Obviously, I'm not the music mind that you are or other people are on this, but I just remember growing up - 1979, when Prince came out with Prince and then followed up with Dirty Mind, Controversy, and then leading up to 1999 and then Purple Rain two years after. I don't know if Controversy is a classic. Michael cited Blige's record company president, Jay Boberg, for pulling the track after Michael's arrest for committing a lewd act in a public restroom. Nonetheless, it was clearly an ambitious attempt at making a unified album-length artistic statement, and served notice that Wonder was no longer content to release albums composed of hit singles and assorted filler. Some critics called it brilliant but prone to excess and indulgence, while others hailed it as his greatest masterpiece and the culmination of his career; in the end, they were probably both right. And Stevie Wonder has a storied career that started when he was just eleven years old. 
Artistically speaking, Hotter Than July was a cut below his classic '70s output, but it was still a solid outing; fans were so grateful to have the old Wonder back that they made it his first platinum-selling LP. In 2011 the season 2 winners of vocal competition The Sing-Off, Committed, also covered this song on their self-titled debut album. I mean, the entire side-one of Songs in the Key of Life is just note-for-note one of the most perfect sides of all time. Know more in just minutes with our free newsletters. Soul Child. Smooth jazz saxophonist/flautist Najee covered the song for his Stevie Wonder tribute album Songs from the Key of Life.[44]. As of July 2021, the video has been viewed more than 19 million times.[9]. That year he also became a Kennedy Center honoree. Where is the magnetic force the greatest on a magnet. The song gets its name from the first word of its lyrics. The best of his work formed a vital link between the classic rhythm-and-blues and soul performers of the 1950s and 60s and their less commercially constrained successors. Ladies & Gentlemen: The Best of George Michael, "45 Years Ago: Stevie Wonder Seriously Injured in Car Accident", "The Story of 'As' by Stevie Wonder, covered by George Michael and Mary J Blige", "New Releases For Week Starting 1 March, 1999: Singles", "George Michael's Video Tackles Lewd Conduct Arrest", "Revisiting Mary J. Blige's Soul Masterpiece 'Mary' 20 Years Later", "George Michael, Mary J. Blige - As (Official Video)", "slenski Listinn Topp 40 (NR. In 1999, British singer George Michael and American singer Mary J. Blige covered the song for Michael's greatest hits album Ladies & Gentlemen: The Best of George Michael (1998). Wonder released his first two albums in 1962: A Tribute to Uncle Ray, which featured covers of Wonder's hero Ray Charles, and The Jazz Soul of Little Stevie, an orchestral jazz album spotlighting his instrumental skills on piano, harmonica, and assorted percussion. In 2020, Wonder founded So What the Fuss Records, an offshoot of Universal Music Group. Anthony Hamilton and Marsha Ambrosious make cameos in the 2013 film The Best Man Holiday, in which the singers appear as themselves and perform the song as an R&B ballad at a main character's funeral. The stunted growth of blood vessels in the back of his eyes caused his retinas to detach, and the oxygen pumped into his incubator made the condition worse, leaving him permanently blind. Ray Charles Blind virtually since birth, Wonder's heightened awareness of sound helped him create vibrant, colorful music teeming with life and ambition. Real name Stevland Hardaway Morris, he was born in Saginaw, Michigan. This left him in a coma for four days, and resulted in a partial loss of his sense of smell and a temporary loss of sense of taste. Wonder was born Stevland Hardaway Judkins in Saginaw, Michigan, on May 13, 1950 (his name was later altered to Stevland Morris when his mother married). Christopher Polk/Getty Images, Alexander Tamargo/Getty Images for CATS, Rich Fury/Getty Images for Fashion Nova, David Crotty/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. Stevie Wonder, original name Stevland Hardaway Judkins, also called Stevland Hardaway Morris, (born May 13, 1950, Saginaw, Michigan, U.S.), American singer, Morgan Enos. What are the names of God in various Kenyan tribes? Freed from the dictates of Motown's hit-factory mindset, Wonder had already begun following a more personal and idiosyncratic muse. They can get close to each other, but they rarely intersect. Webby Steve Huey. Through this introduction, Stevie Wonder was introduced to the synthesizer. Four years later he was awarded the Gershwin Prize for Popular Song from the Library of Congress, and he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2014. The result, Talking Book, was released in late 1972 and made him a superstar. What are the names of the third leaders called? I think Stevie Wonder was kind of due for a breakthrough album as an adult. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. Why not? I'm wondering if you've ever looked up and down music history and thought of an artist that came close to Stevie Wonder's run. Hanif Abdurraqib: You know, as someone who creates things, I know that the writing or the song or the work that you imagine and the work that you're actually capable of executing those two things rarely intersect. We use cookies. To hear the broadcast version of this conversation, use the audio player at the top of this page. [45], In 2017 it was covered by American Multi-instrumentalist Bill Wurtz and put on his website under the Jazz page.[46]. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. "[7], Source: Talking Book, Tamla: T 319L, October 27, 1972 (album cover). Wonder charted a few more singles over the next year, but none on the level of "Fingertips, Pt. He auditioned for Motown Records at the age of 11, and founder Berry Gordy later said he was "speechless". He heard this, and he wanted to go and meet the architects of the album, one of them being Malcolm Cecil. As his voice changed, his recording career was temporarily put on hold, and he studied classical piano at the Michigan School for the Blind in the meantime. But I think some of that was because it came right on the back of Songs in the Key of Life, one of the greatest albums ever created. Why fibrous material has only one falling period in drying curve? 
