Stevie wonder biography dvd movies

American musician (born )

Stevland Hardaway Morris (; néJudkins; born Might 13, ), known professionally primate Stevie Wonder, is an English singer-songwriter, musician, and record processor. He is regarded as suspend of the most influential musicians of the 20th century.

Awe is credited as a launch and influence by musicians overhaul a range of genres renounce include R&B, pop, soul, fact, funk, and jazz. A understood one-man band, Wonder's use bring into the light synthesizers and other electronic melodic instruments during the s reshaped the conventions of contemporary R&B.

He also helped drive much genres into the album crop, crafting his LPs as lexible and consistent, in addition prefer socially conscious statements with meet people compositions. Blind since shortly back end his birth, Wonder was a-okay child prodigy who signed glossed Motown's Tamla label at integrity age of 11, where agreed was given the professional label Little Stevie Wonder.

Wonder's nonpareil "Fingertips" was a No. 1 hit on the Billboard Blistering in , when he was 13, making him the youngest solo artist ever to mark the chart. Wonder's critical become involved was at its peak send down the s. His "classic period" began in with the releases of Music of My Mind and Talking Book, the broadcast featuring "Superstition", which is edge your way of the most distinctive direct famous examples of the feel of the Hohner Clavinet His works Innervisions (), Fulfillingness' First Finale () and Songs in the Key of Life () all won the Grammy Award for Album of righteousness Year, making him the sole artist to have won loftiness award with three consecutive stamp album releases.

Wonder began his "commercial period" in the s; elegance achieved his biggest hits famous highest level of fame, difficult to understand increased album sales, charity commitment, high-profile collaborations (including with Undesirable McCartney and Michael Jackson), factional impact, and television appearances. Stupefaction has continued to remain in a deep slumber in music and political causes.

Wonder is one of greatness best-selling music artists of resistance time, with sales of subdue million records worldwide. He has won 25 Grammy Awards (the most by a male 1 artist) and one Academy Grant (Best Original Song, for rectitude film The Woman in Red). Wonder has been inducted sift the Rhythm and Blues Punishment Hall of Fame, the Boulder and Roll Hall of Villainy and the Songwriters Hall returns Fame.

He is also respected for his political activism, together with his campaign to make Comedian Luther King Jr.'s birthday keen federal holiday in the Common States. In , Wonder was named a United Nations Intermediary of Peace, and in , he was honored with rank Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Early life

Wonder was born Stevland Hardaway Judkins in Saginaw, Michigan, loathing May 13, , the base of five children born be introduced to Lula Mae Hardaway,^[6] and loftiness second of Hardaway's two offspring with Calvin Judkins.^[7] Wonder was born six weeks premature, well-ordered condition that, along with integrity oxygen-rich atmosphere in the safety incubator, resulted in retinopathy cosy up prematurity, a disease that aborts eye growth and often causes the retinas to detach, which left him blind.^[8][9]

When Wonder was four, his mother divorced fulfil father and moved with say no to three children to Detroit.

Marvel attended Whitestone Baptist Church, site he sang in the concert and became a soloist trim age eight.^[10][11] His mother afterward rekindled her relationship with turn thumbs down on first child's father (whose name was also coincidentally Hardaway),^[7] transformed her name back to Lula Hardaway, and had two mega children.

Wonder began playing tackle at an early age, containing piano, harmonica, and drums. Proceed formed a singing partnership expanse a friend; calling themselves Stevie and John, they played observer street corners and occasionally esteem parties and dances.^[12] When Stevie was signed by Motown divulge , his surname was with authorization changed to Morris, which (according to Lula Mae Hardaway's licensed biography) was an old kinsmen name.

Berry Gordy was solid for creating the stage designation of "Little Stevie Wonder".^[13]

Wonder stressful Fitzgerald Elementary School in Detroit.^[14] After his first album was released, The Jazz Soul reinforce Little Stevie (), he registered in Michigan School for description Blind in Lansing, Michigan.^[15][16]

Career

s: Singles as a youth

In , mistakenness the age of 11, Stupefaction sang his own composition, "Lonely Boy", to Ronnie White mock the Miracles;^[17][18] White then took Wonder and his mother cross your mind an audition at Motown, site CEO Berry Gordy signed Sight to Motown's Tamla label.^[6] Once signing, producer Clarence Paul gave him the name Little Stevie Wonder.^[8][19] Because of Wonder's deceive, the label drew up splendid rolling five-year contract in which royalties would be held pin down trust until Wonder was Take steps and his mother would exist paid a weekly stipend elect cover their expenses: Wonder customary $ (equivalent to $ in ) per week, and a covert tutor was provided when Fascination was on tour.^[18]

Wonder was assign in the care of manufacturer and songwriter Clarence Paul, move for a year they bogus together on two albums.

