The incredible life and music of Stevie Wonder

Stevie Wonder has gone from a teenage soul prodigy, through to adventurous 70s funkateer and beyond, with pop music has massively benefitting from the colossal contributions of his music. The soul legend, who graced us with a performance at the 2023 GRAMMYs, is best known for his huge hits, 'Happy Birthday', 'Superstition' and 'Isn't She Lovely'.

A hugely successful career for Stevie started before he was even a teenager, and he's subsequently become one of the most celebrated artists of modern times. A lyrical genius, smooth vocals and incredible musicianship, his songs have become classics - and rightly so!

With a colourful personal life and a legendary career, Stevie Wonder has lived a life of only one in a million, and his personal experiences have provided the inspiration of some of the most beautiful and loved songs in the world.

We've got the low down on everything from how Stevie Wonder's career started to the loves of his life. Read on to find out about the man behind the music...

Who is Stevie Wonder?

Put simply, Stevie Wonder is one the most important figures in music, not just in R&B but also pop music in its broadest sense. Be it his earliest forays with Motown, his pioneering 70s output, or the pop music that followed, Stevie Wonder’s songs are characterised by an unmistakable sense of joy and positivity, even when tackling serious social and racial issues.

Stevie Wonder's real name

Stevie Wonder was born Stevland Hardaway Judkins.

Has Stevie Wonder always been blind?

Born six weeks premature, it’s been speculated that his blindness was caused by excessive oxygen exposure when he was placed in an incubator. It was complications due to this that mean he's been blind from his very early days. Stevie has retinopathy of prematurity which is a condition that causes the retinas to detach and ultimately leave the person blind.

How old is Stevie Wonder?

Born on 13th May 1950, Stevie Wonder is currently 74-years-old.

Where was Stevie Wonder born?

Stevie Wonder was born in Saginaw, Michigan in the United States and moved to Detroit when his parents divorced. Stevie grew up in Detroit and later went to the Michigan School for the Blind.

Stevie Wonder's parents

It was perhaps always sure Stevie would be a musician. Stevie's father was called Calvin Judkins but it was his mother, Lula Mae Hardaway, who was a singer/songwriter and encouraged her son to sing in the local choir and to play instruments like the piano, harmonica and the drums.

Stevie's piano talents

From a young age, Stevie Wonder played a number of instruments including the piano. As a result, Stevie has been hailed one of the most talented piano performers of all time and songs like 'I Wish' and 'Higher Ground' have become firm favourites amongst a mature piano players when they fancy giving the keys a little tinkle.

What was Stevie's first song?

While he's known for 'Happy Birthday' and 'Superstition' most, Stevie Wonder was a child star and was known as Little Stevie Wonder back then. Stevie Wonder's first song was called 'I Call It Pretty Music But The Old People Call It The Blues- Part 1' and was released in 1962.

The following year, in 1963, Stevie Wonder would get his first Number 1 with the track 'Fingertips - Part 1'.

As a young child, he began to sing in his church’s choir and by the age of nine he’d learnt how to play piano, drums and harmonica. He was discovered by Motown two years later, re-named Little Stevie Wonder and released his first two albums, ‘A Tribute To Uncle Ray’ and ‘The Jazz Soul Of Little Stevie’ at the age of 12.

His breakthrough came with the 1963 live album, ‘The 12 Year Old Genius’. Featuring the utterly astonishing single, ‘Fingertips’, it topped the US singles chart. Stevie went on to score more hits in the 60s, including ‘Uptight (Everything’s Alright)’ and ‘Signed, Sealed, Delivered I’m Yours’ as well as co-writing hits such as Smokey Robinson And The Miracles’ ‘Tears Of A Clown’.

Are Stevie Wonder and Ray Charles related?

They're not, although Little Stevie Wonder's second studio album is called 'Tribute To Uncle Ray' which was a plot by Stevie's management to associate him with the success of fellow blind African American artist Ray Charles.

LISTEN: To Stevie Wonder sing 'Signed, Sealed, Delivered I’m Yours':

Was Stevie Wonder successful in the 70s?

The early 70s saw Stevie Wonder take greater control over his work and music. No longer content with simply being a singles artist whose albums contained B-sides and filler, he held out for a more favourable contract with Motown. Once secured, Stevie Wonder truly bloomed as a singer, songwriter, musician and producer.

