NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Stevie Wonder

Stevie Wonder (born Stevland Hardaway Judkins on May 13, 1950, name later changed to Stevland Hardaway Morris)^[1] is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and record producer. A prominent figure of 20th century popular music, Wonder has recorded more than thirty top ten hits, won 25 Grammy Awards^[2] (a record for a solo artist), plus one for lifetime achievement, won an Academy Award for Best Song and been inducted into both the Rock and Roll and Songwriters halls of fame. Image File history File links Question_book-3. ... Stevie Wonder Source: Encarta Encyclopedia This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... For the genus of wildflowers in the family Asteraceae, see Bahia (Botany) Bahia is a state in the north-east of Brazil. ... is the 133rd day of the year (134th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1950 (MCML) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Location of Saginaw within Saginaw County, Michigan Coordinates: , Country State County Saginaw Settled 1819 Incorporated 1857 Government - Type - Mayor Carol B. Cottrell - City Manager Darnell Earley Area - City 18. ... This article is about the U.S. State. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... R&B redirects here. ... For other uses, see Soul music (disambiguation). ... For other uses, including related musical genres, see Funk (disambiguation). ... The Motown Sound is a style of soul music with distinctive characteristics, including the use of tambourine along with drums, bass instrumentation, a distinctive melodic and chord structure, and a call and response singing style originating in gospel music. ... This article is about the genre of popular music. ... The term singer-songwriter refers to performers who both write and sing their own material. ... A multi-instrumentalist is a musician who plays a number of different instruments. ... In the music industry, a record producer (or music producer) has many roles, among them controlling the recording sessions, coaching and guiding the musicians, organizing and scheduling production budget and resources, and supervising the recording, mixing and mastering processes. ... A musical instrument is a device constructed or modified for the purpose of making music. ... Harry Belafonte singing, photograph by C. van Vechten Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, which is often contrasted with speech. ... A multi-instrumentalist is a musician who plays a number of different instruments. ... In the music industry, a record label can be a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. ... Motown Records, also known as Tamla-Motown outside of the United States, is a record label originally based out of Detroit, Michigan (Motor City, hence mo(tor)town), from where it achieved widespread international success. ... is the 133rd day of the year (134th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1950 (MCML) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... The term singer-songwriter refers to performers who both write and sing their own material. ... A multi-instrumentalist is a musician who plays a number of different instruments. ... In the music industry, a record producer (or music producer) has many roles, among them controlling the recording sessions, coaching and guiding the musicians, organizing and scheduling production budget and resources, and supervising the recording, mixing and mastering processes. ... For the music genre, see Pop music. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... The Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award is awarded by the Recording Academy to performers who, during their lifetimes, have made creative contributions of outstanding artistic significance to the field of recording [1]. This award is distinct from the Grammy Hall of Fame Award, which honors specific recordings rather than individuals, and... The Academy Award for Best Song is one of the awards given to people working in the motion picture industry by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences; nominations are made by Academy members who are songwriters and composers. ... The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame at sunset. ... The Songwriters Hall of Fame is an arm of the National Academy of Popular Music. ...

Blind from infancy, Wonder signed with Motown Records as a pre-adolescent at age twelve, and continues to perform and record for the label to this day. He has nine U.S. number-one hits to his name and album sales totaling more than 100 million units. Wonder has recorded several critically acclaimed albums and hit singles, and writes and produces songs for many of his label mates and outside artists as well. A multi-instrumentalist, Wonder plays the piano, synthesizer, talk box, harmonica, congas, drums, bongos, bass guitar, organ, melodica, and clarinet. In his early career, he was best known for his harmonica work, but today he is better known for his keyboard skills. Motown Records, also known as Tamla-Motown outside of the United States, is a record label originally based out of Detroit, Michigan (Motor City, hence mo(tor)town), from where it achieved widespread international success. ... A separate article is about the punk band called The Adolescents. ... A multi-instrumentalist is a musician who plays a number of different instruments. ... Pianoforte redirects here. ... Synth redirects here. ... A talk box is a effects device that allows a musician to modify the sound of a musical instrument. ... A harmonica is a free reed wind instrument. ... For other uses, see Conga (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Drum (disambiguation). ... Bongos Bongo drums or bongos are a percussion instrument made up of two small drums attached to each other. ... A sunburst-colored Fender Precision Bass The electric bass guitar (or electric bass[1][2]; pronounced , as in base) is a bass stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers (either by plucking, slapping, popping, or tapping) or using a pick. ... Organ in Katharinenkirche, Frankfurt am Main, Germany The organ is a keyboard instrument played using one or more manuals and a pedalboard. ... A Hohner melodica The melodica is a free-reed instrument similar to the accordion and harmonica. ... Two soprano clarinets: a Bâ™ clarinet (left, with capped mouthpiece) and an A clarinet (right, with no mouthpiece). ... The layout of a typical musical keyboard A musical keyboard is the set of adjacent depressible levers on a musical instrument which cause the instrument to produce sounds. ...

Biography

Early life

Wonder was born in 1950 in Saginaw, Michigan. Wonder was born premature and was put into an incubator. When too much oxygen in the incubator caused cataracts to grow behind each eye, it left the infant blind, for life. Location of Saginaw within Saginaw County, Michigan Coordinates: , Country State County Saginaw Settled 1819 Incorporated 1857 Government - Type - Mayor Carol B. Cottrell - City Manager Darnell Earley Area - City 18. ... Human eye cross-sectional view, showing position of human lens. ...

Early career, 1962–1971

In 1962, at the age of twelve, Wonder was introduced to Ronnie White of the popular Motown act The Miracles. White brought Morris and his mother to Motown Records. Impressed by the young musician, Motown CEO Berry Gordy signed Morris to Motown's Tamla label with the name Little Stevie Wonder. Ronald Ronnie White (April 5, 1939 - August 26, 1995) was an African American soul singer and songwriter, notable as a founding member of The Miracles, and the only member to survive all of that groups lineup changes. ... The Miracles (known from 1965 to 1972 as Smokey Robinson & the Miracles) is an American rhythm and blues group from Detroit, Michigan, notable as the first successful group act for Berry Gordys Motown Records. ... Motown Records, also known as Tamla-Motown outside of the United States, is a record label originally based out of Detroit, Michigan (Motor City, hence mo(tor)town), from where it achieved widespread international success. ... Berry Gordy, Jr. ... Motown Record Company, L.P., also known as Tamla-Motown outside of the United States, is a record label specializing in the musical genres of R&B, pop, soul music, and hip-hop music. ...

At the age of thirteen, Little Wonder had his first baby! and a stupid major hit, "Fingertips (Pt. 2)", a 1963 single taken from a live recording of a Motor Town Revue performance. The song, featuring Wonder on vocals, bongos, and harmonica, and a young Marvin Gaye on drums, was a #1 hit on the US pop charts and launched him into the public consciousness. Dropping the "Little" from his moniker, Wonder went on to have a number of other hits during the mid-1960s, including "Uptight (Everything's Alright)", "With a Child's Heart", and "Blowin' in the Wind", a Bob Dylan cover which was one of the first songs to reflect Wonder's social consciousness. He also began to work in the Motown songwriting department, composing songs both for himself and his label mates. One such example is "Tears of a Clown", the number one hit performed by Smokey Robinson & the Miracles. Fingertips, Part 2 was the first single from a then-13-year-old Stevie Wonder, (then Little Stevie Wonder. ... The Motortown Revue was the name given to the package tours of Motown artists in the 1960s. ... Marvin Gaye (born Marvin Pentz Gay, Jr. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Blowin in the Wind is a song written by Bob Dylan, and released on his 1963 album The Freewheelin Bob Dylan. ... This article is about the recording artist. ... The Tears of a Clown is a 1967 song by Smokey Robinson & the Miracles for the Tamla (Motown) label, originally released on the 1967 album Make It Happen. ... Smokey Robinson (born February 19, 1940) is an American R&B and soul singer and songwriter. ...

