Stevie Wonder (b.1950,) originally Steveland Judkins Morris, is an American soul, pop, and rock singer and multi-instrumentalist. Blind since birth, he was a child prodigy who evolved into one of the most creative musical figures of the late 20th century.
Born a premature baby in Saginaw, Michigan, Wonder was blinded perpetually by receiving too much oxygen in the incubator. He played the harmonica early and was signed to Motown Records in 1961. His first album, Little Stevie Wonder, was an immediate success.
Most of Wonder’s early recordings followed the orthodox Motown sound, but ‘Where I’m Coming From’ (1971) moved towards progressive rock. During the 1970s, he became one of the most proficient users of synthesizer technology. He developed musically to the point where he was widely regarded as one of the most important popular composers of the era.
Wonder studied composition at the University of Southern California. His classic albums include Talking Book (1972,) Innervisions (1973,) Songs in the Key of Life (1976,) and Hotter than July (1980.) He produced such hits as “Superstition,” “Ebony and Ivory” (with Paul McCartney,) and “I Just Called to Say I Love You.” A Time 2 Love (2005) highlighted a new maturity of composition and performance.
Biographies include John Swenson’s Stevie Wonder (1986) and Martin E Horn’s Stevie Wonder: Career of a Rock Legend (1999.)
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Stevie Wonder
Eyes lie if you ever look into them for the character of the person.
—Stevie Wonder
Topics: Eyes
You can’t base your life on other people’s expectations.
—Stevie Wonder
Topics: Expectation
Heaven help the roses if the bombs begin to fall.
—Stevie Wonder
Just because a man lacks the use of his eyes doesn’t mean he lacks vision.
—Stevie Wonder
Topics: Foresight, Perspective, Forethought, Vision
We all have ability. The difference is how we use it.
—Stevie Wonder
Sometimes, I feel I am really blessed to be blind because I probably would not last a minute if I were able to see things.
—Stevie Wonder
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