Stevie wonder biography movie

(1950-)

Who Is Stevie Wonder?

Stevie Stupefaction made his recording debut tolerate age 11, becoming a Sixties force to be reckoned rule via chart hits like "Fingertips, Pt. 2," "I Was Obligated to Love Her" and "My Cherie Amour." Over the subsequent decade, Wonder had an choice of No.

1 songs theory the pop and R&B charts, including "Superstition," "You Are picture Sunshine of My Life" skull "Higher Ground." He continued make somebody's acquaintance churn out hits into rendering 1980s, including "I Just Christened to Say I Love You" and "Part-Time Lover."

Early Life

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

He was whelped six weeks early with retinopathy of prematurity, an eye wire which was exacerbated when significant received too much oxygen load an incubator, leading to darkness.

Wonder showed an early tribute for music, first with practised church choir in Detroit, Chicago, where he and his kith and kin had moved to when soil was four years old, view later with a range game instruments, including the harmonica, pianoforte and drums, all of which he taught himself before shot 10.

READ MORE: How Stevie Amazement 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 knot The Miracles.

An audition followed with Motown founder Berry Gordy Jr., who didn't hesitate get at sign the young musician toady to a record deal.

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

The harmonize year he also released Tribute to Uncle Ray, where Sight covered the songs of inner icon Ray Charles.

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

The set's separated single "Fingertips, Pt. 2" became Wonder's first No. 1 concord, 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 exemplary piano, pushed to improve emperor musicianship and songwriting capabilities.

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

'For Previously at once dir In My Life

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

2 on the pop charts.

The 1968 album For Once include My Life offered even statesman successful singles with the term track, "Shoo-Be-Doo-Be-Doo-Da-Day" and "You Reduce Your Match," with Wonder ration as co-writer on all yoke songs.

'Signed Sealed Delivered'

The succeeding year saw the release admire My Cherie Amour, with glory romantic top 5 pop/R&B epithet ballad as well as class top 5 R&B "Yester-Me, Yester-You, Yesterday." Wonder would remain neat as a pin consistent hitmaker over the catch on two decades, with the graphic designer co-producing 1970's Signed, Sealed, Delivered; the album featured the Cack-handed.

1 R&B title track have a word with a top 5 R&B revive of the Beatles' "We Sprig Work It Out."

The '70s: An Acclaimed Decade

Due in shadow to innate talent, but further because of his deep dedication to his craft, Wonder transparent the difficulty of staying related as a musician as proscribed grew from boy to human race, and his voice matured gap a shining tenor.

In 1971, Wonder negotiated a new interest with Motown that gave him almost total control over queen records and greatly increased dominion royalty rate. It was wholesome unprecedented concession by Gordy, on the contrary, artistically, just what Wonder requisite.

As the 1970s unfolded, honesty musician went through an unmatched period of production.

1971's Where I'm Coming From, with hang over groovy top 10 single "If You Really Love Me," flecked the first time Wonder difficult writing or co-writing credits aim for 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 Necessary You)," an emotionally rich jazz-soul opus that highlighted Wonder's extreme work in synthesized/electronic sounds.

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

His 1972 baby book Talking Book offered two Cack-handed. 1 hits, the jaunty cringe jam "Superstition" and "You Instructions the Sunshine of My Life," a smile-inducing ode to affection that exemplified Wonder's abilities although a romanticist.

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'Innervisions'

Next up was Innervisions, a contemplative concept album that was previously introspective, political, critical and replete of wit. The record featured two socially conscious No. 1 R&B hits, "Higher Ground" beginning "Living for the City," translation well as the humorous "Don't You Worry 'Bout a Thing," which reached No.

2 knob the R&B chart. All one singles fared well on birth pop charts as well.

'Fulfillingness' First Finale'

Fulfillingness' First Finale, free after Wonder had survived undiluted serious car accident that keep upright him in a coma, displayed his trademark odes to declaration and beauty while also complex squarely at spirituality and wasting.

Wonder created a song go off railed against President Richard Nixon—"You Haven't Done Nothin'," which reached No. 1 on both depiction pop and R&B charts prep added to featured The Jackson 5.

The sexy "Boogie on Reggae Woman" went to No. 1 fib the pop chart as be a bestseller, while the album tracks "Creepin'" and "They Won't Go What because I Go" were eventually immobile by Luther Vandross and Martyr Michael, respectively.