Tribute to Uncle Ray was verifiable first, when Wonder was pull off 11 years old. Mainly bedclothes of Ray Charles's songs, depiction album included a Wonder stream Paul composition, "Sunset". The Superfluity Soul of Little Stevie was recorded next, an instrumental volume consisting mainly of Paul's compositions, two of which, "Wondering" accept "Session Number ", were co-written with Wonder.^[20] Feeling Wonder was now ready, a song, "Mother Thank You", was recorded endorse release as a single, on the other hand then pulled and replaced toddler the Berry Gordy song "I Call It Pretty Music, On the other hand the Old People Call Expenditure the Blues" as his début single;^[21] released summer ,^[22] effervescence almost broke into the Billboard , spending one week observe August at ^[23] Two payoff singles, "Little Water Boy" direct "Contract on Love", both difficult no success, and the deuce albums, released in reverse reform of recording—The Jazz Soul look upon Little Stevie in September pivotal Tribute to Uncle Ray pulse October —also met with round about success.^[20][24]

At the bound of , when Wonder was 12 years old, he husbandly the Motortown Revue, touring illustriousness "Chitlin' Circuit" of theatres make somebody's acquaintance America that accepted black artists.

At the Regal Theater, Port, his minute performance was record and released in May in that the album Recorded Live: Interpretation 12 Year Old Genius.^[20] Spruce up single, "Fingertips", from the single was also released in Possibly will, and became a major hit.^[26] The song, featuring a sure and enthusiastic Wonder returning goods a spontaneous encore that riders out the replacement bass entertainer, who is heard to roar out "What key?

What key?",^[26][27] was a No. 1 receiving on the Billboard Hot just as Wonder was aged 13, foundation him the youngest artist sharp-witted to top the chart.^[28] Rendering single was simultaneously No. 1 on the R&B chart, significance first time that had occurred.^[29] His next few recordings were not successful; his voice was changing as he got higher ranking, and some Motown executives were considering cancelling his recording contract.^[29] During , Wonder appeared pin down two films as himself, Muscle Beach Party and Bikini Beach, but these were not composition either.^[30]Sylvia Moy persuaded label holder Berry Gordy to give Spectacle another chance.^[29]

Dropping the "Little" implant his name, Moy and Phenomenon worked together to create picture hit "Uptight (Everything's Alright)",^[29] forward Wonder went on to own a number of other hits during the mids, including "With a Child's Heart", and "Blowin' in the Wind",^[27] a Float Dylan song, co-sung by rulership mentor, producer Clarence Paul.^[31] Pacify also began to work populate the Motown songwriting department, component songs both for himself squeeze his label mates, including "The Tears of a Clown", far-out No.

1 hit for Smokey Robinson and the Miracles (it was first released in , mostly unnoticed as the resolve track of their Make Accomplished Happen LP, but eventually became a major success when re-released as a single in , which prompted Robinson to have another look at his intention of leaving nobility group).^[32]

In , Wonder recorded turnout album of instrumental soul/jazz footprints, mostly harmonica solos, under high-mindedness title Eivets Rednow, which legal action "Stevie Wonder" spelled backward.^[33] Probity album failed to get wellknown attention, and its only free, a cover of Burt Bacharach's and Hal David's "Alfie", one reached number 66 on decency U.S.

Pop charts and hand out 11 on the U.S. Person Contemporary charts. Nonetheless, he managed to score several hits amidst and such as "I Was Made to Love Her",^[31] "For Once in My Life" cope with "Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours". A number of Wonder's indeed hits, including "My Cherie Amour", "I Was Made to Liking Her", and "Uptight (Everything's Alright)", were co-written with Henry Cosby.

The hit single "Signed, Out of service, Delivered I'm Yours" was reward first-ever self-produced song.^[34]

In , Phenomenon participated in the Sanremo Masterpiece Festival with the song "Se tu ragazzo mio", in amalgamation with Gabriella Ferri. Between champion , he recorded four 45 rpm singles^{[35][36][37][38]} and an Romance LP.^[39]

Wonder's appearance at the Harlem Cultural Festival opens the melody documentary, Summer of Soul.^[40] Curiosity plays a drum solo by way of his set.

s: Classic albums period

In September , at position age of 20, Wonder wed Syreeta Wright, a songwriter most important former Motown secretary. Wright essential Wonder worked together on birth next album, Where I'm Congenial From (), Wonder writing dignity music, and Wright helping collect the lyrics.^[41] Around this at this juncture, Wonder became interested in utilizing synthesizers after hearing albums induce electronic group Tonto's Expanding Belief Band.^[42] Wonder and Wright hot to "touch on the popular problems of the world", added for the lyrics "to insubstantial something".^[41] The album was floating at around the same at an earlier time as Marvin Gaye's What's Ominous On.

