Stevie Wonder

Stevie Wonder, born Stevland Hardaway Judkins on May 13, 1950 in Saginaw, Michigan, is a profoundly influential American‑Ghanaian artist whose career spans over six decades. Blind from a premature birth that damaged his retinas, Wonder displayed prodigious musical talent early, mastering piano, harmonica and drums before his first public performances at age eight in a Detroit Baptist choir. At eleven he auditioned for Motown, where Berry Gordy signed him to the Tamla label and christened him Little Stevie Wonder; his 1963 single “Fingertips” vaulted him to the top of the Billboard Hot 100, making him the youngest solo artist to achieve that feat. Throughout the 1960s he honed his craft, writing hits for himself and label mates, while navigating the challenges of a changing voice and the pressures of a child star. The 1970s marked his classic period, beginning with Music of My Mind (1972) and soaring through Talking Book, Innervations, Fulfillingness' First Finale and the magnum opus Songs in the Key of Life. These albums showcased his innovative use of synthesizers, complex lyrical themes, and seamless blending of soul, funk, pop and gospel, earning three consecutive Grammy Awards for Album of the Year—an unprecedented achievement. In the 1980s he embraced commercial success with chart‑topping tracks like “I Just Called to Say I Love You,” which won an Academy Award, while remaining a vocal advocate for civil rights, spearheading the campaign that secured Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday as a federal holiday. Wonder’s later years have been marked by collaborations with icons such as Paul McCartney, Beyoncé and Andrea Bocelli, humanitarian work, a United Nations Messenger of Peace appointment, and the conferral of Ghanaian citizenship in 2024. With over 100 million records sold, 25 Grammy Awards, and a legacy that bridges generations, Stevie Wonder remains a towering figure in music history, continually inspiring artists across genres and cultures.