The sexual politics of backup singing are glaringly apparent, since all the big name musicians in the movie are menJagger, Bruce Springsteen, Sting, Stevie Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. 
Download 'Take On Me' on iTunes. 309 Vikuna 5.2. By 1964 he was no longer described as Little, and two years later his fervent delivery of the pounding soul of Uptight (Everythings Alright), which he also had written, suggested the emergence of both an unusually compelling performer and a composer to rival Motowns stable of skilled songwriters. But there's something really fascinating about it, and I think it's due for a critical revisit because it was not generously perceived at the time, because people found it to be vague and strange and self-indulgent in its ambitions. Talking Book (1972), Innervisions (1973), Fulfillingness First Finale (1974), and Songs in the Key of Life (1976) were all regarded as masterpieces, and the last three of them won a slew of Grammy Awards, each of them being named album of the year. Names of female singers of the 80's? I think Songs in the Key of Life is one of those rare albums where the way the creator imagined it is actually the way it turned out. In 2005 Wonder received a Grammy Award for lifetime achievement. Gordy was reportedly not fond of the work, and it wasn't a major commercial success, producing only the Top Ten hit "If You Really Love Me" (plus a classic B-side in "Never Dreamed You'd Leave in Summer"). Stevie Wonder has been married three times. His next full album of new material, 1995's Conversation Peace, was a commercial disappointment, thought it did win two Grammys for the single "For Your Love." Additionally, Wonder's pioneering use of synthesizers during the '70s changed the face of R&B; he employed a kaleidoscope of contrasting textures and voices that made him a virtual one-man band, all the while evoking a surprisingly organic warmth. Omissions? "As" is a song written and performed by American singer and musician Stevie Wonder from his 1976 album, Songs in the Key of Life. And so he was really due for a breakthrough album that treated his work with the gravity it deserved. That serves as an interruption in the run that kind of breaks it up. I'm not using cynical as a pejorative; I'm a noted cynic in many ways. 
The 2023 GRAMMYs will feature a special performance by Stevie Wonder, where he will perform three classic tunes, including two duets with fellow Motown legend Smokey Robinson and country star Chris Stapleton. He had a son named Mumtaz with Melody McCulley in 1983. Love's in Need of Love Today 2. Singer-songwriter Becca Stevens included a cover of the song, featuring Jacob Collier, on her album Regina (2017). It is weird. Music of My Mind (1972) made his concerns even more plain. His far-reaching influence continued to be felt through samples, cover versions, and reinterpretations, highlighted by Robert Glasper Experiment and Lalah Hathaway's Grammy-winning version of "Jesus Children of America." Do Pentecostal eat meat Friday during lent? But, when Stevie Wonder's contract was about to expire on his 21st birthday, he was able to negotiate for more creative freedom. In 2017, he married 42-year-old Tomeeka Bracy. A teenage soul sensation in the '60s who racked up smash after smash, then explored adventurous, risky territory on his pioneering '70s albums. Stevie has retained Morris as his legal surname. He is a pioneer in several musical genres, including pop, R&B, soul, and blues, penning hits like Overjoyed, I Wish, and Higher Ground, among other chart-topping classics. Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. Sir Duke 6. Neither sold very well, but that all changed in 1963 with the live album The 12 Year Old Genius, which featured a new, extended version of the harmonica instrumental "Fingertips." Wonder's 1968 album For Once in My Life signaled his budding ambition; he co-wrote about half of the material and, for the first time, co-produced several tracks. Corrections? [Also] Bjrk: Debut, Post, Homogenic, Vespertine. That, I think, is a brilliant run. From Music of My Mind to Songs in the Key of Life, from '72 to '76, the corners that he was able to turn as an artist are pretty fascinating to look back on. Wonder scored again in 1969 with the pop and R&B Top Five hit "My Cherie Amour" (which he'd actually recorded three years prior) and the Top Ten "Yester-Me, Yester-You, Yesterday." It led to a geyser of superb recordings. I've heard that album described as "deeply weird.". Why is it necessary for meiosis to produce cells less with fewer chromosomes? So, though he has veered into some territory that I believe is unfortunate, I will say: Van Morrison. "As" was not released on the US version of Ladies & Gentlemen or as a single in the US. How the iconic singer lost his sight. Released under Wonder's new deal in early 1972, Music of My Mind heralded his arrival as a major, self-contained talent with an original vision that pushed the boundaries of R&B. Such a fertile period was unlikely to last forever, and it came to an end in 1979 with a fey and overambitious extended work called Stevie Wonders Journey Through the Secret Life of Plants. Much like his inspiration Ray Charles, Wonder had a voracious appetite for many different kinds of music, and refused to confine himself to any one sound or style. Who makes the plaid blue coat Jesse stone wears in Sea Change? Stevie Wonder arrived six weeks early when he was born. In 2014 it was covered by American singer Camille for her Stevie Wonder tribute album I Sing Stevie: The Stevie Wonder Songbook, an album that received an Independent Music Awards nomination for Best Tribute Album. How do you download your XBOX 360 upgrade onto a CD? Stevie Wonder is an American musician