Singer: Stevie Wonder

Stevie Wonder is a legendary American singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and record producer, widely regarded as one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century.

Born Stevland Hardaway Judkins (later Morris) on May 13, 1950, in Saginaw, Michigan, Wonder became blind shortly after birth due to complications from premature birth.

Despite his disability, Wonder showed a remarkable talent for music from an early age. He signed with Motown’s Tamla label at the age of 11 and was marketed as a child prodigy under the name “Little Stevie Wonder.” His first major hit, “Fingertips (Part 2),” recorded live when he was just 12, made him the youngest artist ever to top the Billboard Hot 100.

As he matured, Wonder’s music evolved to encompass a wide range of styles, including soul, funk, jazz, pop, and R&B. His groundbreaking work in the 1970s, often referred to as his “classic period,” includes albums like Talking Book (1972), Innervisions (1973), and Songs in the Key of Life (1976). These albums produced hits such as “Superstition,” “You Are the Sunshine of My Life,” “Living for the City,” and “Sir Duke,” and are celebrated for their innovative use of synthesizers, complex arrangements, and socially conscious lyrics.

Wonder has won 25 Grammy Awards, making him one of the most awarded male solo artists in Grammy history. He has also been honored with an Academy Award for Best Original Song for “I Just Called to Say I Love You” from the film The Woman in Red (1984).

Beyond his musical achievements, Wonder is known for his activism and humanitarian work, particularly in the areas of civil rights, anti-apartheid, and advocacy for people with disabilities. He played a key role in the campaign to make Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday a national holiday in the United States.

Stevie Wonder’s enduring legacy is marked by his ability to transcend musical genres and generations, and his influence can be heard in the work of countless artists across the globe.