonder’s breakthrough came at age 11. He was discovered by Ronnie White of the Motown band, the Miracles. An audition followed with Motown founder, Berry Gordy Jr., who didn’t hesitate to sign the talented child to a record deal in 1962. By this time Stevie had changed from Stevland Morris to the newly renamed Little Stevie Wonder. He worked with a Motown songwriter and released his debut album, Little Stevie Wonder the 12 Year Old Genius.

In 1964 Stevie Wonder dropped the word ‘Little’ from his title to suite his great success and growth.  He went on to study classical piano to improve his musicianship and song writing capabilities. This led to him releasing his successful single, “Uptight (Everything’s Alright)”. Over the course of his long career, Wonder has been married twice and has seven children.

Stevie Wonder is known for his commitment to the craft and for close to 50 years he has been articulate about his career in music. Wonder independently recorded two albums, which he used as a bargaining tool while negotiating with Motown to get full creative control and the rights to his own songs. This followed his return to Motown in March 1972 when he released ‘Music of My Mind’.

Live performances by Stevie Wonder are spectacular. As a prominent reformer in pop music, Wonder performed Bridge Over Troubled Water for the Hope for Haiti, Global Benefit for Earthquake Relief.  Another grand performance was at the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Athens. Wonder’s studio production has slowed  down with his 2005 release; A Time to Love being the last of his works to date.

Wonder 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. Stevie 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 US. In 2008, he was number 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 All-Time Top Artists list and in 2009, he was named a United Nations Messenger of Peace.