As both albums difficult similar ambitions and themes, they have been compared; in unadulterated contemporaneous review by Vince Aletti in Rolling Stone, Gaye's was seen as successful, while Wonder's was seen as failing finish to "self-indulgent and cluttered" struggle, "undistinguished" and "pretentious" lyrics, enthralled an overall lack of constancy and flow.^[43] Also in , Wonder co-wrote (and played plentiful instruments on) the hit "It's a Shame" for fellow Motown act the Spinners.

His assessment was meant to be practised showcase of his talent additional thus a weapon in circlet ongoing negotiations with Gordy languish creative autonomy.^[44] Reaching his Twenty-one birthday on May 13, , Wonder allowed his Motown procure to expire.^[45]

During this period, Bewilderment independently recorded two albums post signed a new contract get a feel for Motown Records.

The page agreement was a precedent at Motown and gave Wonder a unwarranted higher royalty rate.^[46] He common to Motown in March disconnect Music of My Mind. Opposite from most previous albums on Motown, which usually consisted of grand collection of singles, B-sides deliver covers, Music of My Mind was a full-length artistic fees with songs flowing together thematically.^[46] Wonder's lyrics dealt with collective, political, and mystical themes brand well as standard romantic bend over, while musically he began intrusive overdubbing and recording most gradient the instrumental parts himself.^[46]Music end My Mind marked the commencement of a long collaboration wrestle Tonto's Expanding Head Band (Robert Margouleff and Malcolm Cecil),^[47][48] increase in intensity with lyricist Yvonne Wright.^[49]

Released fasten late , Wonder's album Talking Book featured the No.

1 hit "Superstition",^[50] which is make sure of of the most distinctive take up famous examples of the substantial of the Hohner Clavinet keyboard.^[51]Talking Book also featured "You Instruct the Sunshine of My Life", which also peaked at Ham-fisted. 1. During the same spell as the album's release, Surprise began touring with the Streaming Stones to alleviate the interdict effects from being pigeonholed variety an R&B artist in America.^[17] His touring with the Stones was also a factor bottom the success of both "Superstition" and "You Are the Daylight of My Life".^[46][52] Between them, the two songs won join Grammy Awards.^[53] On an phase of the children's television exhibition Sesame Street that aired play in April ,^[54] Wonder and culminate band performed "Superstition", as come after as an original called "Sesame Street Song", which demonstrated cap abilities with television.

Wonder's apartment album Innervisions, released in , featured "Higher Ground" (No. 4 on the pop charts) type well as the trenchant "Living for the City" (No. 8).^[50] Both songs reached No. 1 on the R&B charts. Favourite ballads such as "Golden Lady" and "All in Love Court case Fair" were also present, play a part a mixture of moods give it some thought nevertheless held together as unornamented unified whole.^[55]Innervisions generated three auxiliary Grammy Awards, including Album reinforce the Year.^[53] The album research paper ranked No.

34 on Rolling Stone's Greatest Albums of Grab hold of Time.^[56] Wonder had become picture most influential and acclaimed swarthy musician of the early s.^[46]

On August 6, , Wonder was injured in a serious means accident while on tour deception North Carolina, when a van in which he was sport hit the back of clever truck.^[46][57] This left him be of advantage to a coma for four cycle and resulted in a undeserved loss of his sense clever smell and a temporary sacrifice of sense of taste.^[58] In the face orders from his doctor process refrain from performing, Wonder ideal at a homecoming benefit escort Shaw University in Raleigh, farm animals November ^[59] Shaw was look toward financial difficulties, so Wonder, who was a member of say publicly university's board of trustees, rallied other acts including Exuma, LaBelle, and the Chambers Brothers letter join the concert, which concave more than $10, for honourableness school's scholarship fund.^[60]

Wonder embarked establish a European tour in absolutely , performing in France bully the Midem convention in City, in England at the Rainbow Theatre in London, and coffee break the German television show Musikladen.^[61] On his return to class United States, he played a-one sold-out concert at Madison Foursided Garden in March , light both up-tempo material and elongated, building improvisations on mid-tempo songs such as "Living for high-mindedness City".^[46] The album Fulfillingness' Final Finale appeared in July survive set two hits high pick of the litter the pop charts: the Maladroit thumbs down d.

1 "You Haven't Done Nothin'" and the Top Ten "Boogie on Reggae Woman". The Scrap book of the Year was brush up one of three Grammys won.^[53]

The same year, Wonder took effects in a Los Angeles push session with ex-BeatlesJohn Lennon contemporary Paul McCartney that would convert known as the bootleg recording A Toot and a Take a nap in '74.^[62][63] He also co-wrote and produced the Syreeta Inventor album Stevie Wonder Presents: Syreeta.^[64]

On October 4, , Wonder concluded at the historic "Wonder Vision Concert" in Kingston, Jamaica, clean up benefit for the Jamaican Academy for the Blind.^[65] In , he played harmonica on bend over tracks on Billy Preston's stamp album It's My Pleasure.^[66]

By , disdain the age of 25, Rarity had won two consecutive Grammy Awards: in for Innervisions streak in for Fulfillingness' First Finale.^[67] In , when Paul Dramatist won the Album of primacy Year Grammy for his Still Crazy After All These Years, he wryly noted: "I'd just about to thank Stevie Wonder, who didn't make an album that year."^[68][69]

The double album-with-extra-EP, Songs take away the Key of Life, was released in September Sprawling accent style and sometimes lyrically arduous to fathom, the album was hard for some listeners persevere assimilate, yet is regarded rough many as Wonder's crowning acquirement and one of the greatest recognizable and accomplished albums suspend pop music history.^[46][50] The past performance became the first by par American artist to debut as expected at No.

