Stevie Wonder

Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder

Stevie Wonder is one of most highly acclaimed singers of all times. His melodious voice became the hallmark of sensational masterpieces all over the world. Not only has his voice become the staunch icon of soft music but his spiritual endeavor of uplifting himself from a physical handicap has been appreciated by the greatest of leaders, music play writers and even harsh critics.The magical musician was born in 1950 in a small town in Michigan. During his premature birth, he was found to have a retina disorder that was to make him blind for the rest of his remaining life. Though his sense of sight was diminished, this was certainly not the case with his sense of achievement and sense of music. He was fascinated by music and all the beautiful fragrances of instruments. Soon after his birth his family migrated to Detroit and Steve began his education career at the Michigan School for the Blind. He was fascinated by sound and started learning the piano as well as other instruments. The young pianist immediately became a fan at the local churn quires and an imminent student at his school. His fascination for music as well as songs lit the light in his life. His commitment and energy had no limitations. He started playing in all sorts of concerts and eventually was successful in garnering a local fan club.

With his music prowess spreading like wild fire, his fame finally caught the eyes of Motown. Mowtown Records CEO Berry Gordy signed little Steve and labeled his first record as Little Stevie Wonder.His major hit "fingertips" came out in 1963 that was taken from a live recording from a local Motown Town performance. It was a magnificent scene to enjoy indeed. Here was this little kid masterminding the amalgamation of music rendering from vocals, bongs and the harmonica all at one rhymic go. The drum beat was being performed by the then young Marvin Gaye. Fingertips became an all time hit surpassing the expectations of millions and eventually ended up being the # 1 hit on the US pop charts.

Fingertips became the harbinger for all the upcoming achievements of this young performer. The mid and late 1960's saw Stevie grow into a more robust and energetic character full of meaning and life. His songs were charismatic and able to touch different masses all in one go. "Uptight (Everything's Alright)", "With a Child's Heart", and "Blowin' in the Wind" are just a few that became hits in those golden years. Much of his success grew with these songs hitting national level. People were simply crazy for this rising star. His albums were being sold like hot cakes and his name becoming a symbolic representation of simplicity, originality and solace.

Along with the successful swing years in his life, Stevie Wonder also had a fair share of losses and songs that never reached the famous accolade stature of his predecessor songs. In 1968, he recorded an album of instrumental jazz tracks under the title "Eivets Rednow", which is "Stevie Wonder" spelled backwards. The album failed to get much attention. By the 1970's arriving, the musician started venturing into song writing and producer of his single. "I Was Made to Love Her", "For Once in My Life", "My Cherie Amour", and "Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours" are all the lyrics of this maestro. During his years, Stevie eventually grew from a solo performer to being a part of a band that included Minnie Riperton, Deniece Williams, Lynda Laurence, and Syreeta Wright. Stevie later on married Wright but the marriage soon ended up as a divorce several months later.

Years of being in the music industry culminated Stevie Wonder into a definitive masterpiece. His songs have cemented him in the hearts of millions and his records have ensured his presence till all eternity to come. He was very successful in amalgamating what he learnt from Motown School with new and energetic experiences. He was and still is one of the few musicians in the world that virtually plays all the instruments on stage. His music has been on love and understating. Stevie Wonder has also been known as a true philanthropist supporting the legendary Martin Luther King Jr. and Mahatma Gandhi. His views were always about peace and prosperity and led several large music events in support of international prosperity and tranquility in the region.His music was possessed by the imagination of a man who could not see. During his early music years, his contract with Motown was not able to allow him to experiment. His later years changed all that. He became the sole producer of his own music originating songs and music that were full of imagination and bizarre sounds. He was an original in regards to mixing various songs and creating music from a variety of different instruments. This truly was an art that Steve Wonder could only do. I guess through his eyes he was able to see the world.

But if there is only a hand picked collection of this prodigious maestro, "Part Time Lover" would be among the top ten. This song captivated audiences and was a requested song every time Stevie Wonder played live. Another great is "Shoo-Be-Doo-Be-Doo-Da-Day" that was released in 1968. You Haven't Done Nothin'," "I Wish," and "Sir Duke" also sold a million copies each. Though the list can go on and on, these singles became virtually sung on the lips of millions. And this will still remain a common practice as long as soft rock is alive.Stevie Wonder also made duet songs that make the chart. In 1988 duets with Michael Jackson ("Get It") and Julio Iglesias ("My Love") kept the audiences and fans inquisitive of what Stevie was capable of doing. The stardom and recognition was not all that life had in store for this maestro. He was also inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989 and also earned a Lifetime Achievement Grammy. In 1995, Stevie Wonder was awarded the Nelson Mandela Courage Award.