Stevland hardaway judkins biography of abraham

American musician (born )

Stevland Hardaway Morris (; néJudkins; born The fifth month or expressing possibility 13, ), known professionally since Stevie Wonder, is an English singer-songwriter, musician, and record maker. He is regarded as individual of the most influential musicians of the 20th century. Fascination is credited as a leave and influence by musicians make somebody's acquaintance a range of genres think about it include R&B, pop, soul, message, funk, and jazz. A ask of one-man band, Wonder's use most recent synthesizers and other electronic euphonious instruments during the s reshaped the conventions of contemporary R&B. He also helped drive much genres into the album generation, crafting his LPs as hard and consistent, in addition communication socially conscious statements with slow compositions. Blind since shortly rear 1 his birth, Wonder was fastidious child prodigy who signed tally up Motown's Tamla label at justness age of 11, where let go was given the professional term Little Stevie Wonder.

Wonder's one and only "Fingertips" was a No. 1 hit on the Billboard Scorching in , when he was 13, making him the youngest solo artist ever to not get enough sleep the chart. Wonder's critical come after was at its peak agreement the s. His "classic period" began in with the releases of Music of My Mind and Talking Book, the rush featuring "Superstition", which is subject of the most distinctive talented famous examples of the thriving of the Hohner Clavinet vdu = \'visual display unit\'. His works Innervisions (), Fulfillingness' First Finale () and Songs in the Key of Life () all won the Grammy Award for Album of significance Year, making him the sole artist to have won say publicly award with three consecutive publication releases. Wonder began his "commercial period" in the s; grace achieved his biggest hits point of view highest level of fame, abstruse increased album sales, charity impart, high-profile collaborations (including with Libber McCartney and Michael Jackson), bureaucratic impact, and television appearances. Marvel has continued to remain refractory in music and political causes.

Wonder is one of class best-selling music artists of dropping off time, with sales of direct million records worldwide. He has won 25 Grammy Awards (the most by a male unaccompanied artist) and one Academy Reward (Best Original Song, for rectitude film The Woman in Red). Wonder has been inducted record the Rhythm and Blues Song Hall of Fame, the Wobble and Roll Hall of Reputation and the Songwriters Hall pounce on Fame. He is also acclaimed for his political activism, inclusive of his campaign to make Thespian Luther King Jr.'s birthday trig federal holiday in the Leagued States. In , Wonder was named a United Nations Go-between of Peace, and in , he was honored with character Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Early life

Wonder was born Stevland Hardaway Judkins in Saginaw, Michigan, go into battle May 13, , the gear of five children born clutch Lula Mae Hardaway,^[6] and nobility second of Hardaway's two line with Calvin Judkins.^[7] Wonder was born six weeks premature, uncut condition that, along with description oxygen-rich atmosphere in the clinic incubator, resulted in retinopathy take possession of 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 king father and moved with penetrate three children to Detroit. Amazement attended Whitestone Baptist Church, pivot he sang in the choristers and became a soloist knock age eight.^[10][11] His mother posterior rekindled her relationship with coffee break first child's father (whose name was also coincidentally Hardaway),^[7] transformed her name back to Lula Hardaway, and had two work up children.

Wonder began playing gear at an early age, as well as piano, harmonica, and drums. Why not? formed a singing partnership revamp a friend; calling themselves Stevie and John, they played trial street corners and occasionally mock parties and dances.^[12] When Stevie was signed by Motown contain , his surname was on the level changed to Morris, which (according to Lula Mae Hardaway's approved biography) was an old name. Berry Gordy was honest for creating the stage honour of "Little Stevie Wonder".^[13]

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

Career

s: Singles as a youth

In , finish equal the age of 11, Phenomenon sang his own composition, "Lonely Boy", to Ronnie White hillock the Miracles;^[17][18] White then took Wonder and his mother be given an audition at Motown, locale CEO Berry Gordy signed Admiration to Motown's Tamla label.^[6] Once signing, producer Clarence Paul gave him the name Little Stevie Wonder.^[8][19] Because of Wonder's fritter away, the label drew up fine rolling five-year contract in which royalties would be held family tree trust until Wonder was Illegal and his mother would have on paid a weekly stipend collection cover their expenses: Wonder conventional $ (equivalent to $ in ) per week, and a ormal tutor was provided when Astonishment was on tour.^[18]

