UB Black Music Month Spotlight: The Unprecedented Stevie Wonder

Black Music Month is UB‘s favorite month of the year! We have some great features and interview pieces coming this month, so stay tuned!

Today we spotlight the legendary Stevie Wonder, who was born Steveland Morris in Saginaw, Michigan in 1950. Stevie Wonder enters his sixth decade as one of the most prolific artists in music history, delivering 35 U.S. albums, 28 major studio releases and with album sales totaling more than 72 million units.

The singer/songwriter has scored more than 30 Top Ten Hits, 11 #1 Pop singles, winning 23 Grammys (and a Lifetime Achievement Grammy in ’96) and a host of other awards, including, Billboard’s 2004 Century Award.

His contribution to worldwide social and political change is just as impressive, with Stevie Wonder championing the effort to make Martin Luther King‘s birthday a national holiday, as well as becoming a driving force behind 1985‘s USA For Africa campaign with “We Are The World.”

Only a teen when Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was killed, Stevie Wonder, was nevertheless profoundly affected by his death and the reasons that prompted it.

He announced to the crowd in Atlanta in 1979 at one of the rallies he regularly performed at across the nation in support of making King‘s birthday a national holiday: “If we cannot celebrate a man who died for love, then how can we say we believe in it? It is up to me and you.” Stevie already had the song; the dream was so real for him. As he told Coretta Scott King that same year about his “Happy Birthday” song to Martin, “I had a dream about this song. And I imagined in this dream I was doing this song. We were marching-with petition signs to make for Dr. King’s birthday to become a national holiday.” That song became an anthem and rally call at the shows that not only he performed at but others as well.

Honored at the 22nd Kennedy Center Honors in 1999, President Clinton remarked: “In so many ways (Wonder) has helped to compose the remaining passages of Dr. King’s legacy.” But it is Stevie Wonder‘s songwriting legacy that has inexorably connected him to the world. From Motown prodigy to groundbreaking innovator, he has always believed in music as a transformational force.

His mind bending fusion of innovative beats and ear-to-the street lyrical sensibilities single-handedly revitalized American songwriting in the ’70’s. He forged his diverging styles into a trademark sound, putting his musical signature on an epic quartet of albums that would change music forever.

By decade’s end, Stevie Wonder had garnered a record 15 Grammys, as well as numerous other awards. He was now cited by critics and fans alike as, arguably, the most important songwriter of his generation. The songs tethered during this era, from “Superstition,” and “You Are The Sunshine Of My Life,” to “Living In The City,” from “Higher Ground,” to “You Haven’t Done Nothin’,” from “Boogie On Reggae Woman,” to “I Wish” and “Sir Duke,” confirmed his status as a national treasure.

In 1982, the greatest hits of the all-grown-up, socially conscious Stevie Wonder of the ‘70s were brought together, along with four new songs, to create the double album Stevie Wonder’s “Original Musiquarium 1.” Not surprisingly, that album shot to #1 on the R&B chart, #4 on the pop chart and went gold. Today, it is an essential album of the ‘70s, of urban music, and of Stevie Wonder.

Stevie Wonder’s “Original Musiquarium 1” features 10 #1 R&B hits among its 16 selections. Each of his seven albums from 1972 to 1980 is represented. The four new songs at the time spawned three new hits–“That Girl” was #1 R&B/#4 pop, “Do I Do” (with Dizzy Gillespie on trumpet) was #2 R&B/#13 pop and “Ribbon In The Sky” was #10 R&B. The other new entry was “Front Line.”

He continued his hit making journey in the decades to follow, penning, among other classics, his 1982 collaboration with Paul McCartney, “Ebony And Ivory,” which remained #1 for seven weeks. 1984’s “The Woman In Red” soundtrack produced the enduring classic “I Just Called To Say I Love You,” yet another #1 hit that netted him an Academy Award and Grammy nod.

Stevie took the coveted Oscar home, with some controversy. In his acceptance speech at the awards Stevie dedicated it to the then imprisoned black South African leader, Nelson Mandela. This resulted in Stevie Wonder’s Music being banned in South Africa.