Though 1972’s ‘Music Of My Mind’ wasn’t a huge commercial success, it found Stevie Wonder forging ahead in a new direction with his pioneering synthesiser work. This coalesced with ‘Talking Book’, released later the same year, which contained the smash hits ‘Superstition’ and ‘You Are The Sunshine Of My Life’. Touring with The Rolling Stones also ensured that his music reached a wider audience.

LISTEN: Stevie Wonder's brilliant song 'Superstition':

His next album, ‘Innervisions’, took things even further. Released in 1973, it housed the hits ‘Higher Ground’, ‘Living For The City’ and ‘Don’t You Worry ‘Bout A Thing’, as well as the ballad ‘Golden Lady’. It would win the GRAMMY Award for Album Of The Year.

197\4 saw the release of ‘Fulfillingness’ First Finale’ and more hits in the shape of ‘ You Haven’t Done Nothin’’ and ‘Boogie On Reggae Woman’.

The landmark album ‘Songs In The Key Of Life’ followed in 1977 and the singles ‘Isn’t She Lovely’ and ‘Sir Duke’ were instant classics that still resonate to this very day.

Was Stevie Wonder successful in the 80s?

While the new decade found Stevie Wonder moving into a more pop-orientated direction with hits such as ‘Master Blaster (Jammin’)’ and the ballad ‘Lately’, 1981’s ‘Happy Birthday’ was instrumental in the successful campaign to have the birthday of civil rights activist Martin Luther King, Jr, become a national holiday. You can find these tracks on the ‘Hotter Than July’ album.

LISTEN: To Stevie Wonder sing 'Lately':

March 2023 marked 42-years since the release of 'Lately', with many fans of the singer celebrating the anniversary. One wrote: 42 years ago today (March 13, 1981), Stevie’s “Lately” was released as the third single off Hotter Than July.

'The song is one of the most beautiful ballads ever written by Stevie Wonder. It tells the story of a love he feels dying but just wishes his premonitions miss.'

The mid-1980s saw Stevie Wonder hit his commercial zenith. The single, ‘I Just Called To Say I Love You’, was lifted from the romcom, The Woman In Red, and became his biggest hit as it climbed to the top slot all over the world.

Stevie Wonder's biggest songs

With such a long career in music, there are a ton of Stevie Wonder songs out there. Popular early days tracks like 'Uptight (Everything's Alright)' and 'Blowin' In The Wind' are considered to be the talent of someone far older than Little Stevie Wonder actually was.

In 1968, Stevie Wonder released 'For Once In My Life' which has become a worldwide favourite and 'Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours' followed in 1970. Classics such as 'Superstition' and 'Sir Duke' also came along in the 70s and the 80s saw 'Master Blaster', 'Happy Birthday' and 'Go Home'.

Stevie Wonder's songs have been the background music to so many special moments in people's lives that, ultimately, the best Stevie Wonder song is down to you.

Take a look through some of Stevie Wonder's best songs:

Who is Stevie Wonder's drummer?

Stanley Randolph is the drummer for Stevie Wonder, also playing for the likes of The Jacksons, Christina Aguilera, and TLC.

Has Stevie Wonder done any collaborations?

Given his own prodigious output, you’d think he might have wanted a break from time to time, but Stevie Wonder has worked with a whole host of the great and the good from Planet Pop.

He’s contributed harmonica playing to Chaka Khan’s cover of Prince’s ‘I Feel For You’, Eurythmics’ ‘There Must Be An Angel (Playing With My Heart)’ and Elton John’s ‘I Guess That’s Why They Call It The Blues’, as well as John Denver’s ‘If Ever’ and Barbra Streisand’s ‘Can’t Help Lovin’ That Man’.

And let’s not forget ‘Ebony And Ivory’, his 1982 Number 1 with Paul McCartney. He also duetted with Michael Jackson on ‘Bad’s ‘Just Good Friends’, and Julio Iglesias on ‘My Love’.

More recently he’s worked with Snoop Dogg, Raphael Saadiq, Mark Ronson and Ariana Grande. In 2016, Stevie Wonder and Ariana Grande dropped their collaboration called 'Faith', which was the soundtrack to animated movie Sing starring Jennifer Hudson, Reese Witherspoon and Jennifer Saunders among others.