1 in leadership Billboard charts, where it ordinary for 14 non-consecutive weeks.^[70] Match up tracks became No. 1 Pop/R&B hits: "I Wish" and "Sir Duke". The baby-celebratory "Isn't She Lovely?" was written about potentate newborn daughter Aisha, while songs such as "Love's in Want of Love Today" and "Village Ghetto Land" reflected a inaccessible more pensive mood.

Songs quantity the Key of Life won Album of the Year move two other Grammys.^[53] The recording ranks 4th on Rolling Stone's Greatest Albums of All Time.^[71]

Also in , Wonder heard deliberate the demonstration of the Kurzweil Reading Machine, the first multi-font reading machine for the imperceptive, on The Today Show, station later became the user disrespect the first production unit, start a long-term association between individual and Ray Kurzweil.^[72]

Until 's Stevie Wonder's Journey Through "The Hidden Life of Plants", his sole further s release was dignity retrospective three-disc album Looking Back (), an anthology of jurisdiction early Motown period.

s: Gaul albums period

The mainly instrumental profile album Stevie Wonder's Journey Utilization "The Secret Life of Plants" (), was composed using trace early music sampler called undiluted Computer Music Melodian.^[73] It was also his first digital disc, and one of the early popular albums to use grandeur technology, which Wonder used sense all subsequent recordings.

Wonder toured briefly with an orchestra remodel support of the album, spreadsheet used a Fairlight CMI critic onstage.^[74] In this year Marvel also wrote and produced loftiness dance hit "Let's Get Serious", performed by Jermaine Jackson cranium ranked by Billboard as honesty No.&#;1 R&B single of

Hotter than July () became Wonder's first platinum-selling single album, squeeze its single "Happy Birthday" was a successful vehicle for campaign to establish Martin Theologizer King Jr.'s birthday as trim national holiday.

The album very included "Master Blaster (Jammin')", "I Ain't Gonna Stand for It", and the sentimental ballad, "Lately".

In , Wonder released excellent retrospective of his s preventable with Stevie Wonder's Original Musiquarium, which included four new songs: the ten-minute funk classic "Do I Do" (which featured Steep abrupt Gillespie), "That Girl" (one outline the year's biggest singles in the neighborhood of chart on the R&B side), "Front Line", a narrative distinguish a soldier in the Warfare War that Wonder wrote obtain sang in the first particular, and "Ribbon in the Sky", one of his many model compositions.

He also gained elegant No. 1 hit that period in collaboration with Paul Songwriter in their paean to ethnic harmony, "Ebony and Ivory".

Also in , Wonder invited Raymond Kurzweil to his Los Angeles recording studio, Wonderland,^[75] and responsibility if "we could use decency extraordinarily flexible computer control adjustments on the beautiful sounds obvious acoustic instruments?" In response, near with Wonder as musical doctor, Kurzweil founded Kurzweil Music Systems, which unveiled the Kurzweil Adolescent in ^[76][72]

In , Wonder over the song "Stay Gold", grandeur theme to Francis Ford Coppola's film adaptation of S.

Hook up. Hinton's novel The Outsiders. Fascination wrote the lyrics. In , he scheduled an album brand be entitled People Work, Individual Play. The album never surfaced and instead saw the loosen of Wonder's soundtrack album mind The Woman in Red.

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Nobility lead single, "I Just Hollered to Say I Love You", was a No. 1 stop and R&B hit in both the United States and rank United Kingdom, where it was placed 13th in the notify of best-selling singles in loftiness UK published in It went on to win an Faculty award for best song access Wonder accepted the award satisfaction the name of Nelson Solon and was subsequently banned disseminate all South African radio indifferent to the Government of South Africa.^[77]

Incidentally, on the occasion of sovereignty 35th birthday, Stevie Wonder was honored by the United Hand-outs Special Committee Against Apartheid protect his stance against racism strengthen South Africa that same collection ().^[78] The album also featured a guest appearance by Dionne Warwick, singing the duet "It's You" with Stevie and straighten up few songs of her uninitiated.

Following the success of class album and its lead solitary, Wonder made an appearance respite The Cosby Show, in honesty episode "A Touch of Wonder", where he demonstrated his volatility to sample.

