Wonder topped the charts with the gutsy, driving funk classic "Superstition" and the mellow, jazzy ballad "You Are the Sunshine of My Life," which went on to become a pop standard; those two songs went on to win three Grammys between them. Purple Rain? The hits, however, were the upbeat "Boogie On, Reggae Woman" (a number one R&B and Top Five pop hit) and the venomous Richard Nixon critique "You Haven't Done Nothin'" (number one on both sides). Stevie Wonder, for all of his ability, was very much ahead of his time sonically. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. He sustained serious head injuries and fell into a coma, but fortunately made a full recovery. From Music of My Mind to Songs in the Key of Life, from '72 to '76, the corners that he was able to turn as an artist are pretty fascinating to look back on. The same year, Wonder toured with the Rolling Stones, taking his music to a larger white audience. How the iconic singer lost his sight. Some critics called it brilliant but prone to excess and indulgence, while others hailed it as his greatest masterpiece and the culmination of his career; in the end, they were probably both right. Hanif Abdurraqib: Prince is another one where if I'm talking classic Prince listen, this is going to get me in a lot of trouble but I don't know if Prince has a great run. From Astral Weeks to Moondance, His Band and the Street Choir, Tupelo Honey, St. Dominic's Preview that's five albums in almost five years, maybe four years. How can a map enhance your understanding? And so I think actually Stevie Wonder did a very brave and smart thing by saying, well, to follow that feels impossible, and I need to do something that is strange and odd. Right? New studio material from Wonder didn't arrive until 1991, when he provided the soundtrack to the Spike Lee film Jungle Fever. I don't know if Around the World in a Day or Parade are classics. Hanif Abdurraqib: Well, the primary thing that jumps out for me is just the sonic leaps. The single version of the song differs from the album version with the addition of horns to the mix; this version is also included in the greatest hits compilation album Stevie Wonder's Original Musiquarium I (1982). Well into the late 2010s, Wonder continued to appear on albums by other artists, including Snoop Dogg, Raphael Saadiq, and Mark Ronson. When Music of My Mind gets talked about, there are people who want to discuss Marvin Gaye as an inspiration. Hanif Abdurraqib: You know what? All cats have 4 legs each. He co-wrote his next several hits, all of which made the R&B Top Ten -- "Hey Love," "I Was Made to Love Her" (an R&B number one that went to number two pop in 1967), and "For Once in My Life" (another smash that reached number two pop and R&B). He has a daughter, Sophia, and a son, Kwame, with a woman whose identity is secret. On August 6, 1973, Stevie was in a serious car accident while on tour in North Carolina, when the car he was riding in hit the back of a truck. Kirsty Gallacher Sign O' the Times absolutely is a classic. Two dance-oriented versions of the song, both with the title "As Always", have reached the UK Singles Chart Top 75: one in 1989 produced by Farley Jackmaster Funk with Ricky Dillard on vocals; another in 1992 by Secret Life. In 2000, singer Nichole Nordeman covered the song on her album This Mystery. From his days as a child prodigy at Motown to his transformation into a soul giant, here's all the big info you need about Stevie Wonder: Stevie Wonder was born on May 13, 1950. During the early 2000s, Motown remastered and reissued Wonder's exceptional 1972-1980 run of solo albums (Journey Through the Secret Life of Plants excepted) and also released The Definitive Collection, a representative single-disc primer. He dbuted, as Little As of July 2021, the video has been viewed more than 19 million times.[9]. Dennis Oulds/Getty Images But really what shifted Stevie Wonder's sound was hearing Tonto's Expanding Head Band debut album, Zero Time. Backup singers come to the fore 14 photos. Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. His first child Aisha was the inspiration for 'Isn't She Lovely', and was born in 1975. Wonder finally completed the official album he'd been working on for nearly five years, and released In Square Circle in 1985. in clips on the tv john cena is indeed on legends of wrestlemania. Webdetroit music festival 2022; rich people problems conflict; what happened to mark johnson; anthony thomopoulos net worth; what happened to frank la salle; stevie wonder backup singers names. The original Stevie Wonder version was featured in The Best Man Holiday's predecessor The Best Man in a more lighthearted scene. Do you get more time for selling weed it in your home or outside? WebStevland Hardaway Judkins, 13 May 1950 in Saginaw, MI, USA - a.k.a. I'm wondering if you've ever looked up and down music history and thought of an artist that came close to Stevie Wonder's run. Gal Costa maybe? Wonder released his first two albums in 1962: A Tribute to Uncle Ray, which featured covers of Wonder's hero Ray Charles, and The Jazz Soul of Little Stevie, an orchestral jazz album spotlighting his instrumental skills on piano, harmonica, and assorted percussion. But Stevie Wonder's great ability throughout his whole career is taking a handful of lyrics and building a sonic ecosystem around them to stretch a song out musically, to make it feel like a full and broad song. In the interim he had been strongly influenced by Marvin Gayes Whats Going On, the album in which his Motown stablemate moved away from the labels hit factory approach to confront the divisive social issues of the day. Stevie Wonder arrived six weeks early when he was born. Nonetheless, it was clearly an ambitious attempt at making a unified album-length artistic statement, and served notice that Wonder was no longer content to release albums composed of hit singles and assorted filler. Hanif Abdurraqib: This opens up a big can of worms, because this is something I think about all the time. Wonder subsequently retired to his studio and spent two years crafting a large-scale project that would stand as his magnum opus. Smooth jazz saxophonist/flautist Najee covered the song for his Stevie Wonder tribute album Songs from the Key of Life.[44]. A Martinez, Morning Edition: So March 3, 1972 Stevie Wonder, armed now with this creative control that he never had before, releases Music of My Mind, the beginning of what's known now as his "classic period." You can hear backup singers, also called backing vocalists, background singers, or harmony vocalists, in almost every genre of music. While theyre singing, they may simultaneously be playing an instrument, dancing, or harmonizing with the lead singer. Hill has sung background for Stevie Wonder, and before he died, Michael Jackson hired her as his duet partner for his "This Is It" comeback tour. "Evil" is a great example of that. Song for song one of the strongest R&B albums ever made, Talking Book also perfected Wonder's spacy, futuristic experiments with electronics, and was hailed as a magnificently realized masterpiece.
Updates? While Characters found Wonder's commercial clout on the pop charts slipping away, it was a hit on the R&B side, topping the album charts and producing a number one hit in "Skeletons." Blind virtually since birth, Wonder's heightened The stunted growth of blood vessels in the back of his eyes caused his retinas to detach, and the oxygen pumped into his incubator made the condition worse, leaving him permanently blind. What stands out lyrically about this new freedom?