In 1968, he recorded an album of instrumental jazz tracks, mostly harmonica solos, under the pseudonym (and title) "Eivets Rednow", which is "Stevie Wonder" spelled backwards. The album failed to get much attention, and its only single, a cover of "Alfie", only reached number 66 on the US Pop charts and number 11 on the US Adult Contemporary charts. It was reissued briefly on compact disc in 1995, and is now a much sought-after collectible. Eivets Rednow (featuring Alfie) is a 1968 instrumental album released by Stevie Wonder on the Tamla (Motown) label. ...

By 1970, Wonder had scored more major hits, including "I Was Made to Love Her", "For Once in My Life", "My Cherie Amour", and "Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours". Besides being one of the first songs on which Wonder serves as both songwriter and producer, "Signed, Sealed, Delivered" is one of the main showcases for his backup group Wonderlove, a trio which included at various times Minnie Riperton, Deniece Williams, Angela Winbush, Lynda Laurence, and Syreeta Wright, whom Wonder married on September 14, 1970. Wonder and Wright divorced eighteen months later, but they continued to collaborate on musical projects. Wonder also played drums on the Jimi Hendrix cover of "I Was Made to Love Her" on the BBC Sessions album. I Was Made to Love Her is a hit single recorded by American soul musician Stevie Wonder for Motowns Tamla label in 1967 (see 1967 in music). ... For Once in My Life is a pop song written by Ron Miller and Orlando Murden for Motown Records Jobete publishing company in 1967 (see 1967 in music). ... My Cherie Amour is a 1969 soul classic by Motown singer-songwriter Stevie Wonder. ... Signed, Sealed, Delivered Im Yours is a 1970 soul single by American soul musician Stevie Wonder, recorded for Motowns Tamla label. ... Minnie Riperton (November 8, 1947 â€“ July 12, 1979) was an American singer and songwriter noted for her rare five-and-a-half octave vocal range and her 1975 hit single Lovin You. ... Deniece Niecy Williams (June 3, 1950â€” ) is an American singer, songwriter and record producer who achieved success in the 1970s and 1980s. ... Image:Angelawinbush. ... Lynda Laurence (also spelled Lawrence, born Lynda Tucker) is an African-American singer. ... Syreeta Wright (August 3, 1946 â€“ July 6, 2004), who recorded professionally under the single name Syreeta, was an American singer-songwriter active from the 1960s. ... is the 257th day of the year (258th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1970 (MCMLXX) was a common year starting on Thursday (link shows full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Jimi Hendrix (November 27, 1942 â€“ September 18, 1970) was an American guitar virtuoso, singer and songwriter. ... BBC Sessions may refer to a number of compilation albums, including: Led Zeppelins BBC Sessions Jimi Hendrixs BBC Sessions Creams BBC Sessions Saxons BBC Sessions Cocteau Twins BBC Sessions This is a disambiguation page, a list of pages that otherwise might share the same title. ...

Along with Marvin Gaye, Wonder was one of the few Motown stars to contest the label's factory-like operation methods: artists, songwriters, and producers were usually kept in specialized collectives with little or no overlap, and artists had no creative control. Wonder argued with Berry Gordy over creative control a number of times, and Wonder allowed his Motown contract to expire. He left the label on his twenty-first birthday in 1971. His final album before his departure was Where I'm Coming From, which Gordy had strongly opposed releasing. Where Im Coming From is a 1971 album by Stevie Wonder. ...

Classic period, 1972–1976

Wonder independently recorded two albums, which he used as a bargaining tool while negotiating with Motown. Eventually, the label agreed to his demands for full creative control and the rights to his own songs, and Wonder returned to Motown in March 1972 with Music of My Mind, an album which is considered a classic of the era. Unlike most previous artist LPs on Motown, which usually consisted of a collection of singles, b-sides, and covers, Music of My Mind was an actual LP, a full-length artistic statement, and began a string of five albums released over a period of less than five years, that make up what is generally considered Stevie Wonder's classic period. This album also marked the beginning of a long collaboration with synthesiser pioneers Tonto's Expanding Head Band (Robert Margouleff and Malcolm Cecil). Music of My Mind is a landmark album by Stevie Wonder, released on March 3, 1972 (see 1972 in music). ... In recorded music, the terms A-side and B-side refer to the two sides of 7 inch vinyl records on which singles have been released since the 1950s. ... Tontos Expanding Head Band was an influential electronic music duo from the 1970s, despite releasing a relatively small number of albums. ...

October 1972's love album Talking Book featured the #1 pop and R&B hit "Superstition", which is one of the most distinctive examples of the sound of the clavinet. The song, originally intended for rock guitarist Jeff Beck, features a rocking groove that garnered Wonder an additional audience on rock radio stations. Wonder also performed this song on an episode of the children's television show Sesame Street in the 1970s. Wonder's audience was further broadened when he opened for The Rolling Stones on their much-heralded 1972 American Tour. Wonder's pop following was not neglected, however, as "You Are the Sunshine of My Life" followed to #1 on the pop charts and has been a staple love song for the decades since. Between them, the songs won three Grammy Awards. Talking Book is an album by Lindsay Hartley. ... Superstition is a number-one single written, produced, arranged, and recorded by Stevie Wonder for Motown Records in 1972, when Wonder was twenty-two years old. ... A Clavinet is an electrophonic keyboard instrument manufactured by the Hohner company. ... Geoffrey Arnold (Jeff) Beck (born June 24, 1944 to Arnold and Ethel Beck in Wallington, Greater London) is an English rock guitarist. ... Sesame Street is an American educational childrens television series for preschoolers and is a pioneer of the contemporary educational television standard, combining both education and entertainment. ... Rolling Stones redirects here. ... The Rolling Stones American Tour 1972, often referred the S.T.P. Tour (for Stones Touring Party), was a much-publicized and much-written-about concert tour of The United States and Canada in June and July 1972 by The Rolling Stones. ... You Are the Sunshine of My Life is a 1973 pop single released by Motown music great Stevie Wonder. ... Grammy Award statuette The Grammy Awards, presented by the Recording Academy (an association of Americans professionally involved in the recorded music industry) for outstanding achievements in the recording industry, is one of four major music awards shows held annually in the United States (the Billboard Music Awards, the American Music...

Political considerations were brought into greater focus than ever before on his third consecutive masterwork of the decade and his career, Innervisions, featuring the driving, percolating "Higher Ground" (#4 on the pop charts) followed by the memorable epic "Living for the City" (#8), which found Wonder more evocatively describing a time and place in American life than he would anywhere else in his career. Popular ballads such as "Golden Lady" and "All in Love Is Fair" were also present, in a mixture of moods that nevertheless held together as a unified whole. The album generated three more Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year. Innervisions is an album by Stevie Wonder, released in 1973 (see 1973 in music). ... Higher Ground is a R&B song with a rock edge, written by Stevie Wonder and first appearing on his 1973 album Innervisions. ... Living for the City is a 1973 hit single by Stevie Wonder for the Tamla (Motown) label, from his Innervisions album. ... The Grammy Award for Album of the Year has been awarded since 1959. ...

On August 6, 1973, just days after the release of Innervisions, Wonder was in a serious automobile accident while on tour, when a log from a truck went through a passenger window and struck him in the head. This left him in a coma for four days and resulted in a permanent loss of his sense of smell. is the 218th day of the year (219th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the song by James Blunt, see 1973 (song). ... A car accident in Yate, near Bristol, England, in July 2004. ... For other uses, see Coma (disambiguation). ... Anosmia is the lack of olfaction, or a loss of the ability to smell. ...