That same year Stevie played harmonica on the Chaka Khan hit “I Feel For You,” which also sampled his “Fingertips” and on Dizzy Gillespie‘s “Closer To The Source.” He also appeared on Rockwells album, and contributed to the soundtrack of the Motown movie, “The Last Dragon,” and the opening track, “Feel It” on the British Trio Feelabilia‘s debut album.

Stevie also wrote two tracks, “Do I” and “Everything’s Coming Up Roses” for Eddie Murphy‘s first album of songs. The Eurythmics invited him to add a harmonica solo to their song “There Must be An Angel (Playing With My Heart)” which would be a UK #1 smash and a top 20 US single. And he contributed the song “I Do Love You” to the Beach Boys eponymous album.

“In Square Circle” was released in 1985. Which featured the #1 pop hit “Part-Time Lover.” The album also featured “Go Home” and the classic “Overjoyed.”

In 1986 Stevie teamed up with Dionne Warwick, Elton John and Gladys Knight to record a song for AIDS charity, “That’s What Friends Are For.” The single topped the charts and won a Grammy for Best Pop Performance By A Duo or Group category.

With the release of “Characters,” Stevie Wonder wanted to explore the nature of life and the various characters that go to make up people and their relationships. Michael Jackson is featured on the track “Get It.”

In 1989 he was inducted into the Rock ‘N Roll Hall Of Fame along side none other than the Rolling Stones. As if to prove even Stevie Wonder‘s rock roots had come full circle – the Stones were the only band he chose to tour with when debuting his breakthrough masterpiece, “Superstition” in 1972.

Stevie Wonder in 1991 recorded, the poetic soundtrack to Spike Lee‘s sixth film, “Jungle Fever.” The album featured the beautiful ballad “These Three Words.”

After Spike screened the film for Stevie, he put his next album “Conversation Piece” on hold and locked himself up in the studio over the course of a few weeks because there was a deadline. Stevie stated; “I knew there was a deadline. I knew the story of the film and what I was dealing with. I liked the fact that it was going to be a controversial film. But in that controversy, there’s going to be conversation and food for thought. I liked that.”

In April of 1992 Whitney Houston released “We Didn’t Know,” written by and featuring Stevie Wonder, as the sixth and final single from “I’m Your Baby Tonight.” It was an R&B-only release and went on to reach #20 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. Whitney and Stevie performed the song live on The Arsenio Hall Show.

Stevie Wonder released his long awaited “Conversation Piece” in 1995, which featured the beautiful ballad “For Your Love.” That same year Stevie collaborated with Babyface when they wrote and performed “How Come, How Long” for Babyface’s “The Day” album.

The ’90’s also brought other exciting opportunities to Stevie, with his influence on the new breed of hip hop artists evident when Coolio fused his “Pastime Paradise,” for his 1995 smash “Gangsta’s Paradise.” Countless more hip hop stars would pay homage to Stevie, including Public Enemy and Jay-Z, citing his tremendous influence over the genre, and morphing other Stevie Wonder nuggets into revamped hip hop gems.

Stevie Wonder Albums Discography!

1962 – The Jazz Soul of Little Stevie Wonder
1962 – Tribute To Uncle Ray
1963 – Pre-Recorded Live: 12 Year Old Genius
1963 – With A Song In My Heart
1963 – Workout Stevie, Workout
1964 – Stevie At The Beach
1965 – Stevie Wonder
1966 – Up-Tight (Everything’s Alright)
1966 – Down To Earth
1967 – I Was Made To Love Her
1967 – Someday At Christmas
1968 – Greatest Hits
1968 – Tamla-Motown Festival, Tokyo ’68 (Japan Only)
1968 – Eivets Rednow…Alfie
1968 – For Once In My Life
1969 – My Cherie Amour
1970 – Stevie Wonder Live
1970 – Signed Sealed Delivered
1970 – ‘Live’ At The Talk Of The Town (U.K. Only)
1971 – Where I’m Comin’ From
1971 – Stevie Wonder’s Greatest Hits, Volume 2
1972 – Music Of My Mind
1972 – Talking Book
1973 – Innervisions
1974 – Fulfillingness’ First Finale

1976 – Songs In The Key Of Life (2LP)

Two years in the making, “Songs In The Key Of Life” is a groundbreaking sonic masterpiece that brilliantly brings together Stevie Wonder’s genius for pop music, his bold experimentation and his lyrical humanitarian concerns. Released on the Tamla label by Motown in late September 1976, the 21-song album remains an immeasurable influential recording.