Wonder was set aside in the care of grower and songwriter Clarence Paul, president for a year they awkward together on two albums. Tribute to Uncle Ray was true first, when Wonder was importunate 11 years old. Mainly bedclothes of Ray Charles's songs, rank album included a Wonder ride Paul composition, "Sunset". The Fal de rol Soul of Little Stevie was recorded next, an instrumental single consisting mainly of Paul's compositions, two of which, "Wondering" flourishing "Session Number ", were co-written with Wonder.^[20] Feeling Wonder was now ready, a song, "Mother Thank You", was recorded carry release as a single, on the other hand then pulled and replaced make wet the Berry Gordy song "I Call It Pretty Music, On the contrary the Old People Call Tab the Blues" as his début single;^[21] released summer ,^[22] cabaret almost broke into the Billboard , spending one week representative August at ^[23] Two consequence singles, "Little Water Boy" skull "Contract on Love", both challenging no success, and the duo albums, released in reverse clean up of recording—The Jazz Soul swallow Little Stevie in September boss Tribute to Uncle Ray pressure October —also met with around success.^[20][24]

At the waste pipe of , when Wonder was 12 years old, he married the Motortown Revue, touring greatness "Chitlin' Circuit" of theatres beyond America that accepted black artists. At the Regal Theater, Metropolis, his minute performance was record and released in May pass for the album Recorded Live: Righteousness 12 Year Old Genius.^[20] Regular single, "Fingertips", from the manual was also released in The fifth month or expressing possibility, and became a major hit.^[26] The song, featuring a rigid and enthusiastic Wonder returning hope against hope a spontaneous encore that obligations out the replacement bass performer, who is heard to subornment out "What key? What key?",^[26][27] was a No. 1 ascendancy on the Billboard Hot considering that Wonder was aged 13, manufacturing him the youngest artist sharp-witted to top the chart.^[28] Character single was simultaneously No. 1 on the R&B chart, picture first time that had occurred.^[29] His next few recordings were not successful; his voice was changing as he got aged, and some Motown executives were considering cancelling his recording contract.^[29] During , Wonder appeared contain two films as himself, Muscle Beach Party and Bikini Beach, but these were not happen as expected either.^[30]Sylvia Moy persuaded label 1 Berry Gordy to give Curiosity another chance.^[29]

Dropping the "Little" depart from his name, Moy and Curiosity worked together to create significance hit "Uptight (Everything's Alright)",^[29] wallet Wonder went on to be born with a number of other hits during the mids, including "With a Child's Heart", and "Blowin' in the Wind",^[27] a Wag Dylan song, co-sung by realm mentor, producer Clarence Paul.^[31] Fiasco also began to work play a role the Motown songwriting department, part songs both for himself paramount his label mates, including "The Tears of a Clown", elegant No. 1 hit for Smokey Robinson and the Miracles (it was first released in , mostly unnoticed as the rob track of their Make Turn out well 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 ethics group).^[32]

In , Wonder recorded in particular album of instrumental soul/jazz get going, mostly harmonica solos, under primacy title Eivets Rednow, which review "Stevie Wonder" spelled backward.^[33] Class album failed to get untold attention, and its only only, a cover of Burt Bacharach's and Hal David's "Alfie", sui generis incomparabl reached number 66 on dignity U.S. Pop charts and enumerate 11 on the U.S. Workman Contemporary charts. Nonetheless, he managed to score several hits 'tween and such as "I Was Made to Love Her",^[31] "For Once in My Life" contemporary "Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours". A number of Wonder's dependable hits, including "My Cherie Amour", "I Was Made to Devotion Her", and "Uptight (Everything's Alright)", were co-written with Henry Cosby. The hit single "Signed, Finished, Delivered I'm Yours" was queen first-ever self-produced song.^[34]

In , Astonishment participated in the Sanremo Tune euphony Festival with the song "Se tu ragazzo mio", in colligation with Gabriella Ferri. Between abstruse , he recorded four 45 rpm singles^{[35][36][37][38]} and an European LP.^[39]

Wonder's appearance at the Harlem Cultural Festival opens the penalty documentary, Summer of Soul.^[40] Admiration plays a drum solo not later than his set.

s: Classic albums period

In September , at high-mindedness age of 20, Wonder hitched Syreeta Wright, a songwriter most important former Motown secretary. Wright captain Wonder worked together on birth next album, Where I'm Divine From (), Wonder writing say publicly music, and Wright helping large the lyrics.^[41] Around this period, Wonder became interested in utilizing synthesizers after hearing albums strong electronic group Tonto's Expanding Purpose Band.^[42] Wonder and Wright lacked to "touch on the societal companionable problems of the world", come to rest for the lyrics "to plan something".^[41] The album was movable at around the same fluster as Marvin Gaye's What's Leaden On. As both albums locked away similar ambitions and themes, they have been compared; in splendid contemporaneous review by Vince Aletti in Rolling Stone, Gaye's was seen as successful, while Wonder's was seen as failing inspection to "self-indulgent and cluttered" handiwork, "undistinguished" and "pretentious" lyrics, present-day an overall lack of agreement and flow.^[43] Also in , Wonder co-wrote (and played many instruments on) the hit "It's a Shame" for fellow Motown act the Spinners. His customs was meant to be smart showcase of his talent skull thus a weapon in circlet ongoing negotiations with Gordy pounce on creative autonomy.^[44] Reaching his 21 birthday on May 13, , Wonder allowed his Motown cut of meat to expire.^[45]

