Guide Note

Stevie Wonder is a legendary R&B; musician, record producer and multi-instrumentalist whose career has spanned over four decades and included more than 30 Top-10 hits and 25 Grammy Awards.

Fast Facts

1. Born: May 13, 1950
2. Name: Stevland Hardaway Judkins
3. Blind since infancy
4. Berry Gordy signed Wonder to Motown Records in 1962
5. Grammy Awards: 25
6. Academy Awards: 1
7. Appeared as a guest performer and judge on American Idol
8. Performed at the 2008 Democratic National Convention

Born premature, a malfunctioning incubator caused Wonder to lose sight in both of his eyes. Despite the setback, he became an accomplished musician at an early age and was signed to Berry Gordy's Motown Records at the age of 12. Dubbed "Little Stevie Wonder", he had his first hit at the age of 13 and went on to write a number of hit songs during the 1960's - both for himself and other artists on the Motown label - inlcuding the Smokey Robinson hit "Tears of a Clown".

After gaining more freedom and creative control over his music, Wonder released a string of classic albums - including 1972's Talking Book which featured the crossover Pop hit "Superstition". A number of hit songs and a stint as the opening act for The Rolling Stones helped broaden his appeal and increased his popularity among Rock fans as well as R&B; fans.

The 1980s saw Stevie Wonder release some of the most commercially successful albums of his career, as well as an increase in his charity work and public appearances. In 1984, the hit single "I Just Called to Say I Love You" became a #1 hit in the U.S. and U.K.

While Wonder's musical output has slowed in the last few decades, he has continued to be a presence in the world of music, having recently been featured as a guest performer and judge on the hit television show American Idol.

Stevie Wonder Gershwin Prize | Stevie Wonder Democratic Convention | Funkadelic | Curtis Mayfield | Al Green | The Beatles | The Jackson 5 | Marvin Gaye | Sam Cooke | Diana Ross | The Temptations | Smokey Robinson | Ray Charles | American Idol | Isaac Hayes | Motown Records | Stevie Wonder Songs in the Key of Life