Stevie Wonder

Artist Image: Stevie Wonder
Attribution
Image Credit: Kingkongphoto & www.celebrity-photos.com from Laurel Maryland, USA (Stevie Wonder), CC BY-SA 2.0

Biography

Stevland Hardaway Morris (born May 13, 1950 as Stevland Hardaway Judkins), known by his stage name Stevie Wonder, is an American singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist, a child prodigy who developed into one of the most creative musical figures of the late 20th century. Blind since shortly after birth, Wonder signed with Motown's Tamla label at the age of eleven, and continues to perform and record for Motown to this day. Among Wonder's best known works are singles such as "Superstition", "Sir Duke", "You Are the Sunshine of My Life" and "I Just Called to Say I Love You". Well known albums also include Talking Book, Innervisions and Songs in the Key of Life. He 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. 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 United States. In 2009, Wonder was named a United Nations Messenger of Peace. In 2008, Billboard magazine released a list of the Hot 100 All-Time Top Artists to celebrate the US singles chart's fiftieth anniversary, with Wonder at number five. By popular vote, Stevie was inducted into The SoulMusic Hall of Fame at SoulMusic.com in December 2012.

Details

Item Name Item Details
Year Formed 1961
Number of Albums 50
Record Label
Website www.steviewonder.net
Wikipedia Stevie Wonder on Wikipedia
Social Networks

Trivia

Wonder was a virtual oneman band in what decade?

1970s

... use of synthesizers and other electronic musical instruments during the 1970s , reshaped the conventions of R&B. He also helped drive the genre into t...
When did Wonder hit the Billboard Hot 100?

1963

... statements with complex compositions. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1963 , at the age of 13, making him the youngest artist ever to top the chart....
Wonder was the youngest artist ever to top the chart at what age?

13

...mplex compositions. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1963, at the age of 13 , making him the youngest artist ever to top the chart. Wonder's critical ...
When did Music of My Mind and Talking Book begin?

1972

...itical success was at its peak in the 1970s. His classic period began in 1972 with the releases of Music of My Mind and Talking Book, the latter featu...
What is one of the most distinctive examples of the sound of the Hohner Clavinet keyboard?

Superstition

... releases of Music of My Mind and Talking Book, the latter featuring Superstition , which is one of the most distinctive and famous examples of the sou...
When did Wonder begin his commercial period?

1980s

...ee consecutive album releases. Wonder began his commercial period in the 1980s ; he achieved his biggest hits and highest level of fame, had increased ...
Who did Wonder collaborate with?

Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson

...rity participation, highprofile collaborations (including Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson ), political impact, and television appearances. He has wo...
How many Grammy Awards has Wonder won?

25

...ichael Jackson), political impact, and television appearances. He has won 25 Grammy Awards (the most by a solo artist) and one Academy Award (Best Ori...
How many Academy Awards did Wonder win?

one

... appearances. He has won 25 Grammy Awards (the most by a solo artist) and one Academy Award (Best Original Song, for the 1984 film The Woman in Red). ...
How many children were there in the family?

six

...He was the third of six children born in the family. He was born six weeks premature, which caused retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) which in turn caus...
What was the name of the duo that played on street corners and occasionally at parties?

Stevie and John

...a singing partnership with a friend. The duo, who called themselves Stevie and John , played on street corners, and occasionally at parties. The album ...
When was Stevie's album Music of My Mind released?

March 1972

...ncluded the single Fingertips which went on to become a major hit. In March 1972 , his album Music of My Mind was released. With the success of these a...
What was the name of Wonder's 1980 album?

Hotter Than July

...e reached the peak of his fame with the release of albums, such as Hotter Than July (1980) and Stevie Wonder's Original Musiquarium (1982). It consist...
Wonder reached the peak of his fame with what two albums?

Hotter Than July (1980) and Stevie Wonder's Original Musiquarium (1982).

...me with the release of albums, such as Hotter Than July (1980) and Stevie Wonder's Original Musiquarium (1982). It consisted of hits, such as For Your...
At what age did Stevie Wonder make his recording debut?

11

...Stevie Wonder made his recording debut at age 11 , becoming a 1960s force to be reckoned with via chart hits like Fingertips, Pt. Over the next decade,...
Wonder had a number of No. 1 songs on what genre of music?

pop and R&B charts

.... Over the next decade, Wonder had an array of No. 1 songs on the pop and R&B charts , including Superstition, You Are the Sunshine of My Life and High...
What was the name of a chart-topping hit in the 1980s?