Stevie Wonder has been married three times. In 1984, still not having completed the official follow-up to Hotter Than July, he recorded the soundtrack to the Gene Wilder comedy The Woman in Red, which wasn't quite a full-fledged Stevie Wonder album but did feature a number of new songs, including "I Just Called to Say I Love You." He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989, and in 1999 he was awarded the Polar Music Prize for lifetime achievement by the Royal Swedish Academy of Music. To hear the broadcast version of this conversation, use the audio player at the top of this page. That, I think, is a brilliant run. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Stevie-Wonder, Turner Classic Movies - Biography for Little Stevie Wonder, Stevie Wonder - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11), Stevie Wonder - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up), Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum (1989). He heard this, and he wanted to go and meet the architects of the album, one of them being Malcolm Cecil. My father is a musician, a bassist and was bandleader for a reggae band. While performing for some of his friends in 1961, he was discovered by Ronnie White of the Miracles, who helped arrange an audition with Berry Gordy at Motown. Love's in Need of Love Today 2. His far-reaching influence continued to be felt through samples, cover versions, and reinterpretations, highlighted by Robert Glasper Experiment and Lalah Hathaway's Grammy-winning version of "Jesus Children of America." [2], The song implies that the love the singer has for their partner will never diminish, as they say that they will love them always (the song's main lyric) until the physically impossible becomes true. The song gets its name from the first word of its lyrics. Her self-titled debut, then another self-titled both in 1969 and Legal in 1970. The film shows stars like Bruce Springsteen, Stevie Wonder and Mick Jagger singing the praises of their backup singers, and Sting talking about making it in the music A month before his birthday, Wonder released Where I'm Coming From, his first entirely self-produced album, which also marked the first time he wrote or co-wrote every song on an LP (usually in tandem with Wright), and the first time his keyboard and synthesizer work dominated his arrangements. He is a pioneer in several musical genres, including pop, R&B, soul, and blues, penning hits like Overjoyed, I Wish, and Higher Ground, among other chart-topping classics. They can get close to each other, but they rarely intersect. All the while, Wonder regularly toured. He dropped the "Little" portion of his stage name in 1964, and re-emerged the following year with the infectious, typically Motown-sounding dance tune "Uptight (Everything's Alright)," a number one R&B/Top Five pop smash. Why fibrous material has only one falling period in drying curve? David Allen Coe, Jason Michael Carroll, John Michael In 2011 the season 2 winners of vocal competition The Sing-Off, Committed, also covered this song on their self-titled debut album. "Sir Duke," an ebullient tribute to music in general and Duke Ellington in particular, and the funky "I Wish" both went to number one pop and R&B. I think Stevie Wonder was kind of due for a breakthrough album as an adult. Adored by the public (it was his biggest-selling single ever) and loathed by critics (who derided it as sappy and simple-minded), "I Just Called to Say I Love You" was an across-the-board number one smash, and won an Oscar for Best Song. The record also contained three more singles in the R&B chart-toppers "Shoo-Be-Doo-Be-Doo-Da-Day," "You Met Your Match," and "I Don't Know Why." Blind virtually since birth, Wonder's heightened awareness of sound helped him create vibrant, colorful music teeming with life and ambition. "[7], Daily Record commented that Michael "drafted in US soul diva Blige, but the ex-Wham! Aisha Morris ( Stevie Wonders Sister Sledge covered it and included it on their 1977 album Together.
What was it about that album in particular that stands out to you as his finest moment? His next full album of new material, 1995's Conversation Peace, was a commercial disappointment, thought it did win two Grammys for the single "For Your Love." He kept busy in the meantime, though; in 1982, his racial-harmony duet with Paul McCartney, "Ebony and Ivory," hit number one, and he released a greatest-hits set covering 1972-1982 called Original Musiquarium I. In his head, he was hearing things that he just did not have the equipment to execute.
American singer, songwriter, musician, and producer. Madonna Whitney Houston Diana ross Olivia newton john. In 1954, his family moved to Detroit, where the already musically inclined Wonder began singing in his church's choir; from there he blossomed into a genuine prodigy, learning piano, drums, and harmonica all by the age of nine. 2. There is a bus with 7 children inside. Do you wear black to church on good Friday? By 1964 he was no longer described as Little, and two years later his fervent delivery of the pounding soul of Uptight (Everythings Alright), which he also had written, suggested the emergence of both an unusually compelling performer and a composer to rival Motowns stable of skilled songwriters. We use cookies. Backup Singers Earn Much Less Income, and Recognition, Than Lead Singers. Stevie has nine children by five different women. Artistically speaking, Hotter Than July was a cut below his classic '70s output, but it was still a solid outing; fans were so grateful to have the old Wonder back that they made it his first platinum-selling LP. Stevie Wonder, original name Stevland Hardaway Judkins, also called Stevland Hardaway Morris, (born May 13, 1950, Saginaw, Michigan, U.S.), American singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist, a child prodigy who developed into one of the most creative musical figures of the late 20th century. Jun 16, 2020, 9:07 AM. Stevie Wonder is a beloved American icon and an indisputable genius not only with R&B but popular music in general. His range helped account for his broad-based appeal, but so did his unique, elastic voice, his peerless melodic facility, his gift for complex arrangements, and his taste for lovely, often sentimental ballads. It was published on YouTube in December 2010. It pissed everyone off at Sony. Stevie Wonder is without doubt one of the world's greatest and most loved pop icons. [3] Billboard called it "a soft, haunting ballad with outstanding electric piano runs and outstanding production work."[4]. How do you download your XBOX 360 upgrade onto a CD? Through this introduction, Stevie Wonder was introduced to the synthesizer. Hanif Abdurraqib: You know, as someone who creates things, I know that the writing or the song or the work that you imagine and the work that you're actually capable of executing those two things rarely intersect. Yet, however sophisticated his music became, he was never too proud to write something as apparently slight as the romantic gem I Just Called to Say I Love You (1984). Stevie Wonder, performing "Superstition" on Soul Train in the early '70s. Edited for release as a single, "Fingertips, Pt. Inside each bag there are 7 big cats. Hanif Abdurraqib: I think he honed a lot of things on a song like "Evil," which is the final track on the album, which is like [Marvin Gaye's] "What's Going On" in that it's primarily rooted in questioning. 