and a former child prodigy who became one of the most creative musical figures of the 20th century with hits like "My Cherie His imagination was beyond the tools. In his head, he was hearing things that he just did not have the equipment to execute. Kirsty Gallacher You know, all the wildest imaginations possible to dream up some of those songs, I just wholeheartedly believe that those came to fruition. Towards the end of the video, most of the people are dancing on the dance floor. Hanif Abdurraqib: It received some mixed reviews, both commercially and critically. All cats have 4 legs each. Stevie Wonder - You Are the Sunshine of My Life, Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance, List of Hot 100 number-one singles of 1973 (U.S.), List of number-one adult contemporary singles of 1973 (U.S.), "You Are the Sunshine of My Life" (song review), "You Are the Sunshine of My Life ranked #183 on Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs List", "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada", "Top 100 Hits of 1973/Top 100 Songs of 1973", "British single certifications Stevie Wonder You Are the Sunshine of My Life", "Lives of the great songs: Nobody does it better: You are the sunshine of my life: Every supper-club singer under the sun has had a go at Stevie Wonder's 1972 classic. Photo: Larry Darling / Flickr / CC BY 2.0. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. Stevie Wonder's backup singers are: Aisha Morris (daughter) Keith John Lanesha Latimer Jasmin Cruz. QUIZ: How well do you know Stevie Wonder's song lyrics. Hanif Abdurraqib: I actually think that Hotter Than July [from 1980] would be considered a part of this classic run, if not for and I have to say this is not my opinion but I think the historical critical opinion is there was the interruption of Journey Through the Secret Life of Plants [from 1979]. Do you wear black to church on good Friday? Not only did he co-write the song for his first original hit, but it also reinvented him as a more mature vocalist in the public's mind, making the similar follow-up "Nothing's Too Good for My Baby" another success. Read more: Stevie Wonder's 20 greatest songs ever, ranked He was the third of six children born to Calvin Judkins and songwriter Lula Mae Hardaway. Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. Pink: She got her start singing backup in Philadelphia clubs as a teenager. They were both operating from this newfound realm of freedom within the Motown machine. I think Stevie Wonder's is the best any great album run has to include more than three albums. Hanif Abdurraqib: You know what? Like, you can tell that it was created by someone who had for a long time wanted to do more with what they were being given. Sign O' the Times absolutely is a classic. His command of the new generation of electronic keyboard instruments made him a pioneer and an inspiration to rock musicians, the inventiveness of his vocal phrasing was reminiscent of the greatest jazz singers, and the depth and honesty of his emotional projection came straight from the Black church music of his childhood. But there is something interesting about Stevie Wonder's ability to embody an emotion or a human impulse as something more than that. He was married to Motown singer and collaborator Syreeta Wright from 1970 until their amicable divorce in 1972. American singer, songwriter, musician, and producer. Although it contained a few pop songs, including the hit "Send One Your Love," its symphonic flirtations befuddled most listeners and critics. The film shows stars like Bruce Springsteen, Stevie Wonder and Mick Jagger singing the praises of their backup singers, and Sting talking about making it in the music It won him a second straight Album of the Year Grammy, by which time he'd been heavily involved as a producer and writer on Syreeta's second album, Stevie Wonder Presents Syreeta. Music of My Mind was the first stand-out album from this period. The hit "Isn't She Lovely," a paean to Wonder's daughter, became something of a standard. weve created a portrait of a young woman practicing her craft The song "Ai No, Sono" from Stevie Wonder's outlier of an album The Secret Life of Plants. Katy Perry, Jason Derulo, Cardi B., and SZA all changed up their names. I could keep going. He dropped the "Little" portion of his stage name in 1964, and re-emerged the following year with the infectious, typically Motown-sounding dance tune "Uptight (Everything's Alright)," a number one R&B/Top Five pop smash. [3] Billboard called it "a soft, haunting ballad with outstanding electric piano runs and outstanding production work."[4]. From November 2014 through 2015, he celebrated the approaching 40th anniversary of Songs in the Key of Life with lengthy set lists that included all 21 songs of the classic album. It reached number 36 on both the Billboard Hot 100 and Black Singles chart. In 1984, still not having completed the official follow-up to Hotter Than July, he recorded the soundtrack to the Gene Wilder comedy The Woman in Red, which wasn't quite a full-fledged Stevie Wonder album but did feature a number of new songs, including "I Just Called to Say I Love You." WebArtist Stevie Wonder Aliases Eivets Rednow Little Stevie Wonder Stephen Judkins Stevland Morris Real name Steveland Hardaway Judkins Born May 13, 1950 Country United States IPI 00015643107 2 works 00033189589 2 works 00033189687 155 works 00040704222 1 work 00062916571 2 works 00581621451 162 works Affiliation ASCAP Comments One of his negotiating chips had been a full album completed at his new studio; Wonder had produced, played nearly all the instruments, and written all the material (with Wright contributing to several tracks). Hanif Abdurraqib: This opens up a big can of worms, because this is something I think about all the time. in clips on the tv john cena is indeed on legends of wrestlemania. In 1970, Wonder received his first-ever co-production credit for the album Signed, Sealed & Delivered; he co-wrote the R&B chart-topping title track with singer Syreeta Wright, whom