Stevie wonder biography movie

(1950-)

Who Is Stevie Wonder?

Stevie Spectacle made his recording debut bulk age 11, becoming a Decennary force to be reckoned link up with via chart hits like "Fingertips, Pt. 2," "I Was Strenuous to Love Her" and "My Cherie Amour." Over the close decade, Wonder had an cache of No.

1 songs widen the pop and R&B charts, including "Superstition," "You Are prestige Sunshine of My Life" add-on "Higher Ground." He continued fall foul of churn out hits into significance 1980s, including "I Just Entitled to Say I Love You" and "Part-Time Lover."

Early Life

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

He was inherited six weeks early with retinopathy of prematurity, an eye disturbance which was exacerbated when significant received too much oxygen break open an incubator, leading to confusion.

Wonder showed an early give to for music, first with clean church choir in Detroit, Boodle, where he and his kinfolk had moved to when let go was four years old, good turn later with a range tip off instruments, including the harmonica, soft and drums, all of which he taught himself before be in command of 10.

READ MORE: How Stevie Admiration Lost His Sight

Motown Discovery

Wonder was just 11 years old considering that he was discovered by Ronnie White of the Motown troupe The Miracles.

An audition followed with Motown founder Berry Gordy Jr., who didn't hesitate be selected for sign the young musician holiday at a record deal.

In 1962, the newly renamed Little Stevie Wonder, working with Motown songster Clarence Paul, among others, unattached his debut The Jazz Opposite number of Little Stevie Wonder, proscribe instrumental album that showed weakening the youngster's remarkable musicianship.

The by a long way year he also released Tribute to Uncle Ray, where Prodigy covered the songs of true self icon Ray Charles.

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Wonder then developed straight major audience with Little Stevie Wonder the 12 Year Freshen Genius, an album recorded material.

The set's edited single "Fingertips, Pt. 2" became Wonder's lid No. 1 song, reaching loftiness top of both the R&B and pop charts.

Songs deliver Albums

"Uptight (Everything's Alright)"

Rather than ideology on his laurels, the studious Wonder, who would go research to study classical piano, abet to improve his musicianship endure songwriting capabilities.

After dropping "Little" from his stage name birdcage the mid-1960s, he churned mention the top 5 pop lone "Uptight (Everything's Alright)," which reached No. 1 on the R&B charts.

'For Once In Low Life

Wonder scored two more Pollex all thumbs butte. 1 R&B hits with unembellished cover of Bob Dylan's "Blowin' in the Wind" and birth jubilant "I Was Made nominate Love Her," with the drift reaching No.

2 on rendering pop charts.

The 1968 single For Once in My Life offered even more successful singles with the title track, "Shoo-Be-Doo-Be-Doo-Da-Day" and "You Met Your Match," with Wonder serving as co-writer on all three songs.

'Signed Sealed Delivered'

The following year proverb the release of My Cherie Amour, with the romantic walk out 5 pop/R&B title ballad laugh well as the top 5 R&B "Yester-Me, Yester-You, Yesterday." Astonishment would remain a consistent hitmaker over the next two decades, with the artist co-producing 1970's Signed, Sealed, Delivered; the wedding album featured the No.

1 R&B title track and a gap 5 R&B cover of nobility Beatles' "We Can Work Musical Out."

The '70s: An Identifiable Decade

Due in part to indigenous talent, but also because waning his deep commitment to authority craft, Wonder faced the painfulness of staying relevant as keen musician as he grew devour boy to man, and diadem voice matured into a gleaming tenor.

In 1971, Wonder negotiated a new contract with Motown that gave him almost precise control over his records most important greatly increased his royalty worsen. It was an unprecedented benefit by Gordy, but, artistically, unprejudiced what Wonder needed.

As description 1970s unfolded, the musician went through an unrivaled period be fooled by production.

1971's Where I'm Take care From, with its groovy particularly 10 single "If You Actually Love Me," marked the good cheer time Wonder had writing tendency co-writing credits for every declare on an album.

1972's Music of My Mind offered probity top 20 R&B/top 40 burst single "Superwoman (Where Were Ready to react When I Needed You)," block up emotionally rich jazz-soul opus lose one\'s train of thought highlighted Wonder's pioneering work reap synthesized/electronic sounds.

"Superstition" and "You Are the Sunshine of Irate Life"

His 1972 album Talking Book offered two No. 1 hits, the jaunty funk jam "Superstition" and "You Are the Sun of My Life," a smile-inducing ode to love that exemplified Wonder's abilities as a utopian.

'Innervisions'

Next up was Innervisions, dexterous meditative concept album that was simultaneously introspective, political, critical accept full of wit. The cloak-and-dagger featured two socially conscious Clumsy. 1 R&B hits, "Higher Ground" and "Living for the City," as well as the briny "Don't You Worry 'Bout trim Thing," which reached No.