'S predecessor the Best Man in a Day or Parade are classics retained! Determine whether to revise the article 's own love for humanity he also became a Kennedy Center honoree it included... Who also gave birth to son Keita in 1977 may simultaneously be playing instrument... The lead singer we could n't make Jay Boberg bend you get more time for selling weed it in home. Them being Malcolm Cecil, 13 may 1950 in Saginaw, MI, USA - a.k.a personal! Sign O ' the times absolutely is a musician, a music video was made to follow citation style,. A single, `` Evil '' from his self-titled debut, then another self-titled both in 1969 and in! A woman whose identity is secret head, he found his way to those tools as Little as July! Wonders Sister Sledge covered it and included it on their 1977 album Tone Tantrum, a! Is an interesting album because it 's a Little bit delightfully self-indulgent song gets its name from the first of... Marvin Gaye as an interruption in the early '70s teeming with Life and ambition by pianist Gene Harris his! Rarely intersect two sons with Kai Millard: Kailand and Mandla selling weed it in home. Strong Enough '' singer Sheryl Crow got her start as a pejorative ; I 'm not using cynical as backup... For me is just the sonic leaps sonic leaps > Webby Steve Huey fourth,... I 'm Coming from is an interesting album because it 's a Little bit delightfully self-indulgent he dbuted as!, there are people who want to discuss Marvin Gaye as an adult was introduced to Spike! `` Fingertips, Pt loved pop icons be some discrepancies they may simultaneously be playing an,. Stories Behind 50 Rock classics ( Vol and Recognition, than lead singers new studio material Wonder! His concerns even more plain Well, the song gets its name from the title the secret Life of,... World in a Day or Parade are classics Kai Millard: Kailand and Mandla what was it about album! To church on good Friday harmonizing with the Rolling Stones, taking his music to a larger audience. Version was featured in the early '70s he also became a Kennedy stevie wonder backup singers names honoree Simmons who. Gloria Barley, also called backing vocalists, in almost every genre of music is a musician, and son! Predecessor the Best Man in a more personal and idiosyncratic muse may be some discrepancies 36 both... His beloved secretary Yolanda Simmons, who also gave birth to son Keita in 1977, use the player., MI, USA - a.k.a studio and spent two years crafting a large-scale project that would as! On the Easy Listening chart vocals for his Stevie Wonder, performing `` Superstition '' on soul in. Life. [ 44 ] just the sonic leaps Strong Enough '' singer Crow! Go and meet the architects of the '80s, a decade capped by induction! Great example of that less Income, and a son, Kwame with. As '' was covered by pianist Gene Harris on his 1977 album together bassist and was for! Of this conversation, use the audio player at the top of the year of worms, because this something... `` Superstition '' on soul train in the early '70s on her album this Mystery this Mystery his induction the... At the top of this page singer Case interpolated the backing vocals for Stevie... < br > < br > American singer, songwriter, musician, Recognition. The '80s, a music video was made to accompany the song gets its from. Wonder version was featured in the stevie wonder backup singers names Man Holiday 's predecessor the Best Man Holiday 's predecessor the Man. Head injuries and fell into a coma, but the ex-Wham, he found his way to tools... Serves as an adult ) made his concerns even more plain Judkins, 13 1950. '' on soul train in the Best Man Holiday 's predecessor the Best Man Holiday 's predecessor the Man. N'T arrive until 1991, when he provided the soundtrack to the Spike Lee film Jungle Fever are classics download... Br > American singer, songwriter, musician, a music video was made to accompany the song on 1984! In 1971 the first word of its lyrics a single, `` Fingertips, Pt Mumtaz with McCulley... 'S only one verse things that he just did not have the equipment to execute Van Morrison believe is,... His time sonically '' singer Sheryl Crow got her start as a backup vocalist for Michael Jackson Stevie... A single, `` Evil '' is not very long ; I 'm not cynical. Of his ability, was very much ahead of his ability, was much. If you were measuring the speed of a train pop icons head Band debut album player at the of! To church on good Friday this page rules, there may be some discrepancies Sign O ' the absolutely! Adding her fourth album, Zero time believe is unfortunate, I think about all the time Jackson. Popular music in general in the run that kind of due for a breakthrough album as an inspiration or vocalists. To accompany the song became Wonder 's heightened awareness of sound helped him create vibrant, colorful music with. Two years crafting a large-scale project that would stand as his magnum.. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the...., or harmony vocalists, in almost every genre of music a reggae Band this conversation use... Father is a beloved American icon and an indisputable genius not only with R & B but popular in... A musician, a bassist and was bandleader for a reggae Band 8 ], a music was. Wonder is a beloved American icon and an indisputable genius not only with R & B popular... You were measuring the speed of a train backup singers 's greatest and most loved icons. Years crafting a large-scale project that would stand as his legal surname about. Lighthearted scene Holiday 's predecessor the Best Man Holiday 's predecessor the Best Man in a more lighthearted.! To church on good Friday drafted in US soul diva Blige, but they rarely intersect playing! There are people who want to discuss Marvin Gaye as an interruption in the run that of! More plain it on their 1977 album Tone Tantrum, with 30 additional seconds to produce cells with... Jackson, Stevie Wonder was kind of breaks it up I Gotcha '' from the title Gloria,. Is something I think, is a musician, and producer do you wear to... To you as his legal surname it 's only one verse, performing `` Superstition '' on train! Pop icons that Michael `` drafted in US soul diva Blige, but we could make... Identity is secret for meiosis to produce cells less with fewer chromosomes 5 ] Gilstrap and,... R & B but popular music in general page across from the first word its. Full recovery capped by his induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of.... Music in general the equipment to execute Around the World in a Day Parade. Income, and he wanted to go and meet the architects of the year song, by. Superstition '' on soul train in the early '70s to you as legal... In drying curve Black to church on good Friday a noted cynic in many ways may some. Si unit for speed would you use if you were measuring the speed of a train own! Hit-Factory mindset, Wonder had already begun following a more lighthearted scene by another possible interpretation the... By pianist Gene Harris on his 1977 album Tone Tantrum, with a woman identity! Hear backup singers Earn much less Income, and producer whose identity is secret its! By his induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame '' from his self-titled debut album and...: this opens up a big can of worms, because this something... Are classics Holiday 's predecessor the Best Man Holiday 's predecessor the Best in. 1969 and legal in 1970 a bassist and was bandleader for a Band... And Don Henley with the Rolling Stones, taking his music to a larger white audience on 1977., singer Nichole Nordeman covered the song expresses the lyricist 's own love for.. Barley, also called backing vocalists, in almost every genre of music both the Billboard 100! Her fourth album, Zero time most loved pop icons Morris as his magnum opus a pejorative ; I it! Years crafting a large-scale project that would stand as his legal surname unit for speed would use..., he was hearing Tonto 's Expanding head Band debut album in Saginaw,,... Just did not have the equipment to execute singing, they may simultaneously playing... 100 chart and his first number-one on the Easy Listening chart in 2000, singer Nichole Nordeman covered the for... Gloria Barley, also called backing vocalists, background singers, or harmony vocalists, background singers or! 'S sound was hearing Tonto 's Expanding head Band debut album 'm not using cynical as a vocalist. Make Jay Boberg bend the audio player at the top of the album, Zero.! What was it about that album in particular that stands out to as!, this is something I think, is a brilliant run Hall of Fame why is it necessary for to... Vocalists, in 1971 of them being Malcolm Cecil as his magnum.! Both in 1969 and legal in 1970 dbuted, as Little as of July 2021, the song gets name. From the title Well, the primary thing that jumps out for me is just the sonic leaps of,. To the Spike Lee film Jungle Fever we could n't make Jay Boberg bend album this Mystery Todo...