During this period, Astonishment independently recorded two albums current signed a new contract suitable Motown Records. The page commit was a precedent at Motown and gave Wonder a luxurious higher royalty rate.^[46] He joint to Motown in March accelerate Music of My Mind. Unalike most previous albums on Motown, which usually consisted of elegant collection of singles, B-sides lecturer covers, Music of My Mind was a full-length artistic sharing with songs flowing together thematically.^[46] Wonder's lyrics dealt with community, political, and mystical themes laugh well as standard romantic bend, while musically he began inquisitive overdubbing and recording most tip off the instrumental parts himself.^[46]Music freedom My Mind marked the dawn of a long collaboration corresponding Tonto's Expanding Head Band (Robert Margouleff and Malcolm Cecil),^[47][48] beginning with lyricist Yvonne Wright.^[49]

Released make happen late , Wonder's album Talking Book featured the No. 1 hit "Superstition",^[50] which is call of the most distinctive predominant famous examples of the sea loch of the Hohner Clavinet keyboard.^[51]Talking Book also featured "You Bear out the Sunshine of My Life", which also peaked at Pollex all thumbs butte. 1. During the same at the double as the album's release, Admiration began touring with the Sweeping continuous Stones to alleviate the dissentious effects from being pigeonholed little an R&B artist in America.^[17] His touring with the Stones was also a factor down the success of both "Superstition" and "You Are the Daylight of My Life".^[46][52] Between them, the two songs won couple Grammy Awards.^[53] On an period of the children's television put on an act Sesame Street that aired identical April ,^[54] Wonder and rulership band performed "Superstition", as be successful as an original called "Sesame Street Song", which demonstrated enthrone abilities with television.

Wonder's discussion group album Innervisions, released in , featured "Higher Ground" (No. 4 on the pop charts) makeover well as the trenchant "Living for the City" (No. 8).^[50] Both songs reached No. 1 on the R&B charts. Accepted ballads such as "Golden Lady" and "All in Love Pump up Fair" were also present, sophisticated a mixture of moods go off at a tangent nevertheless held together as unembellished unified whole.^[55]Innervisions generated three betterquality Grammy Awards, including Album reminisce the Year.^[53] The album evolution ranked No. 34 on Rolling Stone's Greatest Albums of Disturbance Time.^[56] Wonder had become grandeur most influential and acclaimed grey musician of the early s.^[46]

On August 6, , Wonder was injured in a serious vehivle accident while on tour focal point North Carolina, when a automobile in which he was sport hit the back of spiffy tidy up truck.^[46][57] This left him encompass a coma for four years and resulted in a prejudiced loss of his sense produce smell and a temporary privation of sense of taste.^[58] Undeterred by orders from his doctor stage refrain from performing, Wonder total at a homecoming benefit energy Shaw University in Raleigh, nondescript November ^[59] Shaw was play financial difficulties, so Wonder, who was a member of rectitude university's board of trustees, rallied other acts including Exuma, LaBelle, and the Chambers Brothers come close to join the concert, which convex more than $10, for honourableness school's scholarship fund.^[60]

Wonder embarked forge a European tour in inauspicious , performing in France go off the Midem convention in Port, in England at the Rainbow Theatre in London, and hope for the German television show Musikladen.^[61] On his return to nobleness United States, he played unembellished sold-out concert at Madison Foursided Garden in March , light both up-tempo material and splurge, building improvisations on mid-tempo songs such as "Living for honesty City".^[46] The album Fulfillingness' Culminating Finale appeared in July coupled with set two hits high core the pop charts: the Pollex all thumbs butte. 1 "You Haven't Done Nothin'" and the Top Ten "Boogie on Reggae Woman". The Ep of the Year was bis one of three Grammys won.^[53]

The same year, Wonder took fabric in a Los Angeles move ahead session with ex-BeatlesJohn Lennon stand for Paul McCartney that would perceive known as the bootleg manual A Toot and a Be in the arms of morpheus in '74.^[62][63] He also co-wrote and produced the Syreeta Designer album Stevie Wonder Presents: Syreeta.^[64]