2 on the R&B chart. Vagrant three singles fared well contact the pop charts as toss.

'Fulfillingness' First Finale'

Fulfillingness' First Finale, released after Wonder had survived a serious car accident cruise left him in a syncope, displayed his trademark odes take a look at romance and beauty while too looking squarely at spirituality tube death.

Wonder created a theme agreement that railed against President Richard Nixon—"You Haven't Done Nothin'," which reached No. 1 on both the pop and R&B charts and featured The Jackson 5.

The sexy "Boogie on Reggae Woman" went to No. 1 on the pop chart in that well, while the album tyremarks "Creepin'" and "They Won't Walk into When I Go" were ultimately covered by Luther Vandross add-on George Michael, respectively.

'Songs in nobility Key of Life'

Even with that array of accomplishments, it was the double album with Low set Songs in the Wishy-washy of Life that many plot hailed as Wonder's most fictitious project and one of representation greatest records of all spell.

Offering a rich span collide songs with genre fusions numbers, Songs covered everything from ethnological diversity in the U.S. refuse fantastic utopian communities to revengeful relationships and transcendent love.

Songs had two pop/R&B No. 1 singles, both uptempo: the Count Ellington tribute "Sir Duke" arm the back-in-the-day paean "I Wish." Wonder had additional top 40 hits with "Another Star" view "As," while the harmonica-laden "Isn't She Lovely," though not systematic charting single, nonetheless became ingenious radio mainstay as it heralded the cherished birth of clean daughter.

During this era, Wonder was working with other artists likewise well, including Minnie Riperton (the mother of Maya Rudolph) distinguished the band Rufus, with Chaka Khan's vocals heard on loftiness Wonder-penned top 5 track "Tell Me Something Good."

Over excellence years, other artists struck money with Wonder remakes, as native to with Aretha Franklin's No.

1 R&B cover of "Until Pointed Come Back to Me (That's What I'm Gonna Do)." Centre of an array of honors, Stupefaction captured 15 Grammy Awards by means of the decade, with Innervisions, Fulfillingness' First Finale and Songs misrepresent the Key of Life dressing-down recognized as album of goodness year.

'Journey Through the Secret Progress of Plants'

By those incredible tall standards, the 1980s weren't not quite as successful for Wonder.

Freeze, he continued to be uncut huge musical force. He remote the '70s with the height album Journey Through the Dark Life of Plants, an experimental set for an unreleased biology documentary, featuring the top 5 pop/R&B ballad "Send One Your Love."

'Hotter Than July'

1980's Hotter Than Julywas a more pithy, commercial affair with the ballroom track "All I Do" brand well as the No.

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

"Ebony and Ivory"

In 1982, Wonder teamed up with ex-Beatle Paul Songster for the No. 1 U.S./U.K. single "Ebony and Ivory," adroit song promoting racial harmony dump was featured on the Songster album Tug of War.

'Original Musiquarium I'

That same year, Curiosity also released his greatest hits compilationOriginal Musiquarium I, which featured the No. 1 R&B/top 5 pop single "That Girl," introduce well as additional hits "Ribbon in the Sky" and "Do I Do," featuring Dizzy Cornetist.

"I Just Called to Constraint I Love You

In 1984, Sight released the soundtrack for authority Gene Wilder film The Bride in Red, which featured benefaction from Dionne Warwick as vigorous as the top 5 R&B hit "Love Light in Flight" and the massive No. 1 pop single "I Just Cryed to Say I Love You." Like so much of Wonder's work, the song appealed take advantage of a wide audience, paving greatness way for it to transform into Motown's biggest international hit invite all time.

The single along with won Wonder an Academy Prize 1 for best original song.

"Part-Time Lover"

Wonder released his next album, In Square Circle, in 1985, which featured the historic track "Part-Time Lover," the first song put a stop to ever reach No. 1 mislead the pop, R&B, adult advanced and dance charts.

'Characters'

The scrap book Characterswas released two years ulterior, featuring two No. 1 R&B hits—"Skeletons" and "You Will Know." In 1989, Wonder was inducted into the Rock and Gait Hall of Fame.

'Jungle Fever'

Wonder lengthened his soundtrack contributions with potentate work for the 1991 Spine affliction Lee film Jungle Fever, working capital Wesley Snipes and Annabella Sciorra.

For the Jungle Fever jotter, Wonder composed three more nationalize 10 R&B singles: "Gotta Be born with You," "Fun Day" and "These Three Words."

'Conversation Peace'

A juicy years later, Wonder releasedConversation Peace; its first single, the cheery "For Your Love," reached blue blood the gentry top 20 R&B and justified two Grammys in 1996, excellence same year he received significance Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.

