Stevie Wonder's Early Gift For Music
Stevie Wonder was born Stevland Hardaway Judkins on May 13, 1950, in Saginaw, Michigan. He was born six weeks early with retinopathy of prematurity, an eye disorder which lead to his blindness. Wonder showed an early gift for music, first with a church choir in Detroit, Michigan, where he and his family had moved to when he was four years old, and then later with a range of instruments including the harmonica, piano, and drums in which he taught himself before the age of 10. Stevie Wonder was just 11 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't hesitate to sign the young musician to a record deal. Stevie Wonder began working with Motown
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The 1980s were not as successful as the 1970s but he continued and released the album Hotter Than July which featured a disco track "All I Do" as well as the No. 1 R&B hit "Master Blaster (Jammin')," a reggae-influenced tribute to Bob Marley, and the top 5 R&B, country influenced song "I Ain't Gonna Stand for It." In 1982, Wonder teamed up with ex-Beatle Paul McCartney for the No. 1 U.S./U.K. single "Ebony and Ivory," a song promoting racial harmony that was featured on the McCartney album Tug of War. The list continues with more albums and song hits all the way into the 1990s. I n 1989, Wonder was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Wonder also tackled social issues through his music and appearances. He successfully created a national holiday recognizing the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. A celebration he sang about in the track "Happy Birthday" from Hotter Than July. "Happy Birthday" became a major U.K. hit as well, reaching No. 2. Wonder had dedicated his Oscar win to Nelson Mandela and had performed on the No. 1 charity singles "We Are the World," to raise money for famine relief in Africa. He also preformed "That's What Friends Are For," with Warwick, Elton John and Gladys Knight, benefiting the American Foundation for
The 1980s were not as successful as the 1970s but he continued and released the album Hotter Than July which featured a disco track "All I Do" as well as the No. 1 R&B hit "Master Blaster (Jammin')," a reggae-influenced tribute to Bob Marley, and the top 5 R&B, country influenced song "I Ain't Gonna Stand for It." In 1982, Wonder teamed up with ex-Beatle Paul McCartney for the No. 1 U.S./U.K. single "Ebony and Ivory," a song promoting racial harmony that was featured on the McCartney album Tug of War. The list continues with more albums and song hits all the way into the 1990s. I n 1989, Wonder was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Wonder also tackled social issues through his music and appearances. He successfully created a national holiday recognizing the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. A celebration he sang about in the track "Happy Birthday" from Hotter Than July. "Happy Birthday" became a major U.K. hit as well, reaching No. 2. Wonder had dedicated his Oscar win to Nelson Mandela and had performed on the No. 1 charity singles "We Are the World," to raise money for famine relief in Africa. He also preformed "That's What Friends Are For," with Warwick, Elton John and Gladys Knight, benefiting the American Foundation for