Despite the setback, Wonder eventually recovered all of his musical faculties, and reappeared in concert at Madison Square Garden in March 1974 in a performance that highlighted both up-tempo material and long, building improvisations on mid-tempo songs such as "Living for the City". The album Fulfillingness' First Finale appeared in July 1974 and set two hits high on the pop charts: the #1 "You Haven't Done Nothin'" (a political protest song) and the Top Ten "Boogie On Reggae Woman". The Album of the Year was again one of three Grammys won. This year Wonder took part in the bootleg album which would later be known as A Toot and a Snore in '74, the only known post-Beatles recording of John Lennon and Paul McCartney. He also wrote the music and produced every song on the Syreeta Wright album Stevie Wonder Presents Syreeta, which is generally regarded as her best effort as an artist. Madison Square Garden, often abbreviated as MSG, and known colloquially simply as The Garden, has been the name of four arenas in New York City. ... Living for the City is a 1973 hit single by Stevie Wonder for the Tamla (Motown) label, from his Innervisions album. ... Fulfillingness First Finale is a landmark album by Stevie Wonder, released on July 22, 1974 (see 1974 in music). ... A Toot and a Snore in 74 is a rare bootleg album of the one and only jam session in which John Lennon and Paul McCartney played together after the break-up of the Beatles. ... John Winston Ono Lennon, MBE (October 9, 1940 â€“ December 8, 1980), (born John Winston Lennon, known as John Ono Lennon) was an iconic English 20th century rock and roll songwriter and singer, best known as the founding member of The Beatles. ... Sir James Paul McCartney, MBE (born 18 June 1942) is an English singer-songwriter, composer, multi-instrumentalist, poet, entrepreneur, painter, record producer, film producer, and animal-rights activist. ...

On October 5, 1975, Wonder performed the historical Wonder Dream Concert in Kingston, Jamaica, a Jamaican Institute for the Blind benefit concert. Along with Wonder Bob Marley, Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer, the three original "Wailers", performed together for the last time. For other uses, see 5th October (Serbia). ... Year 1975 (MCMLXXV) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Wonder Dream Concert was a historical concert held on October 4, 1975, at the National Stadium in Kingston, Jamaica, performed by Bob Marley & The Wailers, his former bandmates Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer, as well as Stevie Wonder. ... The City of Kingston is the capital and largest city of Jamaica. ... This article is about the reggae musician. ... Peter Tosh (October 19, 1944 â€“ September 11, 1987[1]) was the guitarist in the original Wailing Wailers, a pioneer reggae musician, and a trailblazer for the Rastafari movement. ... Bunny Wailer, also known as Bunny Livingston (born April 10, 1947), was an original member of reggae group The Wailers along with Bob Marley and Peter Tosh. ... The Wailers was a ska, rocksteady and reggae group formed in Kingston, Jamaica in 1963, consisting of Junior Braithwaite, Beverley Kelso, Bunny Livingston (aka Bunny Wailer), Bob Marley, Peter McIntosh (aka Peter Tosh), and Cherry Smith. ...

By 1975, in his 25th year, Stevie Wonder had won two consecutive Grammy Awards: in 1974 for Innervisions and in 1975 for Fulfillingness' First Finale. The following year, singer songwriter Paul Simon won the Grammy for Album of the Year for Still Crazy After All These Years. In his Grammy acceptance speech, Simon jokingly thanked Stevie Wonder for not releasing an album that year. Simon's joke proved prophetic. Paul Frederic Simon (born October 13, 1941) is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist, half of the folk-singing duo Simon and Garfunkel who continues a successful solo career. ...

Wonder released what he intended as his magnum opus, the double album-with-extra-EP Songs in the Key of Life, in September 1976. Sprawling in style, unlimited in ambition, and sometimes lyrically difficult to fathom, the album was hard for some listeners to assimilate, yet is regarded by many as Wonder's crowning achievement and one of the most recognizable and accomplished albums in pop music history. The album became the first of an American artist to debut straight at #1 in the Billboard charts, where it remained for 14 non-consecutive weeks. Two tracks fairly jumped out of the radio with energy, becoming the #1 pop/r'n'b hits "I Wish" and "Sir Duke". The baby-celebratory "Isn't She Lovely" was a future wedding and bat mitzvah fixture, while songs such as "Love's in Need of Love Today" (which years later Wonder would perform at the post-September 11, 2001 America: A Tribute to Heroes telethon) and the classical "Village Ghetto Land" reflected a far more pensive mood. "Pastime Paradise" would become an interpolation for Coolio's "Gangsta's Paradise" (one of the most popular hits of the 1990s), while Will Smith would use "I Wish" as the basis for the theme song to his movie, Wild Wild West. Songs in the Key of Life won Album of the Year and two other Grammys. Magnum opus (sometimes Opus magnum, plural magna opera), from the Latin meaning great work,[1] refers to the best, most popular, or most renowned achievement of an author, artist, or composer, and most commonly one who has contributed a very large amount of material. ... A double album is an audio album of sufficient length that two units of the medium in which it is sold (especially records and compact discs) are necessary to contain the entirety of it. ... // Extended play (EP) is the name typically given to vinyl records or CDs which contain more than one single but are too short to qualify as albums. ... Songs in the Key of Life is a landmark album by Stevie Wonder, released on September 28, 1976 (see 1976 in music), and is widely known and confirmed as Wonders magnum opus. ... Songs in the Key of Life track listing I Wish (1976) is a hit funk song by Stevie Wonder. ... Sir Duke is a song composed and performed by Stevie Wonder. ... Isnt She Lovely is a song by Stevie Wonder, from his 1976 album Songs in the Key of Life. ... For other uses, see Wedding (disambiguation). ... When a Jewish child reaches the age of maturity (12 years and one day for girls, 13 years and one day for boys) that child becomes responsible for him/herself under Jewish law; at this point a boy is said to become Bar Mitzvah (בר מצווה, son of the commandment... A sequential look at United Flight 175 crashing into the south tower of the World Trade Center The September 11, 2001 attacks (often referred to as 9/11â€”pronounced nine eleven or nine one one) consisted of a series of coordinated terrorist[1] suicide attacks upon the United States, predominantly... America: A Tribute to Heroes was a benefit concert organized in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center and United States television networks. ... Classical music is a broad, somewhat imprecise term, referring to music produced in, or rooted in the traditions of, European art, ecclesiastical and concert music, encompassing a broad period from roughly 1000 to the present day. ... This article is about the hip hop artist. ... Gangstas Paradise is a rap song by Coolio from the new Paramount Pictures movie Hey Arnold!: The Movie (2002) (starring Arnold Doug Funnie). ... â€œW. S.â€ redirects here. ... For the song, see Wild Wild West (song). ...

Possibly exhausted by this concentrated and sustained level of creativity, Wonder stopped recording for three years releasing only the 3 LP Looking Back, an anthology of his first Motown period. The albums Wonder released during this classic period were very influential on the music world; Rolling Stone Record Guide (1983) said that these albums "pioneered stylistic approaches that helped to determine the shape of pop music for the next decade"; Rolling Stone's 2003 list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time included four of the five, with three in the top 90; while in 2005 Kanye West said of his own work, "I'm not trying to compete with what's out there now. I'm really trying to compete with Innervisions and Songs in the Key of Life. It sounds musically blasphemous to say something like that, but why not set that as your bar?"^[3] A double album is an audio album of sufficient length that two units of the medium in which it is sold (especially records and compact discs) are necessary to contain the entirety of it. ... The Rolling Stone Album Guide, previously known as the Rolling Stone Record Guide, is a book that along with its sister publication, the magazine Rolling Stone, is one of the best places to find definitive reviews of popular music (apart from wikipedia!). // First Edition Title: The Rolling Stone Record Guide... Promotional Book Cover The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time was the cover story of a special issue of Rolling Stone magazine published in November 2003. ... Kanye Omari West (pronounced /kÉ‘njÉ›j/) (born June 8, 1977) is an American record producer and rapper who rose to fame in the mid 2000s. ...

