Stevie Wonder
“A prodigy who grew into a generational genius, fusing soul, pop, and conscience.”
In 1963, at just thirteen, 'Little' Stevie Wonder topped the charts with the live recording 'Fingertips, Pt. 2,' becoming the youngest artist ever to have a No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. The breakthrough confirmed the blind prodigy as Motown's brightest new talent and set the stage for a legendary career.
A Child Prodigy
Blind from infancy, Stevland Judkins mastered piano, harmonica and drums as a boy in Detroit. Motown signed him at eleven and dubbed him 'Little Stevie Wonder,' and by thirteen he had a chart-topping hit.
The Classic Period
In the early 1970s Wonder won creative control and released a run of masterpieces including 'Talking Book,' 'Innervisions' and 'Songs in the Key of Life.' These albums fused soul, funk, jazz and social commentary.
Enduring Legend
With 25 Grammys and dozens of hits, Wonder became one of the most honored musicians in history. He has also been a tireless advocate for civil rights, including the campaign for a Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.
Career Timeline
- 1950Born in Saginaw, Michigan, blind from infancy
- 1961Signs with Motown at age eleven
- 1963'Fingertips, Pt. 2' hits No. 1
- 1972Releases acclaimed albums 'Music of My Mind' and 'Talking Book'
- 1973'Innervisions' wins Album of the Year
- 1974'Fulfillingness' First Finale' wins Album of the Year
- 1976Double album 'Songs in the Key of Life' released
- 1982'Ebony and Ivory' duet with Paul McCartney tops charts
- 1985'I Just Called to Say I Love You' wins an Oscar
- 2009Named a UN Messenger of Peace
Biggest Hits
- Born six weeks premature, Wonder lost his sight to retinopathy of prematurity in the hospital incubator.
- He won the Grammy for Album of the Year three times in four years during the 1970s.
The Moment You Remember
Many recall the clavinet riff that opens Superstition, an instantly recognizable groove that turned a young Motown veteran into a creative force reshaping popular music.
Portrait: Raph_PH · CC BY 2.0 · via Wikimedia Commons