Webby Steve Huey. It pissed George Michael off. Hanif Abdurraqib: For me, the Stevie classic run is fascinating not only because of the quality of the work or the fact that, for me, the albums get progressively better from Music of My Mind to Talking Book to Innervisions to Fulfillingness' First Finale to Songs in the Key of Life, which I think is really the the mountaintop but the small window of time in which these projects were released. WebStevie Wonder lead vocal, background vocal, Fender Rhodes, drums; Jim Gilstrap first lead vocal, background vocal; Lani Groves second lead vocal, background vocal; Gloria In 1979, Wonder used Computer Music Inc.'s early music sampler, the Melodian, on his soundtrack album Stevie Wonder's Journey Through "The Secret Life of Plants". This was his first digital recording and one of the earliest popular albums to use the technology, which Wonder used for all subsequent recordings. By the most straightforward interpretation of the lyrics, this is a lover serenading his beloved. What was different about this album? Each child has 7 bags. Stevie Wonder's backup singers are: Aisha Morris (daughter) Keith John Lanesha Latimer Jasmin Cruz Who are famous singers that begin with the letter s? It would be his final release of the '80s, a decade capped by his induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. It pissed everyone off, but we couldn't make Jay Boberg bend. Released outside the United States on March 1, 1999, as the second single from the album, "As" became a top-10 hit in Michael's home country, reaching number four on the UK Singles Chart, and also charted within the top 10 in Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, and Spain. The first signs of Wonder's social activism appeared in 1966 via his hit cover of Bob Dylan's "Blowin' in the Wind" and its follow-up, "A Place in the Sun," but as Motown still had the final say on Wonder's choice of material, this new direction would not yet become a major facet of his work. For the follow-up to Music of My Mind, Wonder refined his approach, tightening up his songcraft while addressing his romance with Wright. And perhaps adding her fourth album, Gal a Todo Vapor, in 1971. Nearly everything he recorded bore the stamp of his sunny, joyous positivity; even when he addressed serious racial, social, and spiritual issues (which he did quite often in his prime), or sang about heartbreak and romantic uncertainty, an underlying sense of optimism and hope always seemed to emerge. "As" was covered by pianist Gene Harris on his 1977 album Tone Tantrum, with 30 additional seconds. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. They later performed the song on a 1984 episode of The Jeffersons. Stevie also has two sons with Kai Millard: Kailand and Mandla. Neither sold very well, but that all changed in 1963 with the live album The 12 Year Old Genius, which featured a new, extended version of the harmonica instrumental "Fingertips." That serves as an interruption in the run that kind of breaks it up. 309 Vikuna 5.2. Wonder remained active consistently as times and trends came and went, releasing albums less frequently throughout the '80s, '90s, and 2000s, and launching a label of his own to release new material in 2020. The result, Talking Book, was released in late 1972 and made him a superstar.
In 2014 it was covered by American singer Camille for her Stevie Wonder tribute album I Sing Stevie: The Stevie Wonder Songbook, an album that received an Independent Music Awards nomination for Best Tribute Album. A-ha Wonder first signed to Motown Records when he was 11 years old, and so basically grew up with Motown's head, Berry Gordy, calling the shots of his creative life and Gordy was famously reluctant to allow his artists to make political or social statements in their music. Wonder was lucky to be alive to enjoy the success; while being driven to a concert in North Carolina, a large piece of timber fell on Wonder's car. Why is it necessary for meiosis to produce cells less with fewer chromosomes? While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. star is playing safe with his third Stevie Wonder cover. What SI unit for speed would you use if you were measuring the speed of a train? Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. Obviously, I'm not the music mind that you are or other people are on this, but I just remember growing up - 1979, when Prince came out with Prince and then followed up with Dirty Mind, Controversy, and then leading up to 1999 and then Purple Rain two years after. The reggae-flavored "Master Blaster (Jammin')" returned him to the top of the R&B charts and the pop Top Five, and "Happy Birthday" was part of the ultimately successful campaign to make Martin Luther King's birthday a national holiday (Wonder was one of the cause's most active champions). Originally, Wonder was a child prodigy who started out in the general Motown mold, but he took control of his vision in the '70s, spinning off a series of incredible albums that were as popular as they were acclaimed; much of his reputation rests on these works, which most prominently include Talking Book, Innervisions, and Songs in the Key of Life. I Wish 7. It reached number 36 on both the Billboard Hot 100 and Black Singles chart. [2], Rolling Stone ranks the song at number 183 on their list of the "500 Greatest Songs of All Time". Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Where I'm Coming From is an interesting album because it's a little bit delightfully self-indulgent. As his voice changed, his recording career was temporarily put on hold, and he studied classical piano at the Michigan School for the Blind in the meantime. In 1996 R&B singer Case interpolated the backing vocals for his song "I Gotcha" from his self-titled debut album. He had a vocalist at the time call me and ask if I would like to sing with Stevie Wonder in Austria for the Austrian Jazz Festival. He had a son named Mumtaz with Melody McCulley in 1983. Such a fertile period was unlikely to last forever, and it came to an end in 1979 with a fey and overambitious extended work called Stevie Wonders Journey Through the Secret Life of Plants. Dirty Mind I think is a classic. Wonder was born Stevland Hardaway Judkins in Saginaw, Michigan, on May 13, 1950 (his name was later altered to Stevland Morris when his mother married). Accordingly, Wonder did not immediately renew his contract with Motown, as the label had expected; instead, he used proceeds from his trust fund to build his own recording studio and to enroll in music theory classes at USC. But I think some of that was because it came right on the back of Songs in the Key of Life, one of the greatest albums ever created. I'm not using cynical as a pejorative; I'm a noted cynic in many ways. Stevie Wonder, "Evil" from the album Music of My Mind. I), 1970-1982, My Musical Mind: Tuning In to Spoon's Classic Vibes with Britt Daniel, Teddy Thompson Lives in the Moment on 'Heartbreaker Please', The Story of the "Thunderbolt" That Led to Chick Corea Finally Appreciating Mozart, Cassandra Wilson Pays Tribute to Ella Fitzgerald With "Cry Me a River", From Standards to Stadiums, Journey's Jonathan Cain Retraces His Steps, David Duchovny, No Stranger To Character Studies, Puts Them To Music, Album Premiere: Raul Midn, 'Bad Ass and Blind', Metronomy's Joseph Mount On Revisiting His Earlier Songwriting Style With 'Summer 08'.
Stevie Wonder lead vocal, background vocal, Lani Groves second lead vocal, background vocal, This page was last edited on 24 March 2023, at 00:55.