Also adding to Wonder's legacy were hits written or cowritten for or covered by other artists. These include the Top Ten hits "Tell Me Something Good" (Rufus with Chaka Khan), Aretha Franklin's "Until You Come Back to Me (That's What I'm Gonna Do)", and Jermaine Jackson's "Let's Get Serious" (ranked by Billboard as the #1 r&b single of 1980). Aretha Louise Franklin (born March 25, 1942) is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. ...

Commercial period, 1979–1990

It was in Wonder's next phase that he began to commercially reap the rewards of his legendary Classic period. The 80's saw Wonder scoring his biggest hits and reaching an unprecedented level of fame evidenced by increased album sales, charity participation, high-profile collaborations, and television appearances.

This period had a muted beginning, for when Wonder did return, it was with a soundtrack album for the film Journey through the Secret Life of Plants (1979). Mostly instrumental, the album was panned at the time of its release but has come to be regarded by some critics as an unusual classic. In this year Wonder also wrote and produced the dance hit "Let's Get Serious", performed by Jermaine Jackson. A soundtrack album is any album that incorporates music from a particular feature film. ... This article is about motion pictures. ... Journey Through The Secret Life Of Plants was Stevie Wonders most confusing, under-rated and under-appreciated work, out of a nearly 20 year career up to that point. ... Jermaine LaJaune Jackson or Muhammad Abdul Aziz[1] (born December 11, 1954), is an American Grammy Award-nominated singer, bass guitarist, former member of The Jackson 5 and older brother of American pop stars Michael Jackson and Janet Jackson. ...

Hotter than July (1980) became Wonder's first platinum-selling single album ("Songs in the Key of Life" had sold several million units), and its single "Happy Birthday" was a successful vehicle for his campaign to establish Dr. Martin Luther King's birthday as a national holiday. The album also included "Master Blaster (Jammin')", his tribute to Bob Marley, "All I Do", and the sentimental ballad, "Lately", which was later covered by Jodeci and S Club 7. Hotter Than July is an album recorded by Stevie Wonder. ... Songs in the Key of Life is a landmark album by Stevie Wonder, released on September 28, 1976 (see 1976 in music), and is widely known and confirmed as Wonders magnum opus. ... Happy Birthday is a 1980 single written, produced, and performed by Stevie Wonder for the Motown label. ... â€œMartin Luther Kingâ€ redirects here. ... This article is about the reggae musician. ... Lately is a song by Stevie Wonder released in 1980. ... Lately is the title of a number-one R&B single by group Jodeci. ... S Club 7 (later re-named S Club after the departure of Paul Cattermole from the band) were an English pop group created by former Spice Girls manager Simon Fuller, who rose to fame via their own BBC television programme. ...

In 1982, Wonder released a retrospective of his '70s work with Stevie Wonder's Original Musiquarium and included three more hit singles in his catalogue, including the ten-minute funk classic "Do I Do" (which included legendary jazz trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie), "That Girl" (one of the year's biggest singles to chart on the R&B side) and "Ribbon in the Sky", one of his many classic compositions. Wonder also gained a #1 hit that year in collaboration with Paul McCartney in their paean to racial harmony, "Ebony and Ivory". Stevie Wonders Original Musiquarium is a compilation album of R&B/soul musician Stevie Wonders greatest hits from his 1970s albums, released on the Tamla label in 1982. ... For other uses, including related musical genres, see Funk (disambiguation). ... For the Australian cricketer nicknamed Dizzy, see Jason Gillespie. ... Rhythm and blues (or R & B) is a musical marketing term introduced in the United States in the late 1940s by Billboard magazine. ... Sir James Paul McCartney, MBE (born 18 June 1942) is an English singer-songwriter, composer, multi-instrumentalist, poet, entrepreneur, painter, record producer, film producer, and animal-rights activist. ... This article is about a musical recording. ...

In 1983, Wonder wrote the song Stay Gold, which was used as the the theme for the 1983 film adaption of S.E. Hinton's novel The Outsiders. Susan Eloise Hinton (born on July 22, 1948 in Tulsa, Oklahoma) is an American author who wrote five young adult novels in the 1960s and 70s. ... The Outsiders is a film adaptation of the novel of the same name by S. E. Hinton, and was made in 1983 by Francis Ford Coppola. ...

1984 saw the release of Wonder's soundtrack album for The Woman in Red. The lead single, "I Just Called to Say I Love You", was a #1 pop and R&B hit in both the US and UK, where it was placed 13th in the List of best-selling singles in the UK published in 2002. It went on to win an Academy Award for "Best Song" in 1985. The following year's In Square Circle featured the #1 pop hit "Part-Time Lover". He was also featured in Chaka Khan's cover of Prince's "I Feel For You", alongside Melle Mel, playing his signature harmonica, which was a huge hit. In roughly the same period he was also featured on harmonica on Eurythmics' single, "There Must Be an Angel (Playing with My Heart)" and Elton John's "I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues", both huge hits. The Woman in Red can be: The Woman in Red (1935 film), a film with Barbara Stanwyck The Woman in Red (film), a 1984 film with Gene Wilder ... I Just Called to Say I Love You is a song written, produced, and performed by Stevie Wonder as part of the soundtrack to the 1984 film The Woman in Red. ... Academy Award The Academy Awards, popularly known as the Oscars, are the most prominent and most watched film awards ceremony in the world. ... In Square Circle is a 1985 album released by Stevie Wonder. ... Part-Time Lover is a 1985 single by Stevie Wonder, from his album In Square Circle. ... Chaka Khan (born March 23, 1953) is a multiple Grammy Award-winning American singer known for hit songs such as Im Every Woman, I Feel For You and Through the Fire. Khan was first featured as a member of the funk band Rufus before beginning her solo career. ... For other uses, see Prince (disambiguation). ... I Feel For You is a 1984 song by Chaka Khan. ... Melle Mel (born Melvin Glover on May 15, 1962 in Bronx, New York ) is a hip-hop musician, one of the pioneers of old school hip hop as a lyricist & as lead rapper of Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five. ... For the approach to music education, see Eurhythmics. ... There Must Be an Angel (Playing with My Heart) is a pop song written and recorded by Annie Lennox and David A. Stewart for the Eurythmics fifth studio album Be Yourself Tonight (1985). ... Sir Elton Hercules[1] John CBE[2] (born Reginald Kenneth Dwight on 25 March 1947) is a five-time Grammy and one-time Academy Award-winning English pop/rock singer, composer and pianist. ... I Guess Thats Why They Call It The Blues is a song by British singer Elton John featuring Stevie Wonder on harmonica. ...