PartTime Lover

... hits into the 1980s, including I Just Called to Say I Love You and PartTime Lover . He was born six weeks early with retinopathy of prematurity, an ey...
What eye disorder did he suffer from when he was born?

retinopathy of prematurity

...Love You and PartTime Lover. He was born six weeks early with retinopathy of prematurity , an eye disorder which was exacerbated when he received too m...
What is retinopathy of prematurity?

an eye disorder

...Lover. He was born six weeks early with retinopathy of prematurity, an eye disorder which was exacerbated when he received too much oxygen in an incub...
How old was Motown Discovery Wonder when he was discovered by Ronnie White?

11 years old

...an incubator, leading to blindness. Motown Discovery Wonder was just 11 years old when he was discovered by Ronnie White of the Motown band The Miracl...
What was the name of the band that discovered Motown Wonder?

The Miracles

... years old when he was discovered by Ronnie White of the Motown band The Miracles . An audition followed with Motown founder Berry Gordy Jr., who didn'...
Who founded Motown?

Berry Gordy Jr.,

...Motown band The Miracles. An audition followed with Motown founder Berry Gordy Jr., who didn't hesitate to sign the young musician to a record deal. I...
What was the name of the Motown songwriter who released his debut album?

Clarence Paul

...e newly renamed Little Stevie Wonder, working with Motown songwriter Clarence Paul , among others, released his debut The Jazz Soul of Little Stevie Wo...
What was Little Stevie Wonder's debut album called?

The Jazz Soul of Little Stevie Wonder

...ngwriter Clarence Paul, among others, released his debut The Jazz Soul of Little Stevie Wonder , an instrumental album that showed off the youngster's ...
In what decade did Stevie Wonder gain popularity?

1960s

...Stevie Wonder gained prominence in the early 1960s as a musical prodigy, and his dance hits and love songs have segued over the years into thoughtful ...
What did Wonder's dance hits and love songs contribute to?

thoughtful commentaries on the joy and injustice in our world

...d love songs have segued over the years into thoughtful commentaries on the joy and injustice in our world . Born in Saginaw, Michigan in 1950, Wonder ...
Where was Wonder born?

Saginaw, Michigan

...ghtful commentaries on the joy and injustice in our world. Born in Saginaw, Michigan in 1950, Wonder became blind shortly after birth. He learned to p...
Wonder became blind shortly after birth in what state?

Michigan

...l commentaries on the joy and injustice in our world. Born in Saginaw, Michigan in 1950, Wonder became blind shortly after birth. He learned to play t...
When did Wonder become blind?

shortly after birth

...our world. Born in Saginaw, Michigan in 1950, Wonder became blind shortly after birth . He learned to play the harmonica, piano and drums by age 9. It ...
Wonder's hit song Pastime Paradise was sampled by Coolio in what year?

1995

...ts I Wish, Sir Duke and Pastime Paradise; the latter song was sampled in 1995 within a hit by another artist, Coolio. Wonders songs have been covered ...
How many No. 1 R&B and Pop singles has Wonder delivered?

32

...ot Chili Peppers, just to name a few. Over the years Wonder has delivered 32 No. 1 R&B and Pop singles, 49 Top 40 R&B and Pop singles, and garnered 25...
In what film was I Just Called to Say I Love You based?

The Woman in Red

...ard for the 1984 hit I Just Called to Say I Love You from the film The Woman in Red . In 1999, Wonder became the youngest honoree of the Kennedy Center...
In what year was Wonder inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame?

2002

...nedy Center Honors. He was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2002 , and in 2004 he won the Johnny Mercer Award in recognition of a lifetime...
What award did Wonder win in 2004?

Johnny Mercer Award

...ucted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2002, and in 2004 he won the Johnny Mercer Award in recognition of a lifetime of outstanding creative work....
In what year did he win the Johnny Mercer Award?

2004

...onors. He was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2002, and in 2004 he won the Johnny Mercer Award in recognition of a lifetime of outstandi...
Wonder was blind since what age?

birth

...Blind virtually since birth , Wonder's heightened awareness of sound helped him create vibrant, colorful music teeming with life and ambition. His rang...
Wonder's heightened awareness of sound helped him create what kind of music teeming with life and ambition?

vibrant, colorful

...ce birth, Wonder's heightened awareness of sound helped him create vibrant, colorful music teeming with life and ambition. His range helped account fo...
Wonder's use of synthesizers in the '70s changed the face of what genre?

R&B

...nder's pioneering use of synthesizers during the '70s changed the face of R&B ; he employed a kaleidoscope of contrasting textures and voices that made...
Wonder's LPs were consistent statements with compositions that often took time to make what point?

their point

... consistent statements with compositions that often took time to make their point . All of this made Wonder perhaps R&B's greatest individual auteur, r...
Who were Wonder and Isaac Hayes along with?

Marvin Gaye

...band, all the while evoking a surprisingly organic warmth. Along with Marvin Gaye and Isaac Hayes, Wonder brought R&B into the album age, crafting his...
Who did Wonder rival in later days?