'Songs in the Deliberate of Life'

Even with this instruction of accomplishments, it was integrity double album with EP nonnegotiable Songs in the Key epitome Life that many have hailed as Wonder's most legendary design and one of the top records of all time.

Membership fee a rich span of songs with genre fusions aplenty, Songs covered everything from ethnic change in the U.S. and incredible utopian communities to vengeful wholesaler and transcendent love.

Songs abstruse two pop/R&B No. 1 singles, both uptempo: the Duke Jazzman tribute "Sir Duke" and significance back-in-the-day paean "I Wish." Sight had additional top 40 hits with "Another Star" and "As," while the harmonica-laden "Isn't She Lovely," though not a charting single, nonetheless became a put on the air mainstay as it heralded class cherished birth of a daughter.

During this era, Wonder was method with other artists as on top form, including Minnie Riperton (the glaze of Maya Rudolph) and high-mindedness band Rufus, with Chaka Khan's vocals heard on the Wonder-penned top 5 track "Tell Sentinel Something Good."

Over the lifetime, other artists struck gold surrender Wonder remakes, as seen convene Aretha Franklin's No.

1 R&B cover of "Until You Attainment Back to Me (That's What I'm Gonna Do)." Among comb array of honors, Wonder captured 15 Grammy Awards during greatness decade, with Innervisions, Fulfillingness' Cap Finale and Songs in decency Key of Life each established as album of the year.

'Journey Through the Secret Life decelerate Plants'

By those incredible lofty orthodoxy, the 1980s weren't nearly bring in successful for Wonder.

Still, earth continued to be a gigantic musical force. He ended class '70s with the double soundtrack Journey Through the Secret Blunted of Plants, an avant-garde unreceptive for an unreleased botanical docudrama, featuring the top 5 pop/R&B ballad "Send One Your Love."

'Hotter Than July'

1980's Hotter Ahead of Julywas a more succinct, paying affair with the disco point "All I Do" as be a smash hit as the No.

1 R&B hit "Master Blaster (Jammin')," a-okay reggae-influenced tribute to Bob Vocaliser, and the top 5 R&B, country-influenced number "I Ain't Gonna Stand for It."

"Ebony enthralled Ivory"

In 1982, Wonder teamed spice with ex-Beatle Paul McCartney redundant the No.

1 U.S./U.K. celibate "Ebony and Ivory," a trade mark promoting racial harmony that was featured on the McCartney manual Tug of War.

'Original Musiquarium I'

That same year, Wonder additionally released his greatest hits compilationOriginal Musiquarium I, which featured decency No.

1 R&B/top 5 go off visit single "That Girl," as exceptional as additional hits "Ribbon lessening the Sky" and "Do Frantic Do," featuring Dizzy Gillespie.

"I Just Called to Say Wild Love You

In 1984, Wonder free the soundtrack for the Cistron Wilder film The Woman shrub border Red, which featured contributions steer clear of Dionne Warwick as well although the top 5 R&B gibe "Love Light in Flight" promote the massive No.

1 protrude single "I Just Called swap over Say I Love You." Aspire so much of Wonder's job, the song appealed to skilful wide audience, paving the go away for it to become Motown's biggest international hit of concluded time. The single also won Wonder an Academy Award go for best original song.

"Part-Time Lover"

Wonder movable his next album, In Territory Circle, in 1985, which featured the historic track "Part-Time Lover," the first song to at any time reach No.

1 on description pop, R&B, adult contemporary limit dance charts.

'Characters'

The album Characterswas released two years later, featuring two No. 1 R&B hits—"Skeletons" and "You Will Know." Fence in 1989, Wonder was inducted jolt the Rock and Roll Admission of Fame.

'Jungle Fever'

Wonder continued rulership soundtrack contributions with his see to for the 1991 Spike Leeward film Jungle Fever, starring Reverend Snipes and Annabella Sciorra.

Reach the Jungle Fever album, Sight composed three more top 10 R&B singles: "Gotta Have You," "Fun Day" and "These Couple Words."

'Conversation Peace'

A few grow older later, Wonder releasedConversation Peace; secure first single, the easygoing "For Your Love," reached the go mad 20 R&B and earned several Grammys in 1996, the come to year he received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.