By 1985, Stevie Wonder was an American icon, the subject of good-humored jokes about blindness and affectionately impersonated by Eddie Murphy on Saturday Night Live. (Wonder sometimes joined in the jokes himself; in The Motown Revue Smokey Robinson presented Wonder with an award plaque, which he pretended to read for the audience – and to notice a spelling mistake.) He was in a featured duet with Bruce Springsteen on the all-star charity single for African famine relief, "We Are the World", and he was part of another charity single the following year, the AIDS-targeted "That's What Friends Are For". He also played the harmonica on the album Dreamland Express by John Denver in the song, If Ever, a song Wonder co-wrote with Stephanie Andrews. For other uses, see Eddie Murphy (disambiguation). ... SNL redirects here. ... Springsteen redirects here. ... Not to be confused with We Are Here To Change The World, a song that was featured in Captain EO. For the album with the same title, see We Are the World (album). ... Thats What Friends Are For is a song and a series of charity concerts. ... John Denver (December 31, 1943 â€“ October 12, 1997), born Henry John Deutschendorf, Jr. ...

In 1986, Stevie Wonder appeared on The Cosby Show as himself in the episode "A Touch of Wonder". The Cosby Show is an American television sitcom starring Bill Cosby, first broadcast on September 20, 1984 and ran for eight seasons on the NBC television network, until April 30, 1992. ...

In 1987, Wonder appeared on the duet Just Good Friends for Michael Jackson's Bad album. The song was performed live on one occasion in Australia when Wonder made a surprise appearance at the show. Just Good Friends is a song from Michael Jacksons 1987 album Bad. ... For other persons named Michael Jackson, see Michael Jackson (disambiguation). ...

Wonder has also recorded with Jon Gibson (Christian Soul musician), in particular a remake of his own song, "Have a Talk With God", covered by Gibson on which Wonder plays harmonica. The two men met in the late 1980s.

Later career, 1991–present

After 1987's Characters LP, Wonder continued to release new material, but at a slower pace. He recorded a soundtrack album for Spike Lee's film Jungle Fever in 1991 with a video for "Gotta Have You", and released both Conversation Peace and the live album Natural Wonder during the same decade. Shelton Jackson Lee (born March 20, 1957, in Atlanta, Georgia), better known as Spike Lee, is an Emmy Award - winning, and Academy Award - nominated American film director, producer, writer, and actor noted for his films dealing with controversial social and political issues. ... Jungle Fever is a 1991 film directed by Spike Lee, starring Wesley Snipes and Annabella Sciorra. ...

In 1996, Stevie Wonder's Songs in the Key of Life was selected as a documentary subject for the Classic Albums documentary series. This series dedicates 60 minutes to one groundbreaking record per feature. Songs in the Key of Life is a landmark album by Stevie Wonder, released on September 28, 1976 (see 1976 in music), and is widely known and confirmed as Wonders magnum opus. ... Classic Albums is a documentary series about pop and rock albums that are considered the best or most distinctive of a well known band or musician or that exemplify a stage in the history of pop and rock music. ...

Wonder collaborated with Babyface for an emotionally-charged song about spousal abuse (domestic violence) called "How Come How Long" which was also nominated for an award and had video rotation on t.v.

That year, he performed John Lennon's song "Imagine" in the closing ceremony of the Olympic Games, held in Atlanta. John Winston Ono Lennon, MBE (October 9, 1940 â€“ December 8, 1980), (born John Winston Lennon, known as John Ono Lennon) was an iconic English 20th century rock and roll songwriter and singer, best known as the founding member of The Beatles. ... Look up imagine in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... The five Olympic rings were designed in 1913, adopted in 1914 and debuted at the Games at Antwerp, 1920. ... (Redirected from 1996 Summer Olympic Games) Categories: 1996 Summer Olympics ...

Stevie Wonder also performed in a unique remix of "Seasons Of Love" from the Jonathan Larson musical Rent which can be found on disc two of the cast original Broadway cast recording. Seasons of Love is the most celebrated song from the Broadway musical Rent, written and composed by Jonathan Larson. ... Jonathan Larson (February 4, 1960 â€“ January 25, 1996) was an American Tony Award-winning composer and playwright who lived in New York City and authored musicals, including Rent and Tick, Tick. ... This article is about the 1996 Broadway rock opera. ... For other uses of Broadway, see Broadway. ...

In December 1999, Wonder announced that he was interested in pursuing an intraocular retinal prosthesis to partially restore his sight. ^[4]

That same year, Wonder was featured on harmonica in the Sting hit "Brand New Day". In March 2002, Wonder performed at the opening ceremonies of the 2002 Winter Paralympics in Salt Lake City. This article is about the musician. ... Brand New Day is Stingâ€˜s sixth solo album. ... See also: 2002 Winter Olympics The 2002 Olympic Winter Games, including the 2002 Winter Paralympics, were held in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. ... The Salt Lake Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is Salt Lake Citys top tourist draw. ...

On July 2, 2005, Wonder performed in the USA part of the "Live 8" series of concerts in Philadelphia. is the 183rd day of the year (184th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Wonder's first new album in ten years, A Time to Love, was released on October 18, 2005, after having been pushed back from first a May, and then a June release. The album was released electronically on September 27, 2005, exclusively on Apple's iTunes Music Store. The first single, "So What the Fuss", was released in April and features Prince on guitar and background vocals from En Vogue. A second single, "From the Bottom of My Heart" was a hit on adult-contemporary R&B radio. The album also featured a duet with India.Arie on the title track "A Time to Love". A Time To Love is the long awaited follow-up album to Stevie Wonders 1995 studio release Conversation Peace. ... is the 291st day of the year (292nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 270th day of the year (271st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Apple Inc. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into ITunes. ... For other uses, see Guitar (disambiguation). ... This article is about the American quartet. ... Rhythm and blues (or R & B) is a musical marketing term introduced in the United States in the late 1940s by Billboard magazine. ... India. ...

Wonder performed at the pre-game show for Super Bowl XL in Detroit in early 2006, singing various hit singles (with his four-year-old son on drums) and accompanying Aretha Franklin during "The Star Spangled Banner". Date February 5, 2006 Stadium Ford Field City Detroit, Michigan MVP Hines Ward, wide receiver Favorite Steelers by 4 National anthem Aaron Neville, Aretha Franklin and Dr. John, ASL performed by Angela LaGuardia Coin toss Tom Brady Referee Bill Leavy Halftime show The Rolling Stones Attendance 68,206 TV in... Aretha Louise Franklin (born March 25, 1942) is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. ... Nicholson took the copy Key gave him to a printer, where it was published as a broadside on September 17 under the title The Defence of Fort McHenry, with an explanatory note explaining the circumstances of its writing. ...

In March 2006, Wonder received new national exposure on the top-rated American Idol television program. Each of 12 contestants were required to sing one of his songs, after having met and received guidance from him.Wonder also performed "My Love Is on Fire" live on the show itself. Most recently, in June 2006, Stevie Wonder made a guest appearance on Busta Rhymes' new album, The Big Bang on the track "Been through the Storm" he sings the refrain and plays the piano on the Dr. Dre and Sha Money XL produced track. He appeared again on the last track of Snoop Dogg's new album, Tha Blue Carpet Treatment, "Conversations". The song is a remake of "Have a Talk with God" from Songs in the Key of Life. For the current American Idol season, see American Idol (season 7). ... Trevor Smith (born on May 20, 1972), better known as Busta Rhymes, is an American hip hop musician and actor. ... According to the Big Bang theory, the universe originated in an infinitely dense and physically paradoxical singularity. ... For the New York radio and television presenter, see Doctor Dre. ... Sha Money XL (born Michael Clervoix III on February 11, 1976) is an American record producer. ... Calvin Cordozar Broadus, Jr. ... Previous album cover Tha Blue Carpet Treatment is the eighth solo album released by rapper Snoop Dogg. ... Songs in the Key of Life is a landmark album by Stevie Wonder, released on September 28, 1976 (see 1976 in music), and is widely known and confirmed as Wonders magnum opus. ...