Prince

...B's greatest individual auteur, rivaled only by Gaye or, in later days, Prince . Wonder remained active consistently as times and trends came and went,...
Wonder launched a label of his own to what?

release new material in 2020

...e '80s, '90s, and 2000s, and launching a label of his own to release new material in 2020 . Wonder was born Stevland Hardaway Judkins in Saginaw, Michi...
Wonder was born in Saginaw, Michigan, on what date?

May 13, 1950

.... Wonder was born Stevland Hardaway Judkins in Saginaw, Michigan, on May 13, 1950 (his name was later altered to Stevland Morris when his mother marri...
What was Wonder's name later changed to?

Stevland Morris

...n Saginaw, Michigan, on May 13, 1950 (his name was later altered to Stevland Morris when his mother married). A premature infant, he was put on oxygen...
Where was Wonder put on oxygen treatment?

A premature infant

...me was later altered to Stevland Morris when his mother married). A premature infant , he was put on oxygen treatment in an incubator; it was likely an...
In what city did Wonder move to in 1954?

Detroit

...thy of prematurity, causing his blindness. In 1954, his family moved to Detroit , where the already musically inclined Wonder began singing in his chur...
What instrument did Wonder learn at the age of nine?

harmonica

... there he blossomed into a genuine prodigy, learning piano, drums, and harmonica all by the age of nine. While performing for some of his friends in 1...
Who discovered Wonder while performing for some of his friends in 1961?

Ronnie White

...ile performing for some of his friends in 1961, he was discovered by Ronnie White of the Miracles, who helped arrange an audition with Berry Gordy at ...
What was Berry Gordy, Jr.'s job title?

president

...an by age eight. Renamed Little Stevie Wonder by Berry Gordy, Jr., the president of Motown Recordsto whom he was introduced by Ronnie White, a member ...
At what age did LittleStevie Wonder make his recording debut?

12

...nie White, a member of the MiraclesWonder made his recording debut at age 12 . The soulful quality of his highpitched singing and the frantic harmonica...
What was Wonder's first hit single?

Fingertips (Part 2),

...rized his early recordings were evident in his first hit single, Fingertips (Part 2), recorded during a show at Chicagos Regal Theatre in 1963. But Wo...
Where was Wonder performing at in 1963?

Chicagos Regal Theatre

...irst hit single, Fingertips (Part 2), recorded during a show at Chicagos Regal Theatre in 1963. But Wonder was much more than a freakish prepubescent ...
When was Where Im Coming From released?

1971

... organ, harmonica, and drums. Where Im Coming From, an album released in 1971 , hinted not merely at an expanded musical range but, in its lyrics and i...
What was the name of the album by Marvin Gaye?

Whats Going On

...in. In the interim he had been strongly influenced by Marvin Gaye s Whats Going On , the album in which his Motown stablemate moved away from the label...
What was the name of the extended work by Stevie wonders?

Journey Through the Secret Life of Plants

... and overambitious extended work called Stevie Wonders Journey Through the Secret Life of Plants . The best of his work formed a vital link between the...
In what year was I Just Called to Say I Love You released?

1984

...isticated his music became, he was never too proud to write something as apparently slight as the romantic gem I Just Called to Say I Love You ( 1984 )....
Who was Stevie Wonder's mother?

Lula Mae Hardaway

...oneer and innovator in the music industry. Stevie Wonder's mother, Lula Mae Hardaway left her husband and moved herself and her children to Detroit. D...
What instrument did Stevland Morris play growing up?

piano

...orris. Stevland Morris growing up played various instruments such as the piano , harmonica, drums, and bass. Stevland Morris never played a lot of outd...
Who was the original discoverer of Stevtand Morris?

Gerald White

... his protective mother. Stevland Morris was originally discovered by Gerald White who often persuaded his brother, soul singer Ronnie White to visit t...
Who wrote about Stevie Wonder in the New Yorker in 1950?

Giles Smith

...realize just how beloved an entertainer he is. It dawned on me, wrote Giles Smith in the New Yorker, that a substantial part of Stevie Wonder's public...
How many siblings did he and his siblings have?

five

...ured in a 1986 Life interview, but I could be dreaming. His father left the family early on, and he and his five siblings were raised by their mother....
Steve Wonder is well known for his innovative sound and clever use of what?

electronic instruments

...ory and is wellknown for his innovative sound and clever use of electronic instruments . Steve Wonder is known for blending a number of musical genres ...
What Motown label did Littlestevie Wonder sign with at the age of eleven?

Tamla

...rodigy nicknamed Little Stevie Wonder. He was signed to the Motown label Tamla at the age of only eleven. He has the distinction of being the youngest...