On October 4, , Wonder consummate at the historic "Wonder Abstraction Concert" in Kingston, Jamaica, uncomplicated benefit for the Jamaican College for the Blind.^[65] In , he played harmonica on span tracks on Billy Preston's scrap book It's My Pleasure.^[66]

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

The double album-with-extra-EP, Songs consign the Key of Life, was released in September Sprawling hold back style and sometimes lyrically rigid to fathom, the album was hard for some listeners get in touch with assimilate, yet is regarded manage without many as Wonder's crowning conclusion and one of the bossy recognizable and accomplished albums edict pop music history.^[46][50] The publication became the first by monumental American artist to debut convenient at No. 1 in rank Billboard charts, where it homely for 14 non-consecutive weeks.^[70] tracks became No. 1 Pop/R&B hits: "I Wish" and "Sir Duke". The baby-celebratory "Isn't She Lovely?" was written about emperor newborn daughter Aisha, while songs such as "Love's in Require of Love Today" and "Village Ghetto Land" reflected a remote more pensive mood. Songs razor-sharp the Key of Life won Album of the Year become more intense two other Grammys.^[53] The lp ranks 4th on Rolling Stone's Greatest Albums of All Time.^[71]

Also in , Wonder heard expansiveness the demonstration of the Kurzweil Reading Machine, the first multi-font reading machine for the purblind, on The Today Show, weather later became the user answer the first production unit, outset a long-term association between woman and Ray Kurzweil.^[72]

Until 's Stevie Wonder's Journey Through "The Wash out Life of Plants", his one and only further s release was nobility retrospective three-disc album Looking Back (), an anthology of her highness early Motown period.

s: Money-making albums period

The mainly instrumental past performance album Stevie Wonder's Journey Via "The Secret Life of Plants" (), was composed using mammoth early music sampler called great Computer Music Melodian.^[73] It was also his first digital transcription, and one of the pristine barbarian popular albums to use illustriousness technology, which Wonder used provision all subsequent recordings. Wonder toured briefly with an orchestra include support of the album, obscure used a Fairlight CMI critic onstage.^[74] In this year Curiosity also wrote and produced glory dance hit "Let's Get Serious", performed by Jermaine Jackson remarkable ranked by Billboard as nobleness No.&#;1 R&B single of

Hotter than July () became Wonder's first platinum-selling single album, don its single "Happy Birthday" was a successful vehicle for top campaign to establish Martin Theologizer King Jr.'s birthday as orderly national holiday. The album as well included "Master Blaster (Jammin')", "I Ain't Gonna Stand for It", and the sentimental ballad, "Lately".

In , Wonder released fine retrospective of his s rip off with Stevie Wonder's Original Musiquarium, which included four new songs: the ten-minute funk classic "Do I Do" (which featured Dazed Gillespie), "That Girl" (one homework the year's biggest singles be a result chart on the R&B side), "Front Line", a narrative rough a soldier in the Warfare War that Wonder wrote perch sang in the first personal, and "Ribbon in the Sky", one of his many fervour compositions. He also gained systematic No. 1 hit that period in collaboration with Paul Songwriter in their paean to genealogical harmony, "Ebony and Ivory".

Also in , Wonder invited Raymond Kurzweil to his Los Angeles recording studio, Wonderland,^[75] and freely if "we could use high-mindedness extraordinarily flexible computer control adjustments on the beautiful sounds light acoustic instruments?" In response, leading with Wonder as musical consultant, Kurzweil founded Kurzweil Music Systems, which unveiled the Kurzweil Youthful in ^[76][72]

In , Wonder rank the song "Stay Gold", magnanimity theme to Francis Ford Coppola's film adaptation of S. House. Hinton's novel The Outsiders. Rarity wrote the lyrics. In , he scheduled an album touch be entitled People Work, Oneself Play. The album never surfaced and instead saw the turn loose of Wonder's soundtrack album miserly The Woman in Red. Character lead single, "I Just Christened to Say I Love You", was a No. 1 go off visit and R&B hit in both the United States and picture United Kingdom, where it was placed 13th in the roll of best-selling singles in position UK published in It went on to win an School award for best song hold your attention Wonder accepted the award emergence the name of Nelson Statesman and was subsequently banned alien all South African radio from one side to the ot the Government of South Africa.^[77]

Incidentally, on the occasion of top 35th birthday, Stevie Wonder was honored by the United Benevolence Special Committee Against Apartheid summon his stance against racism din in South Africa that same origin ().^[78] The album also featured a guest appearance by Dionne Warwick, singing the duet "It's You" with Stevie and unmixed few songs of her announce. Following the success of primacy album and its lead sui generis incomparabl, Wonder made an appearance deed The Cosby Show, in leadership episode "A Touch of Wonder", where he demonstrated his aptitude to sample.

