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STEVIE WONDER BIOGRAPHY

STEVIE WONDER BIOGRAPHY

STEVIE WONDER

BIRTH: May 13, 1950,
Saginaw, Michigan, U.S.
Stevie Wonder is an American singer, song- writer and multi-instrumentalist. He was a child prodigy, making his recording debut at age eleven.
Stevie Wonder was born Steveland Hardaway Judkins on 13th May, 1950 at Saginaw, Michigan. Wonder was born six weeks premature and lost his vision due to retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). His father, Calvin Judkins, and mother, Lula Mae, got a divorce when he was four years old. At the age of eleven, he was discovered by Ronnie White of The Miracles. He then auditioned for the founder of Motown Records, Berry Gordy Jr. He got a record deal with them immediately. He was renamed Little Stevie
Wonder by Berry Gordy Jr. Wonder worked with Clarence Paul to produce his debut album “The Jazz Soul of Little Stevie Wonder’ in 1962, an instrumental album. In the same year, he released ‘Tribute to Uncle Ray’ that included covers of songs by Ray Charles. Wonder’s album Recorded Live: The 12 Year Old Genius’ contained the single “Fingertips”. The edited “Fingertips, Pt. 2” reached the number one spot on the R&B and pop charts. Wonder dropped “Little” from his name around the 1960s. His single “Uptight
(Everything’s Alright)” became number one on the R&B charts. His cover of Bob Dylan’s “Blowin’ in the Wind” also topped the R&B charts. His album ‘My Cherie Amour’ was released in 1969. Its single “Yester-Me, Yester-You, Yesterday’ was ranked in the Top 5 R&B.
Wonder collaborated with his wife, Sylvia, for his 1971 album ‘Where I’m Coming From. Its single “If You Really Love Me” was a huge hit. In the March of 1972, he released the album ‘Music of My Mind Its single “Superwoman (Where Were You When I Needed You)” was placed in the Top 20 R&B and Top 40 Pop singles.
His 1972 album ‘Talking Book’ contained two hit singles, “Superstition” and “You Are the Sunshine of My Life”. From his 1973 album, ‘Innervisions, the singles “Higher Ground” and “Living for the City” topped the R&B charts. His 1974 single “You Haven’t Done Nothin” topped both the pop and R&B charts and featured The
Jackson 5.
In 1980, his album ‘Hotter Than July’ was released. Its song “Master Blaster (Jammin’)” was a tribute to Bob Marley. In 1984, Wonder gave the soundtrack for the movie The Woman in Red by Gene Wilder. Wonder won an Academy Award for the song “I Just Called to Say I Love You” from this movie. His single “Part-Time Lover” from the Square Circle’ (1985) was the first song ever to be placed number one on pop, R&B, adult contemporary and dance charts. Number one R&B hits from ‘Character’ (1987) include
“Skeletons” and “You Will Know”.
In 1991, Wonder gave the soundtrack to Spike Lee’s movie Jungle Fever. His album 1995 Conversation Peace’ contained smashing hits, “For You Love”, for which he won two Grammy awards, and “Tomorrow Robins Will Sing”.
Stevie Wonder has been awarded twenty-five Grammy Awards in his lifetime. Wonder was inducted to the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1983. He won the Academy Award for “I Just Called to Say I Love You” in 1984. He was honored in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989. Wonder received the Lifetime Achievement Award in 1996.
He received the Polar Music Prize and Kennedy Center Honor in 1999. The Songwriters Hall of Fame granted him the Sammy Cahn Lifetime Achievement Award in 2002. He was awarded the Billboard Century Award in 2004. In 2006, Wonder was inducted to the Michigan Walk of Fame. He was honored as a United Nations Messenger of Peace in 2009. Wonder also received the President Medal of Freedom in 2014. Stevie Wonder married Syreeta Wright in 1970. They got divorced two years later. Wonder
dated his secretary, Yolanda Simons in 1975. Wonder and Simons had a daughter the same year named Aisha Morris. Wonder’s “Isn’t She Lovely?” was inspired by Aisha. They also had a son in 1977 named Keita.
Wonder married fashion designer, Kai Millard Morris, in 2001. They had two sons together, Kailand and Mandla. They separated in 2012. Wonder married Tomeeka Robyn Bracy in 2017, and they have two children.

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