“Songs In The Key Of Life” is the first album by an American artist, and the first double-album, to debut at #1 on Billboard’s Pop Album Chart. The album won the Grammy for Album of the Year; he also won for Producer of the Year; Best Pop Vocal Performance, Male; and Best R&B Vocal Performance, Male. The latter was awarded for “I Wish,” the first single from the album, which hit #1 Pop and R&B. “Sir Duke,” the follow-up single, was #1 on both charts as well, while “Another Star” and “As” were each Top 40 hits on the Pop and R&B charts; “Another Star” was also a top 3 club chart hit. 

Among the album’s many other notable tracks, “Isn’t She Lovely” was a hit without being released as a single; “Pastime Paradise” became the basis of Coolio’s 1995 rap hit “Gangsta’s Paradise,” a #1 hit in many countries worldwide. A cover of “As,” by George Michael and Mary J. Blige, was a top 5 hit in the U.K. in 1999. That same year, “I Wish” was prominently sampled in the #1 hit by Will Smith, “Wild Wild West.”

Songs In The Key Of Life, with Stevie Wonder and his band Wonderlove accompanied by all-star musicians and singers, is #56 on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of “500 Greatest Albums of All Time.” It is one of the few albums to be awarded Diamond status by the RIAA, for sales of more than ten million copies in the U.S.

1977 – Looking Back (a.k.a. Anthology) (3LP)
1979 – Journey Through The Secret Life Of Plants (2LP)
1980 – Hotter Than July
1982 – Stevie Wonder’s Original Musiquarium (2LP)
1984 – The Woman In Red (Soundtrack)
1985 – In Square Circle
1987 – Characters
1991 – Jungle Fever (Soundtrack)
1995 – Conversation Peace
1995 – Natural Wonder (2CD)
1996 – Stevie Wonder Song Review: A Greatest Hits Collection (2CD)
1999 – At The Close of a Century (4CD)
2005 – A Time To Love

The new millennium found music fans marveling at Stevie Wonder‘s incredible staying power, acknowledging the brilliance of his 40-plus year career with a slew of awards.

Inducted into the Songwriter’s Hall Of Fame in 2002 and received the BET Walk of Fame award, he was the first African American to be awarded the Johnny Mercer Award in 2004, in recognition of a lifetime of outstanding creative works. At the end of the year he was presented with Billboard‘s highest honor for creative achievement, The Billboard Century Award, whose past honorees include George Harrison, Joni Mitchell, and John Mellencamp, among others.

In 2003, Rolling Stone magazine cited four Stevie Wonder albums in their list of the 500 Greatest Albums Of All Time, including “Innervisions” (#23) and “Songs In The Key Of Life” (#56).

In 2005, Stevie released his critically acclaimed album “A Time for Love.” “My thing has never been about creating music on some sort of schedule,” stated Stevie. “When creating music you have to live life – be inspired by life – to create experiences that are worth sharing with the world. A Time To Love is saying that there is a need, now, more than ever, to bring love back into the forefront.” Stevie won a Grammy for that album, for the single “From the Bottom of My Heart.”

On July 7 2009, Stevie performed “Never Dreamed You’d Leave In Summer” and “They Won’t Go When I Go” at the Staples Center for his friend Michael Jackson‘s memorial service.

Stevie Wonder was the recipient of the 2014 Presidential Medal of Freedom, presented by President Barack Obama.

In 2020 Stevie released two new songs via his label So What the Fuss Records, entitled “Where is Our Love Song” and “Can’t Put it In The Hands of Fate.”

Just last month PJ Morton released “Be Like Water” featuring Stevie Wonder & Nas.

Stevie Wonder accepted an honorary degree last month from Wayne State University. Two miles south of Motown’s Hitsville, U.S.A., the 71-year-old star took the stage at the Wayne State Fieldhouse to be presented his doctor of humane letters by the WSU Board of Governors.

Take a Trip Down Memory Lane with Some of Stevie’s Classics!