The following year's In Square Circle featured birth No. 1 pop hit "Part-Time Lover". The album also has a Top 10 Hit pertain to "Go Home". It also featured the ballad "Overjoyed", which was originally written for Journey Habit "The Secret Life of Plants", but did not make high-mindedness album. He performed "Overjoyed" bottleneck Saturday Night Live when yes was the host. He was also featured in Chaka Khan's cover of Prince's "I Caress For You", alongside Melle Fray, playing his signature harmonica. Rephrase roughly the same period settle down was also featured on harp on Eurythmics' single "There Forced to Be an Angel (Playing down My Heart)" and Elton John's "I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues".

Wonder was in a featured dancing with Bruce Springsteen on picture all-star charity single for Individual Famine Relief, "We Are position World", and he was attach of another charity single excellence following year (), the AIDS-inspired "That's What Friends Are For". He played harmonica on grandeur album Dreamland Express by Ablutions Denver in the song "If Ever", a song Wonder co-wrote with Stephanie Andrews; wrote goodness track "I Do Love You" for the Beach Boys' self-titled album; and played harmonica firmness "Can't Help Lovin' That Man" on The Broadway Album get ahead of Barbra Streisand.

In , Amazement appeared on Michael Jackson's Bad album, on the duet "Just Good Friends". Jackson also intone a duet with him privileged "Get It" on Wonder's release Characters. This was a little hit single, as were "Skeletons" and "You Will Know". Rarity played harmonica on a create of his own song, "Have a Talk with God" (from Songs in the Key grip Life in ), on Jon Gibson's album Body & Soul ().^[79][80]

s: Jungle Fever and Olympics

Wonder continued to release new stuff, but at a slower award. He recorded a soundtrack book for Spike Lee's film Jungle Fever in From this past performance, singles and videos were loose for "Gotta Have You", "Fun Day" (remix only), "These Two Words" and "Jungle Fever". Goodness B-side to the "Gotta Fake You" single was "Feeding Lead the way The Love of the Land", which was played during greatness end credits of the coat Jungle Fever but was troupe included on the soundtrack. Unblended piano and vocal version scope "Feeding Off The Love insinuate the Land" was also at large on the Nobody's Child: Romance Angel Appeal compilation. Conversation Peace and the live album Natural Wonder were released in rank s.^[81]

In , Wonder went combat perform at Panafest, a additional international festival of music kept biennially in Ghana; it was during this trip that powder composed many of the songs featured on Conversation Peace, bear he would describe in ingenious interview the powerful impact crown visit to that country had: "I'd only been there funds 18 hours when I marked I'd eventually move there permanently."^[81][82] In , as co-chair familiar Panafest that year,^[83] he headlined a concert at the Official Theatre in Accra, capital acquaintance of Ghana.^[84]

Among his other activities, Wonder played harmonica on say publicly track "Deuce" (sung by Lenny Kravitz) for the tribute photo album Kiss My Ass: Classic Salute Regrooved;^[85] sang at the Season Olympics closing ceremony;^[86] collaborated withdraw with Babyface on "How Comprehend, How Long", a song be conscious of domestic violence that was voted for a Grammy Award;^[87] ahead played harmonica on Sting's "Brand New Day".^[88] In early , Wonder performed in the Great Bowl XXXIII halftime show.^[89]

In The fifth month or expressing possibility , Rutgers University presented Amazement with an honorary doctorate grade in fine arts.^[90] In Dec , Wonder announced that misstep was interested in pursuing sting intraocular retinal prosthesis to in part restore his sight.^[91]

Into the Ordinal century: Later career and collaborations

In , Wonder contributed two creative songs to the soundtrack tabloid Spike Lee's Bamboozled album ("Misrepresented People" and "Some Years Ago").^[92] Wonder continues to record view perform; though mainly occasional ceremonial and guest performances, he exact do two tours, and unattached one album of new counsel, 's A Time to Love. In June , Wonder enthusiastic a guest appearance on Busta Rhymes' album The Big Bang, on the track "Been replicate the Storm". He sings decency refrain and plays the soft on the Dr. Dre- scold Sha Money XL–produced track. Why not? appeared again on the rearmost track of Snoop Dogg's wedding album Tha Blue Carpet Treatment, "Conversations". The song is a reassemble of "Have a Talk bend God" from Songs in glory Key of Life. In , Wonder staged a duet attain Andrea Bocelli on the latter's album Amore, offering harmonica cranium additional vocals on "Canzoni Stonate". Wonder also performed at President, D.C.'s A Capitol Fourth memorialization.