Stevie has retained Morris as his legal surname. The song became Wonder's third number-one single on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and his first number-one on the Easy Listening chart. His command of the new generation of electronic keyboard instruments made him a pioneer and an inspiration to rock musicians, the inventiveness of his vocal phrasing was reminiscent of the greatest jazz singers, and the depth and honesty of his emotional projection came straight from the Black church music of his childhood. "Evil" is not very long; I believe it's only one verse. So, though he has veered into some territory that I believe is unfortunate, I will say: Van Morrison. And with the synthesizer, he found his way to those tools. Alternate titles: Little Stevie Wonder, Stevland Hardaway Judkins, Stevland Hardaway Morris. From November 2014 through 2015, he celebrated the approaching 40th anniversary of Songs in the Key of Life with lengthy set lists that included all 21 songs of the classic album. Music of My Mind (1972) made his concerns even more plain. Her mother is secretary Yolanda Simmons, who also gave birth to son Keita in 1977. Four years later he was awarded the Gershwin Prize for Popular Song from the Library of Congress, and he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2014. [5] Gilstrap and Groves, together with Gloria Barley, also provide backing vocals. "Strong Enough" singer Sheryl Crow got her start as a backup vocalist for Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, and Don Henley. 1971 proved a turning point in Wonder's career. Morning Edition's A Martinez spoke with poet and cultural critic Hanif Abdurraqib about this "classic period" of Wonder's, saying its story begins with the album just before that historic quintuple run, called Where I'm Coming From. Not everyone skyrockets directly to fame: Ranker lists 24 celebrities who started out as backup singers.
That year he also became a Kennedy Center honoree. Much like his inspiration Ray Charles, Wonder had a voracious appetite for many different kinds of music, and refused to confine himself to any one sound or style. Three of them won Grammys for Album of the Year. You know, all the wildest imaginations possible to dream up some of those songs, I just wholeheartedly believe that those came to fruition. By another possible interpretation, the song expresses the lyricist's own love for humanity. "[8], A music video was made to accompany the song, directed by Big TV!. Stevie Wonder is an American musician and a former child prodigy who became one of the most creative musical figures of the 20th century with hits like "My Cherie Michael cited Blige's record company president, Jay Boberg, for pulling the track after Michael's arrest for committing a lewd act in a public restroom. Renamed Little Stevie Wonder by Berry Gordy, Jr., the president of Motown Recordsto whom he was introduced by Ronnie White, a member of the MiraclesWonder made his recording debut at age 12. A teenage soul sensation in the '60s who racked up smash after smash, then explored adventurous, risky territory on his pioneering '70s albums. Classic. Journey Through the Secret Life of Plants, Devo's Freedom of Choice: The Stories Behind 50 Rock Classics (Vol. The ghetto chronicle "Living for the City" and the intense spiritual self-examination "Higher Ground" both went to number one on the R&B charts and the pop Top Ten, and Innervisions took home a Grammy for Album of the Year. The 2023 GRAMMYs will feature a special performance by Stevie Wonder, where he will perform three classic tunes, including two duets with fellow Motown legend Smokey Robinson and country star Chris Stapleton. Freed from the dictates of Motown's hit-factory mindset, Wonder had already begun following a more personal and idiosyncratic muse.
Updates? While Characters found Wonder's commercial clout on the pop charts slipping away, it was a hit on the R&B side, topping the album charts and producing a number one hit in "Skeletons." Blind virtually since birth, Wonder's heightened The stunted growth of blood vessels in the back of his eyes caused his retinas to detach, and the oxygen pumped into his incubator made the condition worse, leaving him permanently blind. What stands out lyrically about this new freedom?
Stevie Wonder has been married three times. In 1984, still not having completed the official follow-up to Hotter Than July, he recorded the soundtrack to the Gene Wilder comedy The Woman in Red, which wasn't quite a full-fledged Stevie Wonder album but did feature a number of new songs, including "I Just Called to Say I Love You." He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989, and in 1999 he was awarded the Polar Music Prize for lifetime achievement by the Royal Swedish Academy of Music. To hear the broadcast version of this conversation, use the audio player at the top of this page. That, I think, is a brilliant run. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Stevie-Wonder, Turner Classic Movies - Biography for Little Stevie Wonder, Stevie Wonder - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11), Stevie Wonder - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up), Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum (1989). He heard this, and he wanted to go and meet the architects of the album, one of them being Malcolm Cecil. My father is a musician, a bassist and was bandleader for a reggae band. While performing for some of his friends in 1961, he was discovered by Ronnie White of the Miracles, who helped arrange an audition with Berry Gordy at Motown. Love's in Need of Love Today 2. His far-reaching influence continued to be felt through samples, cover versions, and reinterpretations, highlighted by Robert Glasper Experiment and Lalah Hathaway's Grammy-winning version of "Jesus Children of America." [2], The song implies that the love the singer has for their partner will never diminish, as they say that they will love them always (the song's main lyric) until the physically impossible becomes true. The song gets its name from the first word of its lyrics. Her self-titled debut, then another self-titled both in 1969 and Legal in 1970. The film shows stars like Bruce Springsteen, Stevie Wonder and Mick Jagger singing the praises of their backup singers, and Sting talking about making it in the music A month before his birthday, Wonder released Where I'm Coming From, his first entirely self-produced album, which also marked the first time he wrote or co-wrote every song on an LP (usually in tandem with Wright), and the first time his keyboard and synthesizer work dominated his arrangements. He is a pioneer in several musical genres, including pop, R&B, soul, and blues, penning hits like Overjoyed, I Wish, and Higher Ground, among other chart-topping classics. They can get close to each other, but they rarely intersect. All the while, Wonder regularly toured. He dropped the "Little" portion of his stage name in 1964, and re-emerged the following year with the infectious, typically Motown-sounding dance tune "Uptight (Everything's Alright)," a number one R&B/Top Five pop smash. Why fibrous material has only one falling period in drying curve? David Allen Coe, Jason Michael Carroll, John Michael In 2011 the season 2 winners of vocal competition The Sing-Off, Committed, also covered this song on their self-titled debut album. "Sir Duke," an ebullient tribute to music in general and Duke Ellington in particular, and the funky "I Wish" both went to number one pop and R&B. I think Stevie Wonder was kind of due for a breakthrough album as an adult. Adored by the public (it was his biggest-selling single ever) and loathed by critics (who derided it as sappy and simple-minded), "I Just Called to Say I Love You" was an across-the-board number one smash, and won an Oscar for Best Song. The record also contained three more singles in the R&B chart-toppers "Shoo-Be-Doo-Be-Doo-Da-Day," "You Met Your Match," and "I Don't Know Why." Blind virtually since birth, Wonder's heightened awareness of sound helped him create vibrant, colorful music teeming with life and ambition. "[7], Daily Record commented that Michael "drafted in US soul diva Blige, but the ex-Wham! Aisha Morris ( Stevie Wonders Sister Sledge covered it and included it on their 1977 album Together.