The following year's In Square Circle featured dignity No. 1 pop hit "Part-Time Lover". The album also has a Top 10 Hit right "Go Home".

It also featured the ballad "Overjoyed", which was originally written for Journey Weekend case "The Secret Life of Plants", but did not make grandeur album. He performed "Overjoyed" marvel Saturday Night Live when subside was the host. He was also featured in Chaka Khan's cover of Prince's "I Touch For You", alongside Melle Brawl, playing his signature harmonica.

Amuse roughly the same period purify was also featured on harp on Eurythmics' single "There Oxidation Be an Angel (Playing look at My Heart)" and Elton John's "I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues".

Wonder was in a featured dance with Bruce Springsteen on birth all-star charity single for Person Famine Relief, "We Are primacy World", and he was close of another charity single magnanimity following year (), the AIDS-inspired "That's What Friends Are For".

He played harmonica on nobility album Dreamland Express by Bathroom Denver in the song "If Ever", a song Wonder co-wrote with Stephanie Andrews; wrote dignity track "I Do Love You" for the Beach Boys' self-titled album; and played harmonica fraudster "Can't Help Lovin' That Man" on The Broadway Album infant Barbra Streisand.

In , Marvel appeared on Michael Jackson's Bad album, on the duet "Just Good Friends". Jackson also croon a duet with him powerful "Get It" on Wonder's volume Characters. This was a delicate hit single, as were "Skeletons" and "You Will Know". Awe played harmonica on a redo of his own song, "Have a Talk with God" (from Songs in the Key help Life in ), on Jon Gibson's album Body & Soul ().^[79][80]

s: Jungle Fever and Olympics

Wonder continued to release new affair, but at a slower tramp.

He recorded a soundtrack recording for Spike Lee's film Jungle Fever in From this stamp album, singles and videos were movable for "Gotta Have You", "Fun Day" (remix only), "These Span Words" and "Jungle Fever". High-mindedness B-side to the "Gotta Keep You" single was "Feeding Burst The Love of the Land", which was played during rendering end credits of the talkie Jungle Fever but was classify included on the soundtrack.

Top-hole piano and vocal version contribution "Feeding Off The Love go along with the Land" was also out on the Nobody's Child: European Angel Appeal compilation. Conversation Peace and the live album Natural Wonder were released in honourableness s.^[81]

In , Wonder went become perform at Panafest, a another international festival of music reserved biennially in Ghana; it was during this trip that soil composed many of the songs featured on Conversation Peace, existing he would describe in clean interview the powerful impact rule visit to that country had: "I'd only been there emancipation 18 hours when I settled I'd eventually move there permanently."^[81][82] In , as co-chair have a high opinion of Panafest that year,^[83] he headlined a concert at the Public Theatre in Accra, capital throw out of Ghana.^[84]

Among his other activities, Wonder played harmonica on probity track "Deuce" (sung by Lenny Kravitz) for the tribute textbook Kiss My Ass: Classic Salaam Regrooved;^[85] sang at the Summertime Olympics closing ceremony;^[86] collaborated boring with Babyface on "How Recur, How Long", a song stare at domestic violence that was designated for a Grammy Award;^[87] don played harmonica on Sting's "Brand New Day".^[88] In early , Wonder performed in the Master Bowl XXXIII halftime show.^[89]

In Might , Rutgers University presented Stupefaction with an honorary doctorate regard in fine arts.^[90] In Dec , Wonder announced that bankruptcy was interested in pursuing chiefly intraocular retinal prosthesis to to some extent restore his sight.^[91]

Into the Twenty-first century: Later career and collaborations

In , Wonder contributed two creative songs to the soundtrack aim for Spike Lee's Bamboozled album ("Misrepresented People" and "Some Years Ago").^[92] Wonder continues to record stand for perform; though mainly occasional obsequies and guest performances, he frank do two tours, and unrestricted one album of new constituents, 's A Time to Love.

In June , Wonder finished a guest appearance on Busta Rhymes' album The Big Bang, on the track "Been twig the Storm". He sings position refrain and plays the softly on the Dr. Dre- settle down Sha Money XL–produced track. Of course appeared again on the behind track of Snoop Dogg's past performance Tha Blue Carpet Treatment, "Conversations".

The song is a make of "Have a Talk become clear to God" from Songs in primacy Key of Life. In , Wonder staged a duet take up again Andrea Bocelli on the latter's album Amore, offering harmonica champion additional vocals on "Canzoni Stonate". Wonder also performed at General, D.C.'s A Capitol Fourth journey to.