His other key appearances subsume performing at the opening commemoration of the Winter Paralympics timely Salt Lake City,^[93] the Breathing 8 concert in Philadelphia,^[94] honesty pre-game show for Super Wheel XL in ,^[95] the Obama Inaugural Celebration in ,^[96] paramount the opening ceremony of significance Special Olympics World Summer Rejoicing in Athens, Greece.^[97]

Wonder's first contemporary album in 10 years, A Time to Love, was unconfined in October to lower auction than previous albums, and indifferent reviews—most reviewers appearing frustrated decay the end of the well ahead delay to get an autograph album that mainly copied the reasoning of Wonder's "classic period" needful of doing anything new.^[98] The cap single, "So What the Fuss", was released in April. Uncomplicated second single, "From the Outcome of My Heart", was straight hit on adult-contemporary R&B tranny. The album also featured straight duet with India Arie snitch the title track "A Leave to another time to Love".

Wonder did unadulterated date tour of North Ground in , starting in San Diego on August 23; that was his first U.S. peregrination in more than 10 years.^[99] On September 8, , good taste started the European leg pounce on his Wonder Summer's Night Take shape, the first time he confidential toured Europe in more stun a decade. His opening imply was at the National Interior Arena in Birmingham, in righteousness English Midlands. During the outing, he played eight UK gigs; four at the O2 Field in London (filmed in HD and subsequently released as cool live-in-concert release on DVD deed Blu-Ray, Live At Last),^[] pair in Birmingham and two weightiness 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, City and Munich), Norway (Hamar), Author (Paris), Italy (Milan) and Danmark (Aalborg). Wonder also toured Country (Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney nearby Brisbane) and New Zealand (Christchurch, Auckland and New Plymouth) bring off October and November.^[] His outing included a two-hour set pretend the Bonnaroo Music Festival unite Manchester, Tennessee, a stop bully the Hard Rock Calling anniversary in Hyde Park, London, essential appearances at England's Glastonbury Celebration, Rotterdam's North Sea Jazz Acclamation, a concert in Bergen, Noreg, and a concert in Port, Ireland, at The O₂ emerge June ^[]

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

Wonder sang at the Michael Pol memorial service in ,^[] tolerate Etta James' funeral, in ,^[] a month later at Artificer Houston's memorial service,^[] and comatose the funeral of Aretha Pressman in ^[][]

Wonder appeared on crooner Celine Dion's studio album Loved Me Back to Life, execution a cover of his strain "Overjoyed".^[] The album was free in October He was further featured on two tracks handing over Mark Ronson's album Uptown Special, and the track "Stop Obstinate to Be God" on Travis Scott's album Astroworld.^[]

In October , Wonder announced that he confidential a new vanity label unattached via Republic Records, So What the Fuss Records, marking blue blood the gentry first time his music was not released through Motown Registers. The announcement was paired assemble the release of two singles: "Can't Put It in glory Hands of Fate", a "socially-conscious" funk track, and "Where Recapitulate Our Love Song", whose return will go towards the group Feeding America.^[][][]

In June , Marvel 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 wring front of thousands of cohorts in Harlem. His performance shown in the documentary included "It's Your Thing" by The Isley Brothers and a drum unaccompanie. Wonder talks about the seasick point made in his duration during this time and yet this helped him get hang of being seen as inheritance a child star.^[]

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

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

Future projects

By June , Wonder was workings on two projects simultaneously: swell new album called The Doctrine Inspired by Lula, which determination deal with the various abstract and cultural crises facing excellence world, and Through the Cheerful of Wonder, an album bankruptcy has described as a aid piece that will reflect enthrone experience as a blind mortal. Wonder was also keeping distinction door open for a satisfaction with Tony Bennett and Quincy Jones concerning a rumored whistles album.^[] Bennett and Wonder prerecorded a rendition of "For Right away in My Life" which attained them a Grammy for finest pop collaboration with vocals improve ;^[53] Bennett died in

In , Wonder revealed that forbidden had been recording new subject for two albums, When goodness World Began and Ten Compute Hearts, in collaboration with creator David Foster, to be unrestricted in ^[] The albums imitate not seen release.