he married later that year, and also scored hits with "Heaven Help Us All" and a rearrangement of the Beatles' "We Can Work It Out." Amazingly, Wonder only upped the ante with his next album, 1973's Innervisions, a concept album about the state of contemporary society that ranks with Gaye's What's Going On as a pinnacle of socially conscious R&B. [1] It won Wonder a Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance, and was nominated for both Record of the Year and Song of the Year. Thereafter his recordings became sporadic and often lacked focus, although his concerts were never less than rousing. His first child Aisha was the inspiration for 'Isn't She Lovely', and was born in 1975. (Photo by Greg Allen/Invision/AP), Lawsuit: Kanye West Academy Only Fed Students Sushi, A Fan Favorite Is Back for New Star Wars Film, UK Pop Group S Club 7 'Devastated' by Singer's Death, Diddy Forks Over a Pretty Penny to Sting, Every Single Day, After Jill Biden Brouhaha, LSU's Reese Rethinks White House Visit, Carlsen's Final Game as World Chess Champ Did Not Go Well, Ben Affleck Speaking Spanish Fluently Surprises People, 3 Receive Life Terms in Slaying of XXXTentacion, Why Conservatives Are Throwing Bud Light Away, After White House Blames Trump on Afghan Exit, He Blasts 'Morons', Clarence Thomas Defends His Non-Reporting of Luxe Trips, Airline Accidentally Lets Passengers Skip Immigration. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Stevie-Wonder, Turner Classic Movies - Biography for Little Stevie Wonder, Stevie Wonder - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11), Stevie Wonder - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up), Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum (1989). Backup Singers Earn Much Less Income, and Recognition, Than Lead Singers. In 1979, Wonder used Computer Music Inc.'s early music sampler, the Melodian, on his soundtrack album Stevie Wonder's Journey Through "The Secret Life of Plants". This was his first digital recording and one of the earliest popular albums to use the technology, which Wonder used for all subsequent recordings. I), 1970-1982, My Musical Mind: Tuning In to Spoon's Classic Vibes with Britt Daniel, Teddy Thompson Lives in the Moment on 'Heartbreaker Please', The Story of the "Thunderbolt" That Led to Chick Corea Finally Appreciating Mozart, Cassandra Wilson Pays Tribute to Ella Fitzgerald With "Cry Me a River", From Standards to Stadiums, Journey's Jonathan Cain Retraces His Steps, David Duchovny, No Stranger To Character Studies, Puts Them To Music, Album Premiere: Raul Midn, 'Bad Ass and Blind', Metronomy's Joseph Mount On Revisiting His Earlier Songwriting Style With 'Summer 08'. Accordingly, Wonder did not immediately renew his contract with Motown, as the label had expected; instead, he used proceeds from his trust fund to build his own recording studio and to enroll in music theory classes at USC. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989, and in 1999 he was awarded the Polar Music Prize for lifetime achievement by the Royal Swedish Academy of Music. In 2000, singer Nichole Nordeman covered the song on her album This Mystery. Stevie also has two sons with Kai Millard: Kailand and Mandla. From his days as a child prodigy at Motown to his transformation into a soul giant, here's all the big info you need about Stevie Wonder: Stevie Wonder was born on May 13, 1950. Well into the late 2010s, Wonder continued to appear on albums by other artists, including Snoop Dogg, Raphael Saadiq, and Mark Ronson. Stevie Wonder is without doubt one of the world's greatest and most loved pop icons. By another possible interpretation, the song expresses the lyricist's own love for humanity. The complicated history of how Shania Twain swapped husbands with best friend after ex, Michael J Fox's wife and children: A timeline of Back to the Future star's beautiful, George Michael's stunning stripped back version of 'A Different Corner' is a lost, Shania Twain defends wearing racy outfits after fans accuse her of going 'the Madonna, Celine Dion returns to social media to thank fans for support amid battle with Stiff, Neil Diamond interview: Star reveals he only accepted 2018 Parkinson's diagnosis 'a few, Read more: Stevie Wonder's 20 greatest songs ever, ranked, Read more: Why is Stevie Wonder blind? 2. "As" was covered by pianist Gene Harris on his 1977 album Tone Tantrum, with 30 additional seconds. She has since released seven studio . Montgomery, The singers are Joshua Radin and Schuyler Fisk :). When Stevie was four, his mother divorced his father, and moved with her children to Detroit. It pissed everyone off, but we couldn't make Jay Boberg bend. A member of his local church choir, Stevie mastered piano, harmonica, drums and bass before his teenage years. And to be fair, a Prince "non-classic" album is still a hell of an album. But really what shifted Stevie Wonder's sound was hearing Tonto's Expanding Head Band debut album, Zero Time. (He had already cowritten, with Smokey Robinson, The Tears of a Clown.), Over the next five years Wonder had hits with I Was Made to Love Her, My Cherie Amour (both cowritten with producer Henry Cosby), and For Once in My Life, songs that suited dancers as well as lovers. I don't know if Around the World in a Day or Parade are classics. Renamed Little Stevie Wonder by Berry Gordy, Jr., the president of Motown Recordsto whom he was introduced by Ronnie White, a member of the MiraclesWonder made his recording debut at age 12. What stands out lyrically about this new freedom? 