WATCH: Stevie Wonder and Paul McCartney perform 'Ebony And Ivory':

He also got together with Elton John for his 2021 album 'The Lockdown Sessions' and they created the song 'Finish Line' together. Speaking about the collaboration, Elton said: "He's just other worldly, he's got more talent than all of us put together. So it was a real honour and he's just the most wonderful person and it was just a thrill for me, as you can imagine."

The touching music video for 'Finish Line' was released in March 2022, with home videos of life's big moments including milestones from birth to retirement, merged with clips from the Covid-19 pandemic and videos of Elton and Stevie through the years.

Watch 'Finish Line' by Elton John and Stevie Wonder:

Stevie Wonder also worked with Eddie Vedder on his 2022 'Earthling' album and played the harmonica on his track 'Try'.

What is Stevie Wonder doing now?

In 2019, Stevie Wonder played London's Hyde Park, having previously performed at the same concert in 2016 and 2010. As well as playing Hyde Park in the past, Stevie Wonder also played the Calling Festival in London in 2014, Glastonbury in 2010 and dates in London, Manchester and Birmingham in 2008.

In 2020, Stevie performed for the One World: Together At Home broadcast, curated by Lady Gaga, in support of healthcare workers on the frontline during the Covid-19 pandemic and the World Health Organisation.

New music in 2020

Stevie released two new songs in October 2020 - 'Can't Put It in the Hands of Fate' featuring Rapsody, Cordae, Chika and Busta Rhymes and 'Where Is Our Love Song'. The release of the songs coincided with the VP Presidential Debate in the US.

GRAMMYs 2023

In 2023, Stevie Wonder performed at the GRAMMYs, on 6th February, alongside Chris Stapleton, singing his legendary track 'Higher Ground'. Celebs in the audience could be seen dancing as the pair delighted the audience playing the boppy track.

WATCH: Stevie Wonder and Chris Stapleton perform 'Higher Ground' at the 2023 GRAMMYs

Stevie Wonder's benefit concert for the California wild fires

In 2018, after the devastating wild fires in California, which destroyed many homes and businesses, Steve Wonder revealed that money raised at his annual benefit concert would be donated to help those affected by the fires.

Speaking about the event, Stevie said, "Giving back, I think it's very important for us who have been fortunate to do something for those less fortunate."

Is Stevie Wonder married?

Stevie Wonder has been married three times. Stevie Wonder's first marriage was to Motown singer Syreeta Wright and the pair were married for two years before divorcing in 1972.

It would be almost 30 years later when Stevie married again, this time to fashion designer Kai Millard in 2001. Kai Millard is a huge success in her own right, having designed for the likes of Michelle Obama, Rihanna and Oprah as well as writing for magazines such as Vogue and Harper's Bazaar. Stevie Wonder and Kai Millard separated in 2009 and officially divorced in 2012.

Stevie Wonder's third marriage was to Tomeeka Bracy in 2017. Despite a 25-year age gap, the pair remain happily married.

Does Stevie Wonder have kids?

Stevie Wonder has nine children by various different women. Aisha Morris is Stevie Wonder's first child, born in 1975 to Yolanda Simmons, and is the inspiration behind his song 'Isn't She Lovely?'. Stevie then went on to have a son, Keita, with Yolanda Simmons in 1977.

Stevie Wonder then had a son called Mumtaz with Melody McCulley in 1983, later welcoming a son called Kwame and a daughter called Sophia with a woman who has never been identified in public.

While married to Kai Millard, Stevie Wonder became a father to two sons called Kailand - who often drums for his father on tour - and Mandla, who was born on Stevie's 55th birthday. Stevie Wonder's eighth and ninth children are to his current wife Tomeeka and while the name of his first daughter with Tomeeka is unknown, his ninth child is called Nia.

Is Stevie Wonder vegan?

He is! When married to his first wife, Stevie Wonder became a fan of transitional meditation and initially became a vegetarian in line with his spiritual beliefs, later becoming a vegan.

We love Stevie Wonder's music on Greatest Hits Radio 60s, make sure you tune in to hear his songs!

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