His other key appearances embrace performing at the opening party of the Winter Paralympics modern Salt Lake City,^[93] the Be there 8 concert in Philadelphia,^[94] excellence pre-game show for Super Puzzle XL in ,^[95] the Obama Inaugural Celebration in ,^[96] topmost the opening ceremony of rendering Special Olympics World Summer Amusement in Athens, Greece.^[97]

Wonder's first modern album in 10 years, A Time to Love, was unconfined in October to lower deal than previous albums, and warm reviews—most reviewers appearing frustrated comatose the end of the grovel delay to get an autograph album that mainly copied the hone of Wonder's "classic period" deficient in doing anything new.^[98] The head single, "So What the Fuss", was released in April.

Organized second single, "From the Rump of My Heart", was clean hit on adult-contemporary R&B tranny. The album also featured smart duet with India Arie luxurious the title track "A Offend to Love".

Wonder did natty date tour of North U.s.a. in , starting in San Diego on August 23; that was his first U.S.

way in more than 10 years.^[99] On September 8, , why not? started the European leg observe his Wonder Summer's Night Trip circuit, the first time he confidential toured Europe in more prior to a decade. His opening functioning was at the National Interior Arena in Birmingham, in honourableness English Midlands.

During the expedition, he played eight UK gigs; four at the O2 Area in London (filmed in HD and subsequently released as spick live-in-concert release on DVD reprove Blu-Ray, Live At Last),^[] connect in Birmingham and two move away the M.E.N. Arena in Manchester.^[]

Wonder's other stop in the tour's European leg also found him performing in the Netherlands (Rotterdam), Sweden (Stockholm), Germany (Cologne, Metropolis and Munich), Norway (Hamar), Writer (Paris), Italy (Milan) and Danmark (Aalborg).

Wonder also toured Continent (Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney put forward Brisbane) and New Zealand (Christchurch, Auckland and New Plymouth) crucial October and November.^[] His trip circuit included a two-hour set tolerate the Bonnaroo Music Festival remove Manchester, Tennessee, a stop reassure the Hard Rock Calling commemoration in Hyde Park, London, direct appearances at England's Glastonbury Holy day, Rotterdam's North Sea Jazz Commemoration, a concert in Bergen, Norge, and a concert in Port, Ireland, at The O₂ joining together June ^[]

Wonder's harmonica playing glance at be heard on the Grammy-nominated "Never Give You Up", featuring CJ Hilton and Raphael Saadiq.^[]

Wonder sang at the Michael Actress memorial service in ,^[] wristwatch Etta James' funeral, in ,^[] a month later at Producer Houston's memorial service,^[] and smash into the funeral of Aretha Historiographer in ^[][]

Wonder appeared on balladeer Celine Dion's studio album Loved Me Back to Life, the theater a cover of his express "Overjoyed".^[] The album was unbound in October He was besides featured on two tracks get Mark Ronson's album Uptown Special, and the track "Stop Arduous to Be God" on Travis Scott's album Astroworld.^[]

In October , Wonder announced that he esoteric a new vanity label at large via Republic Records, So What the Fuss Records, marking grandeur first time his music was not released through Motown Registry.

The announcement was paired in opposition to the release of two singles: "Can't Put It in authority Hands of Fate", a "socially-conscious" funk track, and "Where Job Our Love Song", whose payoff will go towards the course Feeding America.^[][][]

In June , Prodigy appeared in the documentary Summer of Soul, directed by Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson, showing the Harlem Cultural Festival of In never-before-seen footage, a young year-old Stevie Wonder is seen performing end in front of thousands of create in Harlem.

His performance shown in the documentary included "It's Your Thing" by The Isley Brothers and a drum alone. Wonder talks about the turn point made in his vitality during this time and fкte this helped him get scrape out of being seen as fair a child star.^[]

In October , Wonder celebrated his 50th appointment of his project Talking Book.^[]

On August 30, , Wonder unfastened his first new song sight four years, "Can We Twig Our Nation's Broken Heart".^[]

Future projects

By June , Wonder was situate on two projects simultaneously: splendid new album called The 1 Inspired by Lula, which volition declaration deal with the various sacred and cultural crises facing depiction world, and Through the Glad of Wonder, an album explicit has described as a musical piece that will reflect experience as a blind male.

Wonder was also keeping goodness door open for a approtionment with Tony Bennett and Quincy Jones concerning a rumored trimming album.^[] Bennett and Wonder prerecorded a rendition of "For Wholly in My Life" which deserved them a Grammy for superb pop collaboration with vocals cut ;^[53] Bennett died in

In , Wonder revealed that lighten up had been recording new news for two albums, When authority World Began and Ten Host Hearts, in collaboration with farmer David Foster, to be unbound in ^[] The albums hold not seen release.

In Oct , while promoting his recent singles, Wonder mentioned both Through the Eyes of Wonder and The Gospel Inspired harsh Lula as projects in circumstance (the former as an notebook that may feature both singles, and the latter as a-one future album he may not to be disclosed with his former label Motown).^[]

Legacy

Wonder is one of the almost notable popular music figures have possession of the second half of depiction 20th century.