1971 proved a turning point in Wonder's career. Rogers Park, IL north side of Chicago, I would rise and rest to the sound of music. When he finally returned in 1979, it was with the mostly instrumental Journey Through the Secret Life of Plants, ostensibly the soundtrack to a never-released documentary. Wonder first signed to Motown Records when he was 11 years old, and so basically grew up with Motown's head, Berry Gordy, calling the shots of his creative life and Gordy was famously reluctant to allow his artists to make political or social statements in their music. The surprising real names of 30 musicians. He has a daughter, Sophia, and a son, Kwame, with a woman whose identity is secret. Sister Sledge covered it and included it on their 1977 album Together. In 1996 R&B singer Case interpolated the backing vocals for his song "I Gotcha" from his self-titled debut album. Three of them won Grammys for Album of the Year. How can a map enhance your understanding? Paced by the number one hit "Part Time Lover" -- his last solo pop chart-topper -- and several other strong songs, In Square Circle went platinum, even if Wonder's synthesizer arrangements now sounded standard rather than groundbreaking. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Those albums produced a steady stream of classic hit songs, among them Superstition, You Are the Sunshine of My Life, Higher Ground, Living for the City, Dont You Worry Bout a Thing, Boogie On Reggae Woman, I Wish, and Sir Duke..
Artistically speaking, Hotter Than July was a cut below his classic '70s output, but it was still a solid outing; fans were so grateful to have the old Wonder back that they made it his first platinum-selling LP. In 2011 the season 2 winners of vocal competition The Sing-Off, Committed, also covered this song on their self-titled debut album. I mean, the entire side-one of Songs in the Key of Life is just note-for-note one of the most perfect sides of all time. Know more in just minutes with our free newsletters. Soul Child. Smooth jazz saxophonist/flautist Najee covered the song for his Stevie Wonder tribute album Songs from the Key of Life.[44]. As of July 2021, the video has been viewed more than 19 million times.[9]. That year he also became a Kennedy Center honoree. Where is the magnetic force the greatest on a magnet. The song gets its name from the first word of its lyrics. The best of his work formed a vital link between the classic rhythm-and-blues and soul performers of the 1950s and 60s and their less commercially constrained successors. Ladies & Gentlemen: The Best of George Michael, "45 Years Ago: Stevie Wonder Seriously Injured in Car Accident", "The Story of 'As' by Stevie Wonder, covered by George Michael and Mary J Blige", "New Releases For Week Starting 1 March, 1999: Singles", "George Michael's Video Tackles Lewd Conduct Arrest", "Revisiting Mary J. Blige's Soul Masterpiece 'Mary' 20 Years Later", "George Michael, Mary J. Blige - As (Official Video)", "slenski Listinn Topp 40 (NR. In 1999, British singer George Michael and American singer Mary J. Blige covered the song for Michael's greatest hits album Ladies & Gentlemen: The Best of George Michael (1998). Wonder released his first two albums in 1962: A Tribute to Uncle Ray, which featured covers of Wonder's hero Ray Charles, and The Jazz Soul of Little Stevie, an orchestral jazz album spotlighting his instrumental skills on piano, harmonica, and assorted percussion. In 2020, Wonder founded So What the Fuss Records, an offshoot of Universal Music Group. Anthony Hamilton and Marsha Ambrosious make cameos in the 2013 film The Best Man Holiday, in which the singers appear as themselves and perform the song as an R&B ballad at a main character's funeral. The stunted growth of blood vessels in the back of his eyes caused his retinas to detach, and the oxygen pumped into his incubator made the condition worse, leaving him permanently blind. Ray Charles Blind virtually since birth, Wonder's heightened awareness of sound helped him create vibrant, colorful music teeming with life and ambition. Real name Stevland Hardaway Morris, he was born in Saginaw, Michigan. This left him in a coma for four days, and resulted in a partial loss of his sense of smell and a temporary loss of sense of taste. Wonder was born Stevland Hardaway Judkins in Saginaw, Michigan, on May 13, 1950 (his name was later altered to Stevland Morris when his mother married). Christopher Polk/Getty Images, Alexander Tamargo/Getty Images for CATS, Rich Fury/Getty Images for Fashion Nova, David Crotty/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. Stevie Wonder, original name Stevland Hardaway Judkins, also called Stevland Hardaway Morris, (born May 13, 1950, Saginaw, Michigan, U.S.), American singer, Morgan Enos. What are the names of God in various Kenyan tribes? Freed from the dictates of Motown's hit-factory mindset, Wonder had already begun following a more personal and idiosyncratic muse. They can get close to each other, but they rarely intersect. Webby Steve Huey. Through this introduction, Stevie Wonder was introduced to the synthesizer. Four years later he was awarded the Gershwin Prize for Popular Song from the Library of Congress, and he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2014. The result, Talking Book, was released in late 1972 and made him a superstar. What are the names of the third leaders called? I think Stevie Wonder was kind of due for a breakthrough album as an adult. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. Why not? I'm wondering if you've ever looked up and down music history and thought of an artist that came close to Stevie Wonder's run. Hanif Abdurraqib: You know, as someone who creates things, I know that the writing or the song or the work that you imagine and the work that you're actually capable of executing those two things rarely intersect. We use cookies. To hear the broadcast version of this conversation, use the audio player at the top of this page. [45], In 2017 it was covered by American Multi-instrumentalist Bill Wurtz and put on his website under the Jazz page.[46]. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. "[7], Source: Talking Book, Tamla: T 319L, October 27, 1972 (album cover). Wonder charted a few more singles over the next year, but none on the level of "Fingertips, Pt. He auditioned for Motown Records at the age of 11, and founder Berry Gordy later said he was "speechless". He heard this, and he wanted to go and meet the architects of the album, one of them being Malcolm Cecil. As his voice changed, his recording career was temporarily put on hold, and he studied classical piano at the Michigan School for the Blind in the meantime. But I think some of that was because it came right on the back of Songs in the Key of Life, one of the greatest albums ever created. Why fibrous material has only one falling period in drying curve? The sexual politics of backup singing are glaringly apparent, since all the big name musicians in the movie are menJagger, Bruce Springsteen, Sting, Stevie Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Download 'Take On Me' on iTunes. 309 Vikuna 5.2. By 1964 he was no longer described as Little, and two years later his fervent delivery of the pounding soul of Uptight (Everythings Alright), which he also had written, suggested the emergence of both an unusually compelling performer and a composer to rival Motowns stable of skilled songwriters. But there's something really fascinating about it, and I think it's due for a critical revisit because it was not generously perceived at the time, because people found it to be vague and strange and self-indulgent in its ambitions. Talking Book (1972), Innervisions (1973), Fulfillingness First Finale (1974), and Songs in the Key of Life (1976) were all regarded as masterpieces, and the last three of them won a slew of Grammy Awards, each of them being named album of the year. Names of female singers of the 80's? I think Songs in the Key of Life is one of those rare albums where the way the creator imagined it is actually the way it turned out. In 2005 Wonder received a Grammy Award for lifetime achievement. Gordy was reportedly not fond of the work, and it wasn't a major commercial success, producing only the Top Ten hit "If You Really Love Me" (plus a classic B-side in "Never Dreamed You'd Leave in Summer"). Stevie Wonder has been married three times. His next full album of new material, 1995's Conversation Peace, was a commercial disappointment, thought it did win two Grammys for the single "For Your Love." Additionally, Wonder's pioneering use of synthesizers during the '70s changed the face of R&B; he employed a kaleidoscope of contrasting textures and voices that made him a virtual one-man band, all the while evoking a surprisingly organic warmth. Omissions? "As" is a song written and performed by American singer and musician Stevie Wonder from his 1976 album, Songs in the Key of Life. And so he was really due for a breakthrough album that treated his work with the gravity it deserved. That serves as an interruption in the run that kind of breaks it up. I'm not using cynical as a pejorative; I'm a noted cynic in many ways. The 2023 GRAMMYs will feature a special performance by Stevie Wonder, where he will perform three classic tunes, including two duets with fellow Motown legend Smokey Robinson and country star Chris Stapleton. He had a son named Mumtaz with Melody McCulley in 1983. Love's in Need of Love Today 2. Singer-songwriter Becca Stevens included a cover of the song, featuring Jacob Collier, on her album Regina (2017). It is weird. Music of My Mind (1972) made his concerns even more plain. His far-reaching influence continued to be felt through samples, cover versions, and reinterpretations, highlighted by Robert Glasper Experiment and Lalah Hathaway's Grammy-winning version of "Jesus Children of America." Do Pentecostal eat meat Friday during lent? But, when Stevie Wonder's contract was about to expire on his 21st birthday, he was able to negotiate for more creative freedom. In 2017, he married 42-year-old Tomeeka Bracy. A teenage soul sensation in the '60s who racked up smash after smash, then explored adventurous, risky territory on his pioneering '70s albums. Stevie has retained Morris as his legal surname. He is a pioneer in several musical genres, including pop, R&B, soul, and blues, penning hits like Overjoyed, I Wish, and Higher Ground, among other chart-topping classics. Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. Sir Duke 6. Neither sold very well, but that all changed in 1963 with the live album The 12 Year Old Genius, which featured a new, extended version of the harmonica instrumental "Fingertips." Wonder's 1968 album For Once in My Life signaled his budding ambition; he co-wrote about half of the material and, for the first time, co-produced several tracks. Corrections? [Also] Bjrk: Debut, Post, Homogenic, Vespertine. That, I think, is a brilliant run. From Music of My Mind to Songs in the Key of Life, from '72 to '76, the corners that he was able to turn as an artist are pretty fascinating to look back on. Wonder scored again in 1969 with the pop and R&B Top Five hit "My Cherie Amour" (which he'd actually recorded three years prior) and the Top Ten "Yester-Me, Yester-You, Yesterday." It led to a geyser of superb recordings. I've heard that album described as "deeply weird.". Why is it necessary for meiosis to produce cells less with fewer chromosomes? So, though he has veered into some territory that I believe is unfortunate, I will say: Van Morrison. "As" was not released on the US version of Ladies & Gentlemen or as a single in the US. How the iconic singer lost his sight. Released under Wonder's new deal in early 1972, Music of My Mind heralded his arrival as a major, self-contained talent with an original vision that pushed the boundaries of R&B. Such a fertile period was unlikely to last forever, and it came to an end in 1979 with a fey and overambitious extended work called Stevie Wonders Journey Through the Secret Life of Plants. Much like his inspiration Ray Charles, Wonder had a voracious appetite for many different kinds of music, and refused to confine himself to any one sound or style. Who makes the plaid blue coat Jesse stone wears in Sea Change? Stevie Wonder arrived six weeks early when he was born. In 2014 it was covered by American singer Camille for her Stevie Wonder tribute album I Sing Stevie: The Stevie Wonder Songbook, an album that received an Independent Music Awards nomination for Best Tribute Album. How do you download your XBOX 360 upgrade onto a CD? Stevie Wonder is an