Stevie Wonder biography

Born: 13-05-1950
Birth place: Michigan, USA

Born Steveland Morris, his blindness was caused by an hospital error soon after birth. Playing the harmonica at five, he started piano lessons at six and took up the drums at eight.

He started playing at the local church and soon became something of a neighbourhood sensation.

Ronnie White of the Miracles arranged an audition with Motown Records' Berry Gordy Jr, who quickly signed him and named him "Little" Stevie Wonder.

His first album, 'Little Stevie Wonder the 12 Year Old Genius', made the child a huge star, and gave Stevie a number one hit with single 'Fingertips'. The following year, he enrolled in the Michigan School for the Blind, where he studied classical piano.

His late teen years saw continued success, with songs such as 'Uptight (Everything's Alright)'. Stevie worked on improving his skills as a songwriter, and producer, and he co-wrote most of his singles from 1967 onward. In 1971, he invested in his own recording studio, Taurus Productions, and recorded two albums on his own.

With these two albums, Stevie negotiated a contract with Motown that allowed him more freedom in artistic matters and a higher royalty percentage. His singles distinguished themselves with socially conscious subjects.

Wonder's 1972 tour with the Rolling Stones introduced him to a huge white audience, but this period was difficult, with his marriage ending, followed by a serious car crash.

Throughout the early 1970’s, Wonder practically swept all possible Grammy awards, winning Best R & B Artist, Best Album, Best Song, and Best Male Vocal. Stevie amassed numerous awards and was recently awarded the Grammy's Lifetime Achievement Award.

However, many believe his masterpiece to be 1976’s double album, 'Songs in the Key of Life'; it is certainly his most polished and musically various.