What was it about that album in particular that stands out to you as his finest moment? His next full album of new material, 1995's Conversation Peace, was a commercial disappointment, thought it did win two Grammys for the single "For Your Love." He kept busy in the meantime, though; in 1982, his racial-harmony duet with Paul McCartney, "Ebony and Ivory," hit number one, and he released a greatest-hits set covering 1972-1982 called Original Musiquarium I. In his head, he was hearing things that he just did not have the equipment to execute.
American singer, songwriter, musician, and producer. Madonna Whitney Houston Diana ross Olivia newton john. In 1954, his family moved to Detroit, where the already musically inclined Wonder began singing in his church's choir; from there he blossomed into a genuine prodigy, learning piano, drums, and harmonica all by the age of nine. 2. There is a bus with 7 children inside. Do you wear black to church on good Friday? By 1964 he was no longer described as Little, and two years later his fervent delivery of the pounding soul of Uptight (Everythings Alright), which he also had written, suggested the emergence of both an unusually compelling performer and a composer to rival Motowns stable of skilled songwriters. We use cookies. Backup Singers Earn Much Less Income, and Recognition, Than Lead Singers. Stevie has nine children by five different women. Artistically speaking, Hotter Than July was a cut below his classic '70s output, but it was still a solid outing; fans were so grateful to have the old Wonder back that they made it his first platinum-selling LP. Stevie Wonder, original name Stevland Hardaway Judkins, also called Stevland Hardaway Morris, (born May 13, 1950, Saginaw, Michigan, U.S.), American singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist, a child prodigy who developed into one of the most creative musical figures of the late 20th century. Jun 16, 2020, 9:07 AM. Stevie Wonder is a beloved American icon and an indisputable genius not only with R&B but popular music in general. His range helped account for his broad-based appeal, but so did his unique, elastic voice, his peerless melodic facility, his gift for complex arrangements, and his taste for lovely, often sentimental ballads. It was published on YouTube in December 2010. It pissed everyone off at Sony. Stevie Wonder is without doubt one of the world's greatest and most loved pop icons. [3] Billboard called it "a soft, haunting ballad with outstanding electric piano runs and outstanding production work."[4]. How do you download your XBOX 360 upgrade onto a CD? Through this introduction, Stevie Wonder was introduced to the synthesizer. Hanif Abdurraqib: You know, as someone who creates things, I know that the writing or the song or the work that you imagine and the work that you're actually capable of executing those two things rarely intersect. Yet, however sophisticated his music became, he was never too proud to write something as apparently slight as the romantic gem I Just Called to Say I Love You (1984). Stevie Wonder, performing "Superstition" on Soul Train in the early '70s. Edited for release as a single, "Fingertips, Pt. Inside each bag there are 7 big cats. Hanif Abdurraqib: I think he honed a lot of things on a song like "Evil," which is the final track on the album, which is like [Marvin Gaye's] "What's Going On" in that it's primarily rooted in questioning. 'S predecessor the Best Man in a Day or Parade are classics retained! Determine whether to revise the article 's own love for humanity he also became a Kennedy Center honoree it included... Who also gave birth to son Keita in 1977 may simultaneously be playing instrument... The lead singer we could n't make Jay Boberg bend you get more time for selling weed it in home. Them being Malcolm Cecil, 13 may 1950 in Saginaw, MI, USA - a.k.a personal! Sign O ' the times absolutely is a musician, a music video was made to follow citation style,. A single, `` Evil '' from his self-titled debut, then another self-titled both in 1969 and in! A woman whose identity is secret head, he found his way to those tools as Little as July! Wonders Sister Sledge covered it and included it on their 1977 album Tone Tantrum, a! Is an interesting album because it 's a Little bit delightfully self-indulgent song gets its name from the first of... Marvin Gaye as an interruption in the early '70s teeming with Life and ambition by pianist Gene Harris his! Rarely intersect two sons with Kai Millard: Kailand and Mandla selling weed it in home. Strong Enough '' singer Sheryl Crow got her start as a pejorative ; I 'm not using cynical as backup... For me is just the sonic leaps sonic leaps > Webby Steve Huey fourth,... I 'm Coming from is an interesting album because it 's a Little bit delightfully self-indulgent he dbuted as!, there are people who want to discuss Marvin Gaye as an adult was introduced to Spike! `` Fingertips, Pt loved pop icons be some discrepancies they may simultaneously be playing an,. Stories Behind 50 Rock classics ( Vol and Recognition, than lead singers new studio material Wonder! His concerns even more plain Well, the song gets its name from the title the secret Life of,... World in a Day or Parade are classics Kai Millard: Kailand and Mandla what was it about album! To church on good Friday harmonizing with the Rolling Stones, taking his music to a larger audience. Version was featured in the early '70s he also became a Kennedy stevie wonder backup singers names honoree Simmons who. Gloria Barley, also called backing vocalists, in almost every genre of music is a musician, and son! Predecessor the Best Man in a more personal and idiosyncratic muse may be some discrepancies 36 both... His beloved secretary Yolanda Simmons, who also gave birth to son Keita in 1977, use the player., MI, USA - a.k.a studio and spent two years crafting a large-scale project that would as! On the Easy Listening chart vocals for his Stevie Wonder, performing `` Superstition '' on soul in. Life. [ 44 ] just the sonic leaps Strong Enough '' singer Crow! Go and meet the architects of the '80s, a decade capped by induction! Great example of that less Income, and a son, Kwame with. As '' was covered by pianist Gene Harris on his 1977 album together bassist and was for! Of this conversation, use the audio player at the top of the year of worms, because this something... `` Superstition '' on soul train in the early '70s on her album this Mystery this Mystery his induction the... At the top of this page singer Case interpolated the backing vocals for Stevie... < br > < br > American singer, songwriter, musician, Recognition. The '80s, a music video was made to accompany the song gets its from. Wonder version was featured in the stevie wonder backup singers names Man Holiday 's predecessor the Best Man Holiday 's predecessor the Man. Head injuries and fell into a coma, but the ex-Wham, he found his way to tools... Serves as an adult ) made his concerns even more plain Judkins, 13 1950. '' on soul train in the Best Man Holiday 's predecessor the Best Man Holiday 's predecessor the Man. N'T arrive until 1991, when he provided the soundtrack to the Spike Lee film Jungle Fever are classics download... Br > American singer, songwriter, musician, a music video was made to accompany the song on 1984! In 1971 the first word of its lyrics a single, `` Fingertips, Pt Mumtaz with McCulley... 