In 2006 duet with Andrea Bocelli in his album Amore with Harmonica and additional vocals on "Canzoni Stonate". Andrea Bocelli (born 22 September 1958) is an Italian operatic pop[1] tenor and a classical crossover singer who has also performed in operas. ... Thats Amore is a 1952 song by composer Harry Warren and lyricist Jack Brooks. ...

Stevie Wonder also performed at Washington, D.C.'s 2006 "A Capitol Fourth" celebration, which was hosted by actor star Jason Alexander. For other uses, see Washington, D.C. (disambiguation). ... Jason Alexander (born Jason Scott Greenspan on September 23, 1959) is a Jewish American television, cinema and musical theatre actor, best known for his role as George Costanza on the hit television series Seinfeld. ...

On August 2, 2007, Stevie Wonder announced the "A Wonder Summer's Night" 13 concert tour - his first U.S. tour in over ten years. This tour was inspired by the recent passing of his mother, as he stated at the conclusion of the tour on December 9 at the Jobing.com Arena in Glendale, near Phoenix. Boxer Mike Tyson appeared briefly on stage at the end of the musical program. is the 214th day of the year (215th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ...

Stevie's current musical director is UAB professor Dr. Henry Panion. Panion is a renowned arranger, composer and conductor, and a pioneer in the development of college music technology programs. The University of Alabama at Birmingham (also known as UAB) is a public, coeducational university located in Birmingham, Alabama, USA. The university is part of the three-member University of Alabama System, which includes the University of Alabamas main campus located in Tuscaloosa (UA) and the University of Alabama... Henry Panion, III is an American composer, arranger, conductor, educator, and Professor in the Department of Music at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. ...

Stevie is currently working on a new album titled The Gospel Inspired By Lula which will deal with the various spiritual and cultural crises facing the world.^[6]

On May 2, 2008, Stevie Wonder will close out the second Friday of the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival on the Acura Stage. is the 122nd day of the year (123rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Anno Domini (or common era), in accordance to the Gregorian calendar. ... New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival (aka Jazz Fest) is an annual celebration of the music and culture of New Orleans and Louisiana. ...

Tony Bennett recently told Billboard.com that he and Wonder are “just now sketching out" plans for a duo album, with no firm timetable yet for the recording. “I know he wants to do a jazz album," Bennett says. “I'm interested in that myself." The pair's Grammy, for best pop collaboration with vocals, came for their rendition of “For Once in My Life" from Bennett's Duets: An American Classic which also took home the best traditional pop vocal album trophy. Bennett says that Wonder is “my favorite guy. However Bennett is not the only jazz artist recently linked with Stevie Wonder. June 2008 will see the release of a new album by Grammy award winning jazz guitarist Martin Taylor and European jazz singer Alison Burns which features a version of Wonder's "If It's Magic".

Impact

Wonder's success as a socially conscious musical performer influenced popular music. Among the musicians and performers who list Wonder as one of their major influences are Michael Jackson, Jermaine Jackson, Carrie Underwood, Gloria Estefan, Alicia Keys, Tori Amos, Avia, Mariah Carey, Mary J. Blige, Kanye West, George Michael, Nik Kershaw, Anthony Kiedis (Red Hot Chili Peppers), Sting, John Ondrasik (Five For Fighting), India.Arie, Musiq Soulchild, Kuhbumser, John Legend, Jason Kay (Jamiroquai), Donell Jones, Brandy, Beyoncé Knowles, John Farnham, Jon Gibson, Aaliyah, Babyface, Justin Timberlake, Craig David, Utada Hikaru, Shogo Hamada, Shunsuke Kuroda (from the J-pop group Kobukuro), Jim Underwood, and the members of Jodeci, the Neptunes, Spitting Blood, Dru Hill, and Thunder. UK soul singer Nate James sang in his international hit single "The Message": 'Let's go back in time, back to Music of My Mind, with Stevie playing piano just for you'.^[7] For other persons named Michael Jackson, see Michael Jackson (disambiguation). ... Jermaine LaJaune Jackson or Muhammad Abdul Aziz[1] (born December 11, 1954), is an American Grammy Award-nominated singer, bass guitarist, former member of The Jackson 5 and older brother of American pop stars Michael Jackson and Janet Jackson. ... Carrie Marie Underwood (born March 10, 1983 in Muskogee, Oklahoma) is an American country singer-songwriter who won the fourth season of American Idol. ... Gloria Estefan (born Gloria MarÃa Fajardo on September 22, 1961 in Havana, Cuba) is a five-time Grammy Award-winning Cuban American singer and songwriter. ... Alicia Keys (born Alicia J. Augello-Cook on January 25, 1981[2][3][4]) is an American R&B, soul, and neo soul singer-songwriter, pianist, and actress who has sold over 25 million albums worldwide as of 2007, and has won numerous awards, including eleven Grammy Awards, eleven Billboard... Tori Amos (born Myra Ellen Amos on August 22, 1963) is an American pianist and singer-songwriter. ... Avia was a Czech aircraft company notable for producing biplane fighters, especially the B-534. ... This article is about the singer. ... Mary Jane Blige (born January 11, 1971) is an American R&B, soul, and hip hop soul singer-songwriter, occasional rapper, record producer, actress, and hip hop icon who has sold more than 40 million records and over 10 million singles worldwide. ... Kanye Omari West (pronounced /kÉ‘njÉ›j/) (born June 8, 1977) is an American record producer and rapper who rose to fame in the mid 2000s. ... For other persons named George Michael, see George Michael (disambiguation). ... Nik Kershaw Nik Kershaw (born Nicholas David Kershaw on March 1, 1958) is an English singer-songwriter, popular during the 1980s. ... Anthony Kiedis (b. ... This article is about the band. ... This article is about the musician. ... Five for Fighting is the stage name of US singer-songwriter John Ondrasik. ... This article refers to the musical act. ... India. ... Musiq Soulchild (born Talib Johnson on September 16, 1977. ... John Legend (born John Stephens on 28 December 1978) is an American R&B singer, songwriter, and pianist. ... Jason Jay Kay (born Jason Cheetham on 30 December 1969 in Stretford, Manchester) is an English funk musician. ... Jamiroquai is a Grammy Award-winning English funk / soul / disco band. ... Donell Jones (born May 22, 1973) is an American R&B singer, songwriter and producer, most notable for the hits U Know Whats Up, Where I Wanna Be and his cover of Stevie Wonders Knocks Me Off My Feet. // Born in Chicago, Illinois, Jones upbringing was rough. ... Brandy on the cover of her album Full Moon Brandy Rayana Norwood (born February 11, 1979 in McComb, Mississippi), known professionally as Brandy, is an African American pop/R&B singer and actress. ... BeyoncÃ© Giselle Knowles (pronounced [1]) (born September 4, 1981) is an American R&B singer, songwriter, record producer, music video director, actress, dancer, and fashion designer. ... John Peter Farnham (born July 1, 1949) is an English-born Australian pop singer. ... There are two Jon Gibsons who are known throughout the world. ... For other uses, see Aliyah (disambiguation). ... Kenneth Babyface Edmonds (born April 10, 1958 in Indianapolis, Indiana) is an R&B and pop singer, songwriter, keyboardist, record producer, film producer, and entreprenuer. ... Justin Randall Timberlake (born January 31, 1981[1]), sometimes known as JT, is an American pop and R&B singer, songwriter, record producer, dancer, and actor. ... Craig Ashley David (born May 5, 1981) is an English R&B singer. ... Utada redirects here. ... ShÅgo Hamada ) (December 29, 1952-) is a Japanese singer-songwriter. ... Kobukuro (Japanese: ã‚³ãƒ–ã‚¯ãƒ, kobukuro) is a Japanese male pop band. ... Dr. Jim Underwood is a professor at Dallas Baptist University and the author of numerous books about business. ... Jodeci is an American musical group, whose repertoire included R&B, soul music, and new jack swing. ... The Neptunes is the name for the record production duo consisting of Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo, who created the sound for some very successful Hip Hop, R&B and Pop artists in the late-90s and 2000s. ... Dru Hill is an American singing group, most popular during the late 1990s, whose repertoire included R&B, soul, and gospel music. ... Thunder are an English hard rock band, who originally formed in 1989 when Terraplane broke up, leaving lead singer Danny Bowes and guitarist/main songwriter Luke Morley to form a new band, namely Thunder. ... Nates James is a British soul singer / songwriter who released his debut album, Set The Tone, in 2005. ...