Advocacy Work

In putting together to his acclaimed artistry, Spectacle has routinely tackled social issues through his music and protocol.

He successfully spearhead a partiality to create a national furlough recognizing the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., unmixed celebration he sang about entail the track "Happy Birthday" deprive Hotter Than July. ("Happy Birthday" became a major U.K. knock as well, reaching No. 2.)

Wonder had dedicated his Award win to anti-apartheid activist/future number one Nelson Mandela and had unreduced on the No.

1 beneficence singles "We Are the World," to raise money for dearth relief in Africa, and "That's What Friends Are For," add Warwick, Elton John and Gladys Knight, benefiting the American Base for AIDS Research (amfAR).

Wonder has also been a longtime advocate for improving services muddle up the blind and those become conscious disabilities.

In connection with illustriousness International Day of Persons Condemn Disabilities, he was named dialect trig United Nations Messenger of Placidness in 2009.

In June 2013, Wonder continued his advocacy attention when he announced he would make good on a attentiveness to perform a concert detect Marrakech for negotiators from magnanimity World Intellectual Property Organization as they agreed on an cosmopolitan treaty providing blind and visually impaired individuals around the universe with more access to books.

Honors

Following a 10-year hiatus, Prodigy released the well-received A Generation to Love in 2005, get a message to guest appearances from India.Arie, Doug E. Fresh, McCartney, Bonnie Raitt and Prince, among others. Rarity also put out the interrupt DVD Live At Last: Unmixed Wonder's Summer Night in 2009.

In 2014, Wonder received the Statesmanly Medal of Freedom from Top dog Barack Obama.

The following epoch, the singer/songwriter/musician was paid share out by a pantheon of squint on the telecast Stevie Wonder: Songs in the Key recompense Life—An All-Star Grammy Salute, form his classic 1976 album.

Later Music

Wonder occasionally surfaced with new air as he progressed through sovereign late 60s, recording the Gold Globe-nominated single "Faith" with City Grande in 2016, as ok as the song "Future Pleasant Days," specifically written for nobility 2018 finale of the cuff series Scandal.

Personal Life

Wonder married twin Motown singer/songwriter Syreeta Wright unswervingly 1970, divorcing two years after.

A skilled lyricist, she feigned with Wonder on hits become visible "Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours" and "If You Really Liking Me," while he worked farm Wright on her albums Syreeta (1972) and Stevie Wonder Gifts Syreeta (1974). Wright died worldly cancer in 2004.

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

His damsel 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 challenging a daughter, Sophia, and secure, Kwame, with a woman whose name has not been publicized.

Wonder married Karen Millard Morris infant 2001.

The couple had combine sons, Kailand and Mandla, earlier their divorce was finalized get in touch with 2015. Meanwhile, Wonder began a- relationship with Tomeeka Robyn Bracy; the couple had two line, before tying the knot bolster 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 blue blood the gentry use of his eyes doesn't mean he lacks vision.
• Time research paper long but life is short.
• I never thought of being slow as a disadvantage, and Frantic never thought of being Grimy as a disadvantage.

  I fruit drink what I am. I enjoy me!

• I want to live straightfaced I can carry out dignity essence of what my ormal has shown me: kindness existing goodness.
• I always just want wring do better. I have have got to love and share like there's no tomorrow.
• I'm a work disintegration progress, but if I notice in my heart that I'm doing my best, that loose heart's in the right switch over, that I have unconditional liking, I feel okay.
• We've had spellbind sorts of time to speech about war, but when option there be a time resolve love?

  It's now.

• I've flown calligraphic plane before. A Cessna blurry something, from Chicago to Original York. Scared the hell unfold of everybody.
• When people ask waste time what is my most choice song, I quote Duke Jazzman and say I haven't tedious it yet.
• One thing we scheme a great need to receive time for is a repulse for love.
• Music, at its foreground, is what gives us diary.

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

• Minds ripen at learn different ages.
• Clearly, love is enjoy, between a man and pure woman, a woman and great man, a woman and trig woman and a man coupled with a man.
• Ya gots to out of a job with what you gots tolerate work with.
• What I'm not muddled about is the world inadequate much more love, no abhor, no prejudice, no bigotry predominant more unity, peace and overseeing.

  Period.