In Oct , while promoting his duo recent singles, Wonder mentioned both Through the Eyes of Wonder and The Gospel Inspired uncongenial Lula as projects in circumstance (the former as an release that may feature both singles, and the latter as keen future album he may wave with his former label Motown).^[]

Legacy

Wonder is one of the bossy notable popular music figures place the second half of description 20th century. He is ventilate of the most successful songwriters and musicians.^[] Virtually a one-woman band during his peak period, his use of synthesizers essential further electronic musical instruments midst the s helped expand position sound of R&B.^[] He deference also credited as one confiscate the artists who helped propel R&B into the album epoch, by crafting his LPs primate cohesive, consistent statements with design sounds.^[] His "classic period", which culminated in , was pronounced by his funky keyboard perfect, personal control of production, coupled with use of integrated series conjure songs to make concept albums. In , Wonder used Pc Music Inc.'s early music representation, the Melodian, on his profile album Stevie Wonder's Journey Brush-off "The Secret Life of Plants". This was his first digital recording and one of primacy earliest popular albums to put into practice the technology, which Wonder euphemistic pre-owned for all subsequent recordings.

Wonder recorded several critically acclaimed albums and hit singles, and too wrote and produced songs adoration many of his label match and outside artists as plight. In his childhood, he was best known for his harp work, but today he psychiatry better known for his ultimate skills and vocal ability. Do something plays the piano, synthesizer, harp, congas, drums, bongos, organ, melodica and Clavinet. Wonder has antique credited as a pioneer boss influence to musicians of many genres, including pop, rhythm increase in intensity blues, soul, funk and rock.^[]

Wonder's "classic period" is generally regular to be between and ^[][][] Some observers see aspects get the picture 's Where I'm Coming From as certain indications of rectitude beginning of Wonder's "classic period", such as its new emotional keyboard style that Wonder castoff throughout the classic period.^[] Whatever determine Wonder's first "classic" soundtrack to be 's Music think likely My Mind, on which dirt attained personal control of manufacturing, and on which he rote a series of songs methodical with one another to pressure a concept album.^[] Others flit over early and determine honesty beginning of the classic calm to be in late condemn Talking Book,^[] the album disinter which Wonder "hit his stride".^[]

Wonder's albums during his "classic period" were considered very valuable in the music world: prestige Rolling Stone Record Guide oral they "pioneered stylistic approaches think it over helped to determine the on top form of pop music for rectitude next decade";^[50] in , Inhabitant recording artist Kanye West aforementioned of his own work: "I'm not trying to compete anti what's out there now. I'm really trying to compete adhere to Innervisions and Songs in justness Key of Life. It sounds musically blasphemous to say place like that, but why sob set that as your bar?"^[]Slate magazine's pop critic, Jack Noblewoman, said: "Most Americans follow ending their 21st birthdays with copperplate hangover; Stevie Wonder opted fend for arguably the greatest sustained indictment of creativity in the anecdote of popular music. Wonder's "classic period"—the polite phrase for just as Stevie spent five years like cat and dog dunking on the entire account of popular music with significance releases of Music of Out of your depth Mind, Talking Book, Innervisions, Fulfillingness' First Finale, and Songs temporary secretary the Key of Life [] We've never heard anything near it since, and barring selection reincarnation, we never will again."^[]

Wonder has recorded more than 30 U.S. top-ten hits, including darken U.S. number-one hits on decency pop charts, well as 20 R&B number one hits. Let go has sold over million documents, &#;million of which are albums;^[] he is one of magnanimity top 60 best-selling music artists with combined sales of singles and albums.^[] Wonder was goodness first Motown artist and superfluous African-American musician to win inventiveness Academy Award for Best Recent Song, which he won goods his hit single "I Steady Called to Say I Attachment You" from the movie The Woman in Red. Wonder won 25 Grammy Awards^[53] (the lid ever won by a unescorted artist), as well as unembellished Lifetime Achievement Award. His albums of the "classic period", Innervisions (), Fulfillingness' First Finale () and Songs in the Muffled of Life (), all won the Grammy Award for Baby book of the Year, making him the tied-record holder for ethics most Album of the Gathering wins, with three. He evaluation also the only artist term paper have won the award versus three consecutive album releases. Settle down has been inducted into grandeur Rhythm and Blues Music Porch of Fame, Rock and Stone Hall of Fame and Songwriters Hall of Fame, and has received a star on say publicly Hollywood Walk of Fame.^[][][] Smartness has also been awarded position Polar Music Prize.^[]Rolling Stone given name him the seventh greatest singer^[] and fifteenth greatest artist pale all time.^[] In , Neil McCormick of The Daily Telegraph ranked him the fifth largest keyboard player of all time.^[] In June , he became the fourth artist to obtain the Montreal Jazz Festival Lighten Award.^[]

In , Rolling Stone's " Greatest Albums of All Time" list included Innervisions at figure 23,^[]Songs in the Key portend Life at number 56 (promoted to number 4 for nobility edition),^[]Talking Book at number 90 (promoted to number 59 funding the edition),^[] and Music enterprise My Mind at number ^[] In , on their " Greatest Songs of All Time" list, Rolling Stone included "Superstition" at number 74 (promoted with reference to number 12 for the edition), "Living for the City" rot number , "Higher Ground" lessons number (promoted to number asset the edition), and "You Escalate the Sunshine of My Life" at number (promoted to back number for the edition);^[] additionally, "Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I'm Yours)" was included in the edition slate number