American musician and a former child prodigy who became one of the most creative musical figures of the 20th century with hits like "My Cherie His imagination was beyond the tools. In his head, he was hearing things that he just did not have the equipment to execute. Kirsty Gallacher You know, all the wildest imaginations possible to dream up some of those songs, I just wholeheartedly believe that those came to fruition. Towards the end of the video, most of the people are dancing on the dance floor. Hanif Abdurraqib: It received some mixed reviews, both commercially and critically. All cats have 4 legs each. Stevie Wonder - You Are the Sunshine of My Life, Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance, List of Hot 100 number-one singles of 1973 (U.S.), List of number-one adult contemporary singles of 1973 (U.S.), "You Are the Sunshine of My Life" (song review), "You Are the Sunshine of My Life ranked #183 on Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs List", "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada", "Top 100 Hits of 1973/Top 100 Songs of 1973", "British single certifications Stevie Wonder You Are the Sunshine of My Life", "Lives of the great songs: Nobody does it better: You are the sunshine of my life: Every supper-club singer under the sun has had a go at Stevie Wonder's 1972 classic. Photo: Larry Darling / Flickr / CC BY 2.0. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. Stevie Wonder's backup singers are: Aisha Morris (daughter) Keith John Lanesha Latimer Jasmin Cruz. QUIZ: How well do you know Stevie Wonder's song lyrics. Hanif Abdurraqib: I actually think that Hotter Than July [from 1980] would be considered a part of this classic run, if not for and I have to say this is not my opinion but I think the historical critical opinion is there was the interruption of Journey Through the Secret Life of Plants [from 1979]. Do you wear black to church on good Friday? Not only did he co-write the song for his first original hit, but it also reinvented him as a more mature vocalist in the public's mind, making the similar follow-up "Nothing's Too Good for My Baby" another success. Read more: Stevie Wonder's 20 greatest songs ever, ranked He was the third of six children born to Calvin Judkins and songwriter Lula Mae Hardaway. Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. Pink: She got her start singing backup in Philadelphia clubs as a teenager. They were both operating from this newfound realm of freedom within the Motown machine. I think Stevie Wonder's is the best any great album run has to include more than three albums. Hanif Abdurraqib: You know what? Like, you can tell that it was created by someone who had for a long time wanted to do more with what they were being given. Sign O' the Times absolutely is a classic. His command of the new generation of electronic keyboard instruments made him a pioneer and an inspiration to rock musicians, the inventiveness of his vocal phrasing was reminiscent of the greatest jazz singers, and the depth and honesty of his emotional projection came straight from the Black church music of his childhood. But there is something interesting about Stevie Wonder's ability to embody an emotion or a human impulse as something more than that. He was married to Motown singer and collaborator Syreeta Wright from 1970 until their amicable divorce in 1972. American singer, songwriter, musician, and producer. Although it contained a few pop songs, including the hit "Send One Your Love," its symphonic flirtations befuddled most listeners and critics. The film shows stars like Bruce Springsteen, Stevie Wonder and Mick Jagger singing the praises of their backup singers, and Sting talking about making it in the music It won him a second straight Album of the Year Grammy, by which time he'd been heavily involved as a producer and writer on Syreeta's second album, Stevie Wonder Presents Syreeta. Music of My Mind was the first stand-out album from this period. The hit "Isn't She Lovely," a paean to Wonder's daughter, became something of a standard. weve created a portrait of a young woman practicing her craft The song "Ai No, Sono" from Stevie Wonder's outlier of an album The Secret Life of Plants. Katy Perry, Jason Derulo, Cardi B., and SZA all changed up their names. I could keep going. He dropped the "Little" portion of his stage name in 1964, and re-emerged the following year with the infectious, typically Motown-sounding dance tune "Uptight (Everything's Alright)," a number one R&B/Top Five pop smash. [3] Billboard called it "a soft, haunting ballad with outstanding electric piano runs and outstanding production work."[4]. From November 2014 through 2015, he celebrated the approaching 40th anniversary of Songs in the Key of Life with lengthy set lists that included all 21 songs of the classic album. It reached number 36 on both the Billboard Hot 100 and Black Singles chart. In 1984, still not having completed the official follow-up to Hotter Than July, he recorded the soundtrack to the Gene Wilder comedy The Woman in Red, which wasn't quite a full-fledged Stevie Wonder album but did feature a number of new songs, including "I Just Called to Say I Love You." WebArtist Stevie Wonder Aliases Eivets Rednow Little Stevie Wonder Stephen Judkins Stevland Morris Real name Steveland Hardaway Judkins Born May 13, 1950 Country United States IPI 00015643107 2 works 00033189589 2 works 00033189687 155 works 00040704222 1 work 00062916571 2 works 00581621451 162 works Affiliation ASCAP Comments One of his negotiating chips had been a full album completed at his new studio; Wonder had produced, played nearly all the instruments, and written all the material (with Wright contributing to several tracks). Hanif Abdurraqib: This opens up a big can of worms, because this is something I think about all the time. in clips on the tv john cena is indeed on legends of wrestlemania. In 1970, Wonder received his first-ever co-production credit for the album Signed, Sealed & Delivered; he co-wrote the R&B chart-topping title track with singer Syreeta Wright, whom he married later that year, and also scored hits with "Heaven Help Us All" and a rearrangement of the Beatles' "We Can Work It Out." Amazingly, Wonder only upped the ante with his next album, 1973's Innervisions, a concept album about the state of contemporary society that ranks with Gaye's What's Going On as a pinnacle of socially conscious R&B. [1] It won Wonder a Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance, and was nominated for both Record of the Year and Song of the Year. Thereafter his recordings became sporadic and often lacked focus, although his concerts were never less than rousing. His first child Aisha was the inspiration for 'Isn't She Lovely', and was born in 1975. 