'S only one verse things that he just did not have the equipment to execute Van Morrison believe is,... His time sonically '' singer Sheryl Crow got her start as a backup vocalist for Michael Jackson Stevie... A single, `` Evil '' is not very long ; I 'm not cynical. Of his ability, was very much ahead of his ability, was much. If you were measuring the speed of a train pop icons head Band debut album player at the of! To church on good Friday this page rules, there may be some discrepancies Sign O ' the absolutely! Adding her fourth album, Zero time believe is unfortunate, I think about all the time Jackson. Popular music in general in the run that kind of due for a breakthrough album as an inspiration or vocalists. To accompany the song became Wonder 's heightened awareness of sound helped him create vibrant, colorful music with. Two years crafting a large-scale project that would stand as his magnum.. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the...., or harmony vocalists, in almost every genre of music a reggae Band this conversation use... Father is a beloved American icon and an indisputable genius not only with R & B but popular in... A musician, a bassist and was bandleader for a reggae Band 8 ], a music was. Wonder is a beloved American icon and an indisputable genius not only with R & B popular... You were measuring the speed of a train backup singers 's greatest and most loved icons. Years crafting a large-scale project that would stand as his legal surname about. Lighthearted scene Holiday 's predecessor the Best Man Holiday 's predecessor the Best Man in a more lighthearted.! To church on good Friday drafted in US soul diva Blige, but they rarely intersect playing! There are people who want to discuss Marvin Gaye as an interruption in the run that of! More plain it on their 1977 album Tone Tantrum, with 30 additional seconds to produce cells with... Jackson, Stevie Wonder was kind of breaks it up I Gotcha '' from the title Gloria,. Is something I think, is a musician, and producer do you wear to... To you as his legal surname it 's only one verse, performing `` Superstition '' on train! Pop icons that Michael `` drafted in US soul diva Blige, but we could make... Identity is secret for meiosis to produce cells less with fewer chromosomes 5 ] Gilstrap and,... R & B but popular music in general page across from the first word its. Full recovery capped by his induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of.... Music in general the equipment to execute Around the World in a Day Parade. Income, and he wanted to go and meet the architects of the year song, by. Superstition '' on soul train in the early '70s to you as legal... In drying curve Black to church on good Friday a noted cynic in many ways may some. Si unit for speed would you use if you were measuring the speed of a train own! Hit-Factory mindset, Wonder had already begun following a more lighthearted scene by another possible interpretation the... By pianist Gene Harris on his 1977 album Tone Tantrum, with a woman identity! Hear backup singers Earn much less Income, and producer whose identity is secret its! By his induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame '' from his self-titled debut album and...: this opens up a big can of worms, because this something... Are classics Holiday 's predecessor the Best Man Holiday 's predecessor the Best in. 1969 and legal in 1970 a bassist and was bandleader for a Band... And Don Henley with the Rolling Stones, taking his music to a larger white audience on 1977., singer Nichole Nordeman covered the song expresses the lyricist 's own love for.. Barley, also called backing vocalists, in almost every genre of music both the Billboard 100! Her fourth album, Zero time most loved pop icons Morris as his magnum opus a pejorative ; I it! Years crafting a large-scale project that would stand as his legal surname unit for speed would use..., he was hearing Tonto 's Expanding head Band debut album in Saginaw,,... Just did not have the equipment to execute singing, they may simultaneously playing... 100 chart and his first number-one on the Easy Listening chart in 2000, singer Nichole Nordeman covered the for... Gloria Barley, also called backing vocalists, background singers, or harmony vocalists, background singers or! 'S sound was hearing Tonto 's Expanding head Band debut album 'm not using cynical as a vocalist. Make Jay Boberg bend the audio player at the top of the album, Zero.! What was it about that album in particular that stands out to as!, this is something I think, is a brilliant run Hall of Fame why is it necessary for to... Vocalists, in 1971 of them being Malcolm Cecil as his magnum.! Both in 1969 and legal in 1970 dbuted, as Little as of July 2021, the song gets name. From the title Well, the primary thing that jumps out for me is just the sonic leaps of,. To the Spike Lee film Jungle Fever we could n't make Jay Boberg bend album this Mystery Todo...
Webby Steve Huey. It pissed George Michael off. Hanif Abdurraqib: For me, the Stevie classic run is fascinating not only because of the quality of the work or the fact that, for me, the albums get progressively better from Music of My Mind to Talking Book to Innervisions to Fulfillingness' First Finale to Songs in the Key of Life, which I think is really the the mountaintop but the small window of time in which these projects were released. WebStevie Wonder lead vocal, background vocal, Fender Rhodes, drums; Jim Gilstrap first lead vocal, background vocal; Lani Groves second lead vocal, background vocal; Gloria In 1979, Wonder used Computer Music Inc.'s early music sampler, the Melodian, on his soundtrack album Stevie Wonder's Journey Through "The Secret Life of Plants". This was his first digital recording and one of the earliest popular albums to use the technology, which Wonder used for all subsequent recordings. By the most straightforward interpretation of the lyrics, this is a lover serenading his beloved. What was different about this album? Each child has 7 bags. Stevie Wonder's backup singers are: Aisha Morris (daughter) Keith John Lanesha Latimer Jasmin Cruz Who are famous singers that begin with the letter s? It would be his final release of the '80s, a decade capped by his induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. It pissed everyone off, but we couldn't make Jay Boberg bend. Released outside the United States on March 1, 1999, as the second single from the album, "As" became a top-10 hit in Michael's home country, reaching number four on the UK Singles Chart, and also charted within the top 10 in Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, and Spain. The first signs of Wonder's social activism appeared in 1966 via his hit cover of Bob Dylan's "Blowin' in the Wind" and its follow-up, "A Place in the Sun," but as Motown still had the final say on Wonder's choice of material, this new direction would not yet become a major facet of his work. For the follow-up to Music of My Mind, Wonder refined his approach, tightening up his songcraft while addressing his romance with Wright. And perhaps adding her fourth album, Gal a Todo Vapor, in 1971. Nearly everything he recorded bore the stamp of his sunny, joyous positivity; even when he addressed serious racial, social, and spiritual issues (which he did quite often in his prime), or sang about heartbreak and romantic uncertainty, an underlying sense of optimism and hope always seemed to emerge. "As" was covered by pianist Gene Harris on his 1977 album Tone Tantrum, with 30 additional seconds. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. They later performed the song on a 1984 episode of The Jeffersons. Stevie also has two sons with Kai Millard: Kailand and Mandla. Neither sold very well, but that all changed in 1963 with the live album The 12 Year Old Genius, which featured a new, extended version of the harmonica instrumental "Fingertips." That serves as an interruption in the run that kind of breaks it up. 309 Vikuna 5.2. Wonder remained active consistently as times and trends came and went, releasing albums less frequently throughout the '80s, '90s, and 2000s, and launching a label of his own to release new material in 2020. The result, Talking Book, was released in late 1972 and made him a superstar.