Wonder's songs are renowned for being quite difficult to sing. He has a very developed sense of harmony and uses many extended chords utilizing tensions such as 9ths, 11ths, 13ths, b5s, etc. in his compositions. Many of his melodies make abrupt, unpredictable changes. Many of his vocal melodies are also melismatic, meaning that a syllable is sung over several notes. In the American Idol Hollywood Performances, judge Randy Jackson repeatedly stated the difficulty of Wonder's songs. Some of his best known and most frequently covered songs are played in keys which are more often found in jazz than in pop and rock. For example, "Superstition", "Higher Ground" and "I Wish" are in the key of E flat, and feature distinctive riffs in the E flat minor pentatonic scale (i.e. largely on the black notes of the keyboard). An attribute of some Islamic and Gregorian chants, it is the style of singing several notes to one syllable of text. ... For the current American Idol season, see American Idol (season 7). ... This article is about the American Idol judge. ... Superstition is a number-one single written, produced, arranged, and recorded by Stevie Wonder for Motown Records in 1972, when Wonder was twenty-two years old. ... Higher Ground is a R&B song with a rock edge, written by Stevie Wonder and first appearing on his 1973 album Innervisions. ... Songs in the Key of Life track listing I Wish (1976) is a hit funk song by Stevie Wonder. ... A pentatonic scale is a musical scale with five pitches per octave as compared to the major scale which is made up of seven distinct notes. ...

Wonder played a large role in bringing synthesizers to the forefront of popular music. With the help of Robert Margouleff and Malcolm Cecil, he developed many new textures and sounds never heard before. In 1981, Wonder became the first owner of an E-mu Emulator.^[8] It was Wonder's urging that led Raymond Kurzweil to create the first electronic synthesizers that realistically reproduced the sounds of orchestral instruments; Wonder had become acquainted with the inventor as an early user and evangelist of his reading machine, the technology for which would prove instrumental in the success of the Kurzweil K250. The term synthesiser is also used to mean frequency synthesiser, an electronic system found in communications. ... After seeing a Fairlight CMI at a convention in 1979, E-mu founders Scott Wedge and Dave Rossum began working on designing a less expensive sampler. ... Raymond Kurzweil (pronounced: ) (born February 12, 1948) is a pioneer in the fields of optical character recognition (OCR), text-to-speech synthesis, speech recognition technology, and electronic keyboard instruments. ... A reading machine is a piece of Assistive Technology that allows blind people to access printed materials. ... The Kurzweil 250 a. ...

Personal life

Wonder was born Steveland Judkins to Lula Mae Hardaway and Calvin Judkins in Saginaw, Michigan on May 13, 1950 (he changed his surname to Morris when his mother married). Born prematurely, he became blind due to the high level of oxygen in his incubator. In 1954 his family moved to Detroit, where he became active in a church choir. Lula Mae Hardaway (b. ... is the 133rd day of the year (134th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1950 (MCML) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

In 1973, while being driven to a concert in North Carolina, a large timber fell on Wonder's car. He sustained serious head injuries and was comatose for nearly a week, but was able to make a full recovery.

Wonder has seven children from various relationships and has been married twice: in 1970, to Motown singer Syreeta Wright (the marriage ended in divorce in 1972) and, since 2001, to fashion designer Kai Milla Morris.^[9]. Syreeta Wright (August 3, 1946 â€“ July 6, 2004), who recorded professionally under the single name Syreeta, was an American singer-songwriter active from the 1960s. ...

His daughter, Aisha Morris, was the inspiration for his hit single "Isn't She Lovely." Aisha Morris is a singer who has toured with her father and accompanied him on recordings, including his 2005 album, A Time 2 Love. Wonder has two sons with Kai Milla Morris; the older is named Kailand and the younger, Mandla Kadjay Carl Steveland Morris, was born May 13, 2005, his father's 55th birthday. A Time 2 Love is the long awaited follow-up album to Stevie Wonders 1995 studio release Conversation Peace. ... is the 133rd day of the year (134th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Wonder is interested in politics. He is an activist for civil rights and has endorsed 2008 United States Democratic Party presidential candidate Barack Obama. Federal courts Supreme Court Circuit Courts of Appeal District Courts Elections Presidential elections Midterm elections Political Parties Democratic Republican Third parties State & Local government Governors Legislatures (List) State Courts Local Government Other countries Atlas Politics Portal Further information: Politics of the United States#Organization of American political parties The Democratic... â€œBarackâ€ redirects here. ...

Discography

U.S. and UK Top Ten singles

Thirty-four of Stevie Wonder's singles, listed below, reached the Top Ten on Billboard's Hot 100 chart in the United States, or in the United Kingdom. Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry. ... â€œHot 100â€ redirects here. ...

Fingertips, Pt. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Blowin in the Wind is a song written by Bob Dylan, and released on his 1963 album The Freewheelin Bob Dylan. ... A Place in the Sun is a 1966 soul single by American and Motown music great Stevie Wonder. ... I Was Made to Love Her is a hit single recorded by American soul musician Stevie Wonder for Motowns Tamla label in 1967 (see 1967 in music). ... For Once in My Life is a pop song written by Ron Miller and Orlando Murden for Motown Records Jobete publishing company in 1967 (see 1967 in music). ... Shoo-Be-Doo-Be-Doo-Da-Day is a 1968 soul single released by American and Motown singer-songwriter Stevie Wonder. ... My Cherie Amour is a 1969 soul classic by Motown singer-songwriter Stevie Wonder. ... Yester-Me, Yester-You, Yesterday is a 1969 soul single released by American Motown singer-songwriter-musician Stevie Wonder. ... Signed, Sealed, Delivered Im Yours is a 1970 soul single by American soul musician Stevie Wonder, recorded for Motowns Tamla label. ... Heaven Help Us All is a 1970 soul single by Motown great Stevie Wonder. ... If You Really Love Me is the title of a song written by Stevie Wonder and Syreeta Wright. ... Superstition is a number-one single written, produced, arranged, and recorded by Stevie Wonder for Motown Records in 1972, when Wonder was twenty-two years old. ... You Are the Sunshine of My Life is a 1973 pop single released by Motown music great Stevie Wonder. ... Higher Ground is a R&B song with a rock edge, written by Stevie Wonder and first appearing on his 1973 album Innervisions. ... Living for the City is a 1973 hit single by Stevie Wonder for the Tamla (Motown) label, from his Innervisions album. ... You Havent Done Nothin is a 1974 funk single by Motown legend Stevie Wonder featuring background vocals from The Jackson 5 and featured on the album Fulfillingness First Finale. ... The Jackson 5 (also spelled The Jackson Five or The Jackson 5ive, abbreviated as J5, and later known as The Jacksons) was an American popular music quintet (and briefly a sextet and quartet) from Gary, Indiana. ... Boogie On Reggae Woman is a 1974 funk single by American Motown singing great Stevie Wonder. ... Songs in the Key of Life track listing I Wish (1976) is a hit funk song by Stevie Wonder. ... Sir Duke is a song composed and performed by Stevie Wonder. ... Send One Your Love is a 1979 soul single by American and Motown music great Stevie Wonder. ... you == == SUCK == == ... Happy Birthday is a 1980 single written, produced, and performed by Stevie Wonder for the Motown label. ... That Girl is a 1982 soul single by American Motown singer-songwriter Stevie Wonder. ... Do I Do is a song by Stevie Wonder, first released in 1982 in the albums Original Musiquarium I and At the Close of a Century. ... This article is about a musical recording. ... Sir James Paul McCartney, MBE (born 18 June 1942) is an English singer-songwriter, composer, multi-instrumentalist, poet, entrepreneur, painter, record producer, film producer, and animal-rights activist. ... Ribbon in the Sky is a 1982 soul single released by Motown singer-songwriter Stevie Wonder. ... I Just Called to Say I Love You is a song written, produced, and performed by Stevie Wonder as part of the soundtrack to the 1984 film The Woman in Red. ... Part-Time Lover is a 1985 single by Stevie Wonder, from his album In Square Circle. ... Thats What Friends Are For is a song and a series of charity concerts. ... Marie Dionne Warrick (born December 12, 1940), known professionally as Dionne Warwick, is an acclaimed five-time Grammy Award-winning African American singer best known for her work with Hal David and Burt Bacharach as songwriters and producers. ... Sir Elton Hercules[1] John CBE[2] (born Reginald Kenneth Dwight on 25 March 1947) is a five-time Grammy and one-time Academy Award-winning English pop/rock singer, composer and pianist. ... Gladys Maria Knight (born May 28, 1944 in Atlanta, Georgia, USA) is a seven-time Grammy Award-winning American R&B/soul singer, actress and author. ... Go Home is a 1985 hit single released by American and Motown music great Stevie Wonder on the Tamla (Motown) label. ...

