Stevie Wonder (Born Stevland Hardaway Judkins, later Stevland Morris)
Early Life
- Born: May 13, 1950, in Saginaw, Michigan, USA.
- Became blind shortly after birth due to a condition called retinopathy of prematurity.
- Despite this, he showed musical genius early—playing harmonica, piano, and drums as a child.
Career Highlights
- Signed to Motown’s Tamla label at age 11 as “Little Stevie Wonder.”
- His first big hit was “Fingertips (Pt. 2)” (1963)—recorded live when he was just 13.
- Through the 1970s, he became the voice of socially conscious soul music, blending R&B, funk, jazz, pop, and gospel.
- Known for his mastery of synthesizers and electronic instruments, shaping modern R&B and pop.
Major Albums
- Talking Book (1972) — included classics like “Superstition” and “You Are the Sunshine of My Life.”
- Innervisions (1973) — politically and socially charged, with tracks like “Living for the City.”
- Songs in the Key of Life (1976) — widely regarded as one of the greatest albums in music history, featuring “Isn’t She Lovely”, “Sir Duke”, and “As.”
Achievements
- 25 Grammy Awards (the most ever by a solo male artist).
- Academy Award (Oscar) for Best Original Song: I Just Called to Say I Love You (1985).
- Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Inductee (1989).
- Presidential Medal of Freedom (2014).
- Sold over 100 million records worldwide.
Social & Political Influence
- Strong advocate for civil rights, humanitarian causes, and disability rights.
- Played a key role in making Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday a U.S. national holiday, campaigning for years until it was signed into law in 1983.
- Songs like Higher Ground, Living for the City, and Happy Birthday reflect his activism.
Legacy
- Seen as one of the “genius-level” musicians of the 20th and 21st centuries.
- Inspired countless artists across genres—Prince, Beyoncé, John Legend, Alicia Keys, and more.
- Known not only for his music, but for his message of love, unity, and social justice.