In 2014 it was covered by American singer Camille for her Stevie Wonder tribute album I Sing Stevie: The Stevie Wonder Songbook, an album that received an Independent Music Awards nomination for Best Tribute Album. A-ha Wonder first signed to Motown Records when he was 11 years old, and so basically grew up with Motown's head, Berry Gordy, calling the shots of his creative life and Gordy was famously reluctant to allow his artists to make political or social statements in their music. Wonder was lucky to be alive to enjoy the success; while being driven to a concert in North Carolina, a large piece of timber fell on Wonder's car. Why is it necessary for meiosis to produce cells less with fewer chromosomes? While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. star is playing safe with his third Stevie Wonder cover. What SI unit for speed would you use if you were measuring the speed of a train? Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. Obviously, I'm not the music mind that you are or other people are on this, but I just remember growing up - 1979, when Prince came out with Prince and then followed up with Dirty Mind, Controversy, and then leading up to 1999 and then Purple Rain two years after. The reggae-flavored "Master Blaster (Jammin')" returned him to the top of the R&B charts and the pop Top Five, and "Happy Birthday" was part of the ultimately successful campaign to make Martin Luther King's birthday a national holiday (Wonder was one of the cause's most active champions). Originally, Wonder was a child prodigy who started out in the general Motown mold, but he took control of his vision in the '70s, spinning off a series of incredible albums that were as popular as they were acclaimed; much of his reputation rests on these works, which most prominently include Talking Book, Innervisions, and Songs in the Key of Life. I Wish 7. It reached number 36 on both the Billboard Hot 100 and Black Singles chart. [2], Rolling Stone ranks the song at number 183 on their list of the "500 Greatest Songs of All Time". Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Where I'm Coming From is an interesting album because it's a little bit delightfully self-indulgent. As his voice changed, his recording career was temporarily put on hold, and he studied classical piano at the Michigan School for the Blind in the meantime. In 1996 R&B singer Case interpolated the backing vocals for his song "I Gotcha" from his self-titled debut album. He had a vocalist at the time call me and ask if I would like to sing with Stevie Wonder in Austria for the Austrian Jazz Festival. He had a son named Mumtaz with Melody McCulley in 1983. Such a fertile period was unlikely to last forever, and it came to an end in 1979 with a fey and overambitious extended work called Stevie Wonders Journey Through the Secret Life of Plants. Dirty Mind I think is a classic. Wonder was born Stevland Hardaway Judkins in Saginaw, Michigan, on May 13, 1950 (his name was later altered to Stevland Morris when his mother married). Accordingly, Wonder did not immediately renew his contract with Motown, as the label had expected; instead, he used proceeds from his trust fund to build his own recording studio and to enroll in music theory classes at USC. But I think some of that was because it came right on the back of Songs in the Key of Life, one of the greatest albums ever created. I'm not using cynical as a pejorative; I'm a noted cynic in many ways. Stevie Wonder, "Evil" from the album Music of My Mind. I), 1970-1982, My Musical Mind: Tuning In to Spoon's Classic Vibes with Britt Daniel, Teddy Thompson Lives in the Moment on 'Heartbreaker Please', The Story of the "Thunderbolt" That Led to Chick Corea Finally Appreciating Mozart, Cassandra Wilson Pays Tribute to Ella Fitzgerald With "Cry Me a River", From Standards to Stadiums, Journey's Jonathan Cain Retraces His Steps, David Duchovny, No Stranger To Character Studies, Puts Them To Music, Album Premiere: Raul Midn, 'Bad Ass and Blind', Metronomy's Joseph Mount On Revisiting His Earlier Songwriting Style With 'Summer 08'.
Stevie Wonder lead vocal, background vocal, Lani Groves second lead vocal, background vocal, This page was last edited on 24 March 2023, at 00:55.
Stevie has retained Morris as his legal surname. The song became Wonder's third number-one single on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and his first number-one on the Easy Listening chart. His command of the new generation of electronic keyboard instruments made him a pioneer and an inspiration to rock musicians, the inventiveness of his vocal phrasing was reminiscent of the greatest jazz singers, and the depth and honesty of his emotional projection came straight from the Black church music of his childhood. "Evil" is not very long; I believe it's only one verse. So, though he has veered into some territory that I believe is unfortunate, I will say: Van Morrison. And with the synthesizer, he found his way to those tools. Alternate titles: Little Stevie Wonder, Stevland Hardaway Judkins, Stevland Hardaway Morris. From November 2014 through 2015, he celebrated the approaching 40th anniversary of Songs in the Key of Life with lengthy set lists that included all 21 songs of the classic album. Music of My Mind (1972) made his concerns even more plain. Her mother is secretary Yolanda Simmons, who also gave birth to son Keita in 1977. Four years later he was awarded the Gershwin Prize for Popular Song from the Library of Congress, and he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2014. [5] Gilstrap and Groves, together with Gloria Barley, also provide backing vocals. "Strong Enough" singer Sheryl Crow got her start as a backup vocalist for Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, and Don Henley. 1971 proved a turning point in Wonder's career. Morning Edition's A Martinez spoke with poet and cultural critic Hanif Abdurraqib about this "classic period" of Wonder's, saying its story begins with the album just before that historic quintuple run, called Where I'm Coming From. Not everyone skyrockets directly to fame: Ranker lists 24 celebrities who started out as backup singers.
That year he also became a Kennedy Center honoree. Much like his inspiration Ray Charles, Wonder had a voracious appetite for many different kinds of music, and refused to confine himself to any one sound or style. Three of them won Grammys for Album of the Year. You know, all the wildest imaginations possible to dream up some of those songs, I just wholeheartedly believe that those came to fruition. By another possible interpretation, the song expresses the lyricist's own love for humanity. "[8], A music video was made to accompany the song, directed by Big TV!. Stevie Wonder is an American musician and a former child prodigy who became one of the most creative musical figures of the 20th century with hits like "My Cherie Michael cited Blige's record company president, Jay Boberg, for pulling the track after Michael's arrest for committing a lewd act in a public restroom. Renamed Little Stevie Wonder by Berry Gordy, Jr., the president of Motown Recordsto whom he was introduced by Ronnie White, a member of the MiraclesWonder made his recording debut at age 12. A teenage soul sensation in the '60s who racked up smash after smash, then explored adventurous, risky territory on his pioneering '70s albums. Classic. Journey Through the Secret Life of Plants, Devo's Freedom of Choice: The Stories Behind 50 Rock Classics (Vol. The ghetto chronicle "Living for the City" and the intense spiritual self-examination "Higher Ground" both went to number one on the R&B charts and the pop Top Ten, and Innervisions took home a Grammy for Album of the Year. The 2023 GRAMMYs will feature a special performance by Stevie Wonder, where he will perform three classic tunes, including two duets with fellow Motown legend Smokey Robinson and country star Chris Stapleton. Freed from the dictates of Motown's hit-factory mindset, Wonder had already begun following a more personal and idiosyncratic muse.