Top Ten U.S. and UK Albums

Twelve of Stevie Wonder's albums, listed below, reached the Top Ten in either the United States or the United Kingdom.

Talking Book is an album by Lindsay Hartley. ... Innervisions is an album by Stevie Wonder, released in 1973 (see 1973 in music). ... Fulfillingness First Finale is a landmark album by Stevie Wonder, released on July 22, 1974 (see 1974 in music). ... Songs in the Key of Life is a landmark album by Stevie Wonder, released on September 28, 1976 (see 1976 in music), and is widely known and confirmed as Wonders magnum opus. ... Journey Through The Secret Life Of Plants was Stevie Wonders most confusing, under-rated and under-appreciated work, out of a nearly 20 year career up to that point. ... Hotter Than July is an album recorded by Stevie Wonder. ... Stevie Wonders Original Musiquarium is a compilation album of R&B/soul musician Stevie Wonders greatest hits from his 1970s albums, released on the Tamla label in 1982. ... The Woman In Red Soundtrack is the second soundtrack album released by Motown singing great Stevie Wonder on the Tamla (Motown) label in 1984. ... In Square Circle is a 1985 album released by Stevie Wonder. ... Conversation Peace is a 1995 soul album released by Motown soul musician Stevie Wonder. ... A Time To Love is the long awaited follow-up album to Stevie Wonders 1995 studio release Conversation Peace. ...

Awards and recognition

Wonder has received 25 Grammy Awards: This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

Between 1965-1980 a self-produced artist won an additional grammy as a producer as well as an artist. The Grammy Award for Best R&B Song (sometimes known as the R&B Songwriters Award) has been awarded since 1969. ... The Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance has been awarded since 1968. ... The Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance has been awarded since 1966. ... The Grammy Award for Album of the Year is the most prestigious award category. ... The Grammy Award for Album of the Year has been awarded since 1959. ... The Grammy Award for Producer of the Year, Non-Classical has been awarded since 1975. ... The Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal has been awarded since 1966. ... Marie Dionne Warrick (born December 12, 1940), known professionally as Dionne Warwick, is an acclaimed five-time Grammy Award-winning African American singer best known for her work with Hal David and Burt Bacharach as songwriters and producers. ... Sir Elton Hercules[1] John CBE[2] (born Reginald Kenneth Dwight on 25 March 1947) is a five-time Grammy and one-time Academy Award-winning English pop/rock singer, composer and pianist. ... Gladys Maria Knight (born May 28, 1944 in Atlanta, Georgia, USA) is a seven-time Grammy Award-winning American R&B/soul singer, actress and author. ... The Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s) has been awarded since 1963. ... The Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal has been awarded since 1970. ... Take 6 is an influential American a cappella gospel music sextet formed in 1985 on the campus of Oakwood College in Huntsville, Alabama. ... BeyoncÃ© Giselle Knowles (pronounced [1]) (born September 4, 1981) is an American R&B singer, songwriter, record producer, music video director, actress, dancer, and fashion designer. ... For other persons named Tony Bennett, see Tony Bennett (disambiguation). ...

Wonder has also received an Academy Award for Best Song for "I Just Called to Say I Love You" from The Woman in Red. In 1989, Wonder was inducted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He is also an inductee to the Songwriters Hall of Fame. Wonder received the Polar Music Prize and Kennedy Center Honors in 1999. In 2002, he was presented with the George and Ira Gershwin Lifetime Achievement Award at UCLA's Spring Sing. He was awarded the Billboard Music Award for the Century Award in 2004, and was one the first inductees into the Michigan Walk of Fame. The Academy Award for Best Song is one of the awards given to people working in the motion picture industry by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences; nominations are made by Academy members who are songwriters and composers. ... I Just Called to Say I Love You is a song written, produced, and performed by Stevie Wonder as part of the soundtrack to the 1984 film The Woman in Red. ... The Woman in Red can be: The Woman in Red (1935 film), a film with Barbara Stanwyck The Woman in Red (film), a 1984 film with Gene Wilder ... The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame at sunset. ... The Songwriters Hall of Fame is an arm of the National Academy of Popular Music. ... The Polar Music Prize is an international music prize and awarded to individuals, groups or institutions in recognition of exceptional achievements in the creation and advancement of music. The prize was founded in 1989 following a donation from Stig Anderson and is awarded annually by the Royal Swedish Academy of... This article or section is not written in the formal tone expected of an encyclopedia article. ... Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry. ... The Michigan Walk of Fame, styled on the famous Hollywood Walk of Fame, will honor Michigan residents, past or present, who have made significant contributions to the state or nation. ...

Likewise, several artists have acknowledged Wonder's contributions to music, including opera star Luciano Pavarotti, who once referred to him in a concert as a "great, great musical genius" and Diana Ross called Wonder "Motown's musical genius". Luciano Pavarotti performing on June 15, 2002 at a concert in the Stade VÃ©lodrome in Marseille Luciano Pavarotti, Cavaliere di Gran Croce OMRI[1] (October 12, 1935 â€“ September 6, 2007) was a celebrated Italian tenor in operatic music, who successfully crossed into popular music becoming one of the most... For the author-illustrator, see Diana Ross (author). ...

Contents

Biography

Early life

Early career, 1962–1971

Classic period, 1972–1976

Commercial period, 1979–1990

Later career, 1991–present

Impact

Personal life

Discography

U.S. and UK Top Ten singles

Top Ten U.S. and UK Albums

Awards and recognition

See also

Notes

External links

Contents

Biography GA_googleFillSlot("encyclopedia_square");

Early life

Early career, 1962–1971

Classic period, 1972–1976

Commercial period, 1979–1990

Later career, 1991–present

Impact

Personal life

Discography

U.S. and UK Top Ten singles

Top Ten U.S. and UK Albums

Awards and recognition

See also

Notes

External links

Biography