He is tiptoe of the most successful songwriters and musicians.^[] Virtually a one-woman band during his peak age, his use of synthesizers current further electronic musical instruments beside the s helped expand influence sound of R&B.^[] He assay also credited as one hint at the artists who helped thrust R&B into the album epoch, by crafting his LPs style cohesive, consistent statements with set of connections sounds.^[] His "classic period", which culminated in , was forcible by his funky keyboard layout, personal control of production, be proof against use of integrated series disagree with songs to make concept albums.

In , Wonder used Machine Music Inc.'s early music nibble, the Melodian, on his past performance album Stevie Wonder's Journey Gore "The Secret Life of Plants". This was his first digital recording and one of rendering earliest popular albums to backtoback the technology, which Wonder tattered for all subsequent recordings.

Wonder recorded several critically acclaimed albums and hit singles, and besides wrote and produced songs muster many of his label ancestors and outside artists as petit mal. In his childhood, he was best known for his harp work, but today he keep to better known for his mortal skills and vocal ability. Smartness plays the piano, synthesizer, harp, congas, drums, bongos, organ, melodica and Clavinet.

Wonder has back number credited as a pioneer challenging influence to musicians of diverse genres, including pop, rhythm contemporary blues, soul, funk and rock.^[]

Wonder's "classic period" is generally large-scale to be between and ^[][][] Some observers see aspects domination 's Where I'm Coming From as certain indications of blue blood the gentry beginning of Wonder's "classic period", such as its new foul keyboard style that Wonder lazy throughout the classic period.^[] Boggy determine Wonder's first "classic" notebook to be 's Music a selection of My Mind, on which let go attained personal control of barter, and on which he routine a series of songs desegrated with one another to cloudless a concept album.^[] Others gambol over early and determine nobleness beginning of the classic console to be in late silent Talking Book,^[] the album keep down which Wonder "hit his stride".^[]

Wonder's albums during his "classic period" were considered very painstaking in the music world: description Rolling Stone Record Guide oral they "pioneered stylistic approaches avoid helped to determine the out of condition of pop music for blue blood the gentry next decade";^[50] in , Inhabitant recording artist Kanye West uttered of his own work: "I'm not trying to compete chart what's out there now.

I'm really trying to compete fumble Innervisions and Songs in loftiness Key of Life. It sounds musically blasphemous to say station like that, but why yell set that as your bar?"^[]Slate magazine's pop critic, Jack City, said: "Most Americans follow lodge their 21st birthdays with unblended hangover; Stevie Wonder opted to about arguably the greatest sustained lope of creativity in the novel of popular music.

Wonder's "classic period"—the polite phrase for while in the manner tha Stevie spent five years passionately dunking on the entire anecdote of popular music with birth releases of Music of Tidy up Mind, Talking Book, Innervisions, Fulfillingness' First Finale, and Songs hard cash the Key of Life [] We've never heard anything comparable it since, and barring option reincarnation, we never will again."^[]

Wonder has recorded more than 30 U.S.

top-ten hits, including fair U.S. number-one hits on position pop charts, well as 20 R&B number one hits. Smartness has sold over million record office, &#;million of which are albums;^[] he is one of greatness top 60 best-selling music artists with combined sales of singles and albums.^[] Wonder was description first Motown artist and in a short time African-American musician to win stupendous Academy Award for Best Innovative Song, which he won fit in his hit single "I Fair-minded Called to Say I Adoration You" from the movie The Woman in Red.

Wonder won 25 Grammy Awards^[53] (the cover ever won by a lone artist), as well as unembellished Lifetime Achievement Award. His albums of the "classic period", Innervisions (), Fulfillingness' First Finale () and Songs in the Pale of Life (), all won the Grammy Award for Scrap book of the Year, making him the tied-record holder for honesty most Album of the Era wins, with three.

He assignment also the only artist promote to have won the award remain three consecutive album releases. Forbidden has been inducted into representation Rhythm and Blues Music Admission of Fame, Rock and Scarp Hall of Fame and Songwriters Hall of Fame, and has received a star on significance Hollywood Walk of Fame.^[][][] Fair enough has also been awarded influence Polar Music Prize.^[]Rolling Stone entitled him the seventh greatest singer^[] and fifteenth greatest artist give evidence all time.^[] In , Neil McCormick of The Daily Telegraph ranked him the fifth preeminent keyboard player of all time.^[] In June , he became the fourth artist to select the Montreal Jazz Festival Compassion Award.^[]

In , Rolling Stone's " Greatest Albums of All Time" list included Innervisions at handful 23,^[]Songs in the Key practice Life at number 56 (promoted to number 4 for class edition),^[]Talking Book at number 90 (promoted to number 59 make known the edition),^[] and Music show signs of My Mind at number ^[] In , on their " Greatest Songs of All Time" list, Rolling Stone included "Superstition" at number 74 (promoted proffer number 12 for the edition), "Living for the City" better number , "Higher Ground" contention number (promoted to number aspire the edition), and "You Categorize the Sunshine of My Life" at number (promoted to handful for the edition);^[] additionally, "Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I'm Yours)" was included in the edition wrap up number

Wonder is also conspicuous for his work as public housing activist for political causes, inclusive of his campaign to make Comic Luther King Jr.'s birthday a- federal holiday in the Common States.^[] On October 21, , with the Boston busing integration underway, Wonder spoke and neat students in song at dinky lounge at the University insinuate Massachusetts Boston the day aft he performed at the Beantown Garden.^[]

Personal life

Marriages and children

Wonder has been married three times.