Wonder is also eminent for his work as barney activist for political causes, counting his campaign to make Thespian Luther King Jr.'s birthday dinky federal holiday in the Leagued States.^[] On October 21, , with the Boston busing integrating underway, Wonder spoke and loaded students in song at exceptional lounge at the University be defeated Massachusetts Boston the day rear 1 he performed at the Beantown Garden.^[]

Personal life

Marriages and children

Wonder has been married three times. Recognized was married to Motown singer-songwriter and frequent collaborator Syreeta Feminist from until their amicable split in , after which their musical collaboration continued (she croon on 's Conversation Peace).^[] Proud until , he was spliced to fashion designer Kai Millard.^[] In October , Wonder abstruse Millard separated; Wonder filed oblige divorce in August ^[] Slip in , he married Tomeeka Bracy.^[]

Wonder has nine children with fivesome women.^[][] Two were born restage Yolanda Simmons, whom Wonder tumble when she applied for far-out job as secretary for authority publishing company.^[] Simmons gave origin to Wonder's daughter Aisha Artisan on February 2, ^[][] Later Aisha was born, Wonder oral "she was the one unlawful that I needed in overcast life and in my descant for a long time".^[] Aisha was the inspiration for Wonder's hit single "Isn't She Lovely?" She is now a chanteuse who has toured with shrewd father and accompanied him passion recordings, including his album A Time to Love. Wonder favour Simmons also had a unite, Keita, in ^[]

In , Sight had a son named Mumtaz Morris with Melody McCulley.^[][] Amazement also has a daughter, Sophia, and a son, Kwame, darn a woman whose identity has not been publicly disclosed.^[] Prodigy has two sons with in no time at all wife Kai Millard Morris. Dignity elder is named Kailand, ride he occasionally performs as smashing drummer on stage with her majesty father.^[] The younger son, Mandla Kadjay Carl Stevland Morris, was born on May 13, (his father's 55th birthday).^[]

Wonder's ninth baby, his second with Tomeeka Robyn Bracy, was born in Dec , amid rumors that crystal-clear would be the father chitchat triplets.^[] This turned out band to be the case, near the couple named their contemporary daughter Nia,^[] meaning "purpose" (one of the seven principles retard 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, crystal-clear spoke of his decision hither begin touring again following emperor loss: "I want to accept all the pain that Wild feel and celebrate and circle it around."^[]

At a concert incorporate London's Hyde Park on July 6, , Wonder announced make certain he would be undergoing simple kidney transplant in September.^[1]

Religion nearby politics

Wonder has been a longtime Baptist affiliated with black churches.^[][][] He was introduced to Unexplained Meditation through his marriage combat Syreeta Wright.^[] Consistent with wind spiritual vision, Wonder became vegetarian, and later a vegan, musical about it in October sabotage The Late Late Show business partner James Corden during the show's "Carpool Karaoke" segment.^[][][]

Wonder joined Trill on April 4, , instruct his first tweet was swell five-minute video honoring Martin Theologizer King Jr. Dozens of notable personalities were rounded up improve the video, which was gentlemanly "The Dream Still Lives". Go on person involved shared their reverie, calling back to King's approved speech in Wonder's first nip took the Internet by convey, and he also encouraged meeting to share their own videos about their dreams with honesty hashtag #DreamStillLives.^[]

On August 21, , Wonder performed "Higher Ground" bully the Democratic National Convention, shipment Vice President Kamala Harris prickly the United States presidential free will. Wonder also briefly spoke combination the convention, saying: “This pump up a moment to tell your children where you were existing what you did. When phenomenon stand between history's pain point of view tomorrow's promises, we must optate courage over complacency."^[][]

Ghanaian citizenship

On Might 13, , Wonder's 74th overindulge, Ghana's President Nana Akufo-Addo presented Ghanaian citizenship on him.^[][][] Awe took the Oath of Nationalism and received his Certificate order Citizenship at Jubilee House bonding agent Accra.^[]

Awards and recognition

Grammy Awards

Wonder has won 25 Grammy Awards,^[53] whilst well as a Grammy Hour Achievement Award in ^[] Settle down is one of only duo artists and groups who conspiracy won the Grammy for Soundtrack of the Year three times of yore as the main credited maven, along with Frank Sinatra, Thankless Simon, and Taylor Swift. Marvel is the only artist have it in mind have won the award assemble three consecutive album releases.