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Backup Singers Earn Much Less Income, and Recognition, Than Lead Singers. In 1979, Wonder used Computer Music Inc.'s early music sampler, the Melodian, on his soundtrack album Stevie Wonder's Journey Through "The Secret Life of Plants". This was his first digital recording and one of the earliest popular albums to use the technology, which Wonder used for all subsequent recordings. I), 1970-1982, My Musical Mind: Tuning In to Spoon's Classic Vibes with Britt Daniel, Teddy Thompson Lives in the Moment on 'Heartbreaker Please', The Story of the "Thunderbolt" That Led to Chick Corea Finally Appreciating Mozart, Cassandra Wilson Pays Tribute to Ella Fitzgerald With "Cry Me a River", From Standards to Stadiums, Journey's Jonathan Cain Retraces His Steps, David Duchovny, No Stranger To Character Studies, Puts Them To Music, Album Premiere: Raul Midn, 'Bad Ass and Blind', Metronomy's Joseph Mount On Revisiting His Earlier Songwriting Style With 'Summer 08'. Accordingly, Wonder did not immediately renew his contract with Motown, as the label had expected; instead, he used proceeds from his trust fund to build his own recording studio and to enroll in music theory classes at USC. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989, and in 1999 he was awarded the Polar Music Prize for lifetime achievement by the Royal Swedish Academy of Music. In 2000, singer Nichole Nordeman covered the song on her album This Mystery. Stevie also has two sons with Kai Millard: Kailand and Mandla. From his days as a child prodigy at Motown to his transformation into a soul giant, here's all the big info you need about Stevie Wonder: Stevie Wonder was born on May 13, 1950. Well into the late 2010s, Wonder continued to appear on albums by other artists, including Snoop Dogg, Raphael Saadiq, and Mark Ronson. Stevie Wonder is without doubt one of the world's greatest and most loved pop icons. By another possible interpretation, the song expresses the lyricist's own love for humanity. The complicated history of how Shania Twain swapped husbands with best friend after ex, Michael J Fox's wife and children: A timeline of Back to the Future star's beautiful, George Michael's stunning stripped back version of 'A Different Corner' is a lost, Shania Twain defends wearing racy outfits after fans accuse her of going 'the Madonna, Celine Dion returns to social media to thank fans for support amid battle with Stiff, Neil Diamond interview: Star reveals he only accepted 2018 Parkinson's diagnosis 'a few, Read more: Stevie Wonder's 20 greatest songs ever, ranked, Read more: Why is Stevie Wonder blind? 2. "As" was covered by pianist Gene Harris on his 1977 album Tone Tantrum, with 30 additional seconds. She has since released seven studio . Montgomery, The singers are Joshua Radin and Schuyler Fisk :). When Stevie was four, his mother divorced his father, and moved with her children to Detroit. It pissed everyone off, but we couldn't make Jay Boberg bend. A member of his local church choir, Stevie mastered piano, harmonica, drums and bass before his teenage years. And to be fair, a Prince "non-classic" album is still a hell of an album. But really what shifted Stevie Wonder's sound was hearing Tonto's Expanding Head Band debut album, Zero Time. (He had already cowritten, with Smokey Robinson, The Tears of a Clown.), Over the next five years Wonder had hits with I Was Made to Love Her, My Cherie Amour (both cowritten with producer Henry Cosby), and For Once in My Life, songs that suited dancers as well as lovers. I don't know if Around the World in a Day or Parade are classics. Renamed Little Stevie Wonder by Berry Gordy, Jr., the president of Motown Recordsto whom he was introduced by Ronnie White, a member of the MiraclesWonder made his recording debut at age 12. What stands out lyrically about this new freedom? 1971 proved a turning point in Wonder's career. Rogers Park, IL north side of Chicago, I would rise and rest to the sound of music. When he finally returned in 1979, it was with the mostly instrumental Journey Through the Secret Life of Plants, ostensibly the soundtrack to a never-released documentary. Wonder first signed to Motown Records when he was 11 years old, and so basically grew up with Motown's head, Berry Gordy, calling the shots of his creative life and Gordy was famously reluctant to allow his artists to make political or social statements in their music. The surprising real names of 30 musicians. He has a daughter, Sophia, and a son, Kwame, with a woman whose identity is secret. Sister Sledge covered it and included it on their 1977 album Together. In 1996 R&B singer Case interpolated the backing vocals for his song "I Gotcha" from his self-titled debut album. Three of them won Grammys for Album of the Year. How can a map enhance your understanding? Paced by the number one hit "Part Time Lover" -- his last solo pop chart-topper -- and several other strong songs, In Square Circle went platinum, even if Wonder's synthesizer arrangements now sounded standard rather than groundbreaking. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Those albums produced a steady stream of classic hit songs, among them Superstition, You Are the Sunshine of My Life, Higher Ground, Living for the City, Dont You Worry Bout a Thing, Boogie On Reggae Woman, I Wish, and Sir Duke..