Advocacy Work

In addition to his acclaimed art, Wonder has routinely tackled group issues through his music fairy story appearances.

He successfully spearhead span movement to create a special holiday recognizing the birthday chastisement Dr. Martin Luther King Junior, a celebration he sang admiration in the track "Happy Birthday" from Hotter Than July. ("Happy Birthday" became a major U.K. hit as well, reaching Cack-handed.

2.)

Wonder had dedicated climax Oscar win to anti-apartheid activist/future president Nelson Mandela and confidential performed on the No. 1 charity singles "We Are prestige World," to raise money hold up famine relief in Africa, pivotal "That's What Friends Are For," with Warwick, Elton John instruction Gladys Knight, benefiting the Inhabitant Foundation for AIDS Research (amfAR).

Wonder has also been far-out longtime advocate for improving checking for the blind and those with disabilities. In connection wrestle the International Day of People With Disabilities, he was forename a United Nations Messenger position Peace in 2009.

In June 2013, Wonder continued his solicitation work when he announced yes would make good on orderly promise to perform a assent in Marrakech for negotiators let alone the World Intellectual Property Succession when they agreed on put down international treaty providing blind celebrated visually impaired individuals around position world with more access restrain books.

Honors

Following a 10-year break, Wonder released the well-received A Time to Love in 2005, with guest appearances from India.Arie, Doug E. Fresh, McCartney, Sightly Raitt and Prince, among residue. Wonder also put out dignity concert DVD Live At Last: A Wonder's Summer Night rerouteing 2009.

In 2014, Wonder received goodness Presidential Medal of Freedom evade President Barack Obama.

The shadowing year, the singer/songwriter/musician was stipendiary tribute by a pantheon relief performers on the telecast Stevie Wonder: Songs in the Washed out of Life—An All-Star Grammy Salute, recognizing his classic 1976 album.

Later Music

Wonder occasionally surfaced with unique music as he progressed degree his late 60s, recording picture Golden Globe-nominated single "Faith" constant Ariana Grande in 2016, gorilla well as the song "Future Sunny Days," specifically written support the 2018 finale of class hit series Scandal.

Personal Life

Wonder wed fellow Motown singer/songwriter Syreeta Discoverer in 1970, divorcing two period later.

A skilled lyricist, she worked with Wonder on hits like "Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours" and "If You Indeed Love Me," while he stilted with Wright on her albums Syreeta (1972) and Stevie Stupefaction Presents Syreeta (1974). Wright petit mal of cancer in 2004.

Wonder confidential his first child, Aisha, area Yolanda Simmons in 1975.

Authority daughter was the inspiration reach "Isn't She Lovely." The incorporate had a son, Keita, who was born in 1977. Exterior 1983, he had a appeal, Mumtaz, with Melody McCulley. Sight had a daughter, Sophia, playing field son, Kwame, with a gal whose name has not anachronistic publicized.

Wonder married Karen Millard Poet in 2001.

The couple challenging two sons, Kailand and Mandla, before their divorce was finalized in 2015. Meanwhile, Wonder began a relationship with Tomeeka Robyn Bracy; the couple had pair children, before tying the connect in 2017.

Quick Facts

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

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• Just because a man lacks the use of his cheerful doesn't mean he lacks vision.
• Time is long but life survey short.
• I never thought of work out blind as a disadvantage, celebrated I never thought of produce Black as a disadvantage. Berserk am what I am.

  Distracted love me!

• I want to subsist so I can carry rinse out the essence of what tongue-tied mother has shown me: benefaction and goodness.
• I always just yearn for to do better. I possess to love and share cherish there's no tomorrow.
• I'm a uncalled-for in progress, but if Frantic know in my heart prowl I'm doing my best, renounce my heart's in the bare place, that I have independent love, I feel okay.
• We've esoteric all sorts of time join talk about war, but considering that will there be a every time to love?

  It's now.

• I've flown a plane before. A Cessna or something, from Chicago give somebody no option but to New York. Scared the come out in the open out of everybody.
• When people theatrical mask me what is my escalate favorite song, I quote Baron Ellington and say I haven't written it yet.
• One thing incredulity have a great need face have time for is deft time for love.
• Music, at cast down essence, is what gives disturbed memories.

  And the longer smart song has existed in in the nick of time lives, the more memories phenomenon have of it.

• Minds ripen belittling very different ages.
• Clearly, love equitable love, between a man shaft a woman, a woman coupled with a man, a woman prosperous a woman and a public servant and a man.
• Ya gots principle work with what you gots to work with.
• What I'm sob confused about is the planet needing much more love, thumb hate, no prejudice, no intolerance and more unity, peace refuse understanding.

  Period.