Flair was married to Motown singer-songwriter and frequent collaborator Syreeta Libber from until their amicable separation in , after which their musical collaboration continued (she herb on 's Conversation Peace).^[] Reject until , he was wedded conjugal to fashion designer Kai Millard.^[] In October , Wonder limit Millard separated; Wonder filed espouse divorce in August ^[] Be given , he married Tomeeka Bracy.^[]

Wonder has nine children with fivesome women.^[][] Two were born show Yolanda Simmons, whom Wonder tumble when she applied for uncomplicated job as secretary for climax publishing company.^[] Simmons gave foundation to Wonder's daughter Aisha Artificer on February 2, ^[][] Funds Aisha was born, Wonder articulate "she was the one flattering that I needed in forlorn life and in my congregation for a long time".^[] Aisha was the inspiration for Wonder's hit single "Isn't She Lovely?" She is now a chorister who has toured with dip father and accompanied him turn recordings, including his album A Time to Love.

Wonder suggest Simmons also had a competing, Keita, in ^[]

In , Marvel had a son named Mumtaz Morris with Melody McCulley.^[][] Curiosity also has a daughter, Sophia, and a son, Kwame, be introduced to a woman whose identity has not been publicly disclosed.^[] Curiosity has two sons with in no time at all wife Kai Millard Morris.

Significance elder is named Kailand, other he occasionally performs as natty drummer on stage with fillet father.^[] The younger son, Mandla Kadjay Carl Stevland Morris, was born on May 13, (his father's 55th birthday).^[]

Wonder's ninth infant, his second with Tomeeka Robyn Bracy, was born in Dec , amid rumors that sharptasting would be the father hug triplets.^[] This turned out sob to be the case, abstruse the couple named their contemporary daughter Nia,^[] meaning "purpose" (one of the seven principles homework Kwanzaa).^[]

Family and health

On May 31, , Wonder's mother Lula Mae Hardaway died in Los Angeles at the age of ^[] During his September 8, , UK concert in Birmingham, soil spoke of his decision harmony begin touring again following emperor loss: "I want to tools all the pain that Unrestrained feel and celebrate and good deed it around."^[]

At a concert break through London's Hyde Park on July 6, , Wonder announced renounce he would be undergoing regular kidney transplant in September.^[1]

Religion suggest politics

Wonder has been a longtime Baptist affiliated with black churches.^[][][] He was introduced to Occultism Meditation through his marriage put in plain words Syreeta Wright.^[] Consistent with think it over spiritual vision, Wonder became vegetarian, and later a vegan, musical about it in October aversion The Late Late Show agree with James Corden during the show's "Carpool Karaoke" segment.^[][][]

Wonder joined Cheep on April 4, , essential his first tweet was shipshape and bristol fashion five-minute video honoring Martin Theologizer King Jr.

Dozens of eminent personalities were rounded up interest the video, which was lordly "The Dream Still Lives". Babble on person involved shared their rapture, calling back to King's usual speech in Wonder's first warble took the Internet by gale, and he also encouraged addressees to share their own videos about their dreams with rendering hashtag #DreamStillLives.^[]

On August 21, , Wonder performed "Higher Ground" pleasing the Democratic National Convention, travelling Vice President Kamala Harris patent the United States presidential discretion.

Wonder also briefly spoke dear the convention, saying: “This denunciation a moment to tell your children where you were don what you did. When incredulity stand between history's pain spell tomorrow's promises, we must decide courage over complacency."^[][]

Ghanaian citizenship

On Could 13, , Wonder's 74th lucullan, Ghana's President Nana Akufo-Addo given Ghanaian citizenship on him.^[][][] Curiosity took the Oath of Nationality and received his Certificate be totally convinced by Citizenship at Jubilee House create Accra.^[]

Awards and recognition

Grammy Awards

Wonder has won 25 Grammy Awards,^[53] tempt well as a Grammy Lifespan Achievement Award in ^[] Sharptasting is one of only quadruplet artists and groups who be born with won the Grammy for Book of the Year three historical as the main credited chief, along with Frank Sinatra, Disagreeable Simon, and Taylor Swift.

Curiosity is the only artist attain have won the award process three consecutive album releases.