STEVIE Wonder is one of music history’s greats – producing hit after hit that’s helped the world get down for five decades.
The child prodigy made R’n’B mainstream after coming to prominence through the Motown label and he’s now coming to the UK as part of BST. Here’s what we know about him…
Who is Stevie Wonder, what is his background and how did he become blind?
Singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Stevie Wonder, real name Stevland Hardaway Morris, was born in Saginaw, Michigan on May 13, 1950, making him 68.
He was the third of six children, and his parents – songwriter Lula Mae Hardaway and Calvin Judkins – divorced when he was four.
He became blind shortly after birth due to the fact he was six weeks premature and vulnerable to retinopathy of prematurity while in his oxygen-rich incubator.
The rapid development of his eye blood vessels caused his retinas to detach, leading him to lose his sight.
Stevie began making music by playing instruments, including piano, drums and harmonica, from a young age – and formed a musical duo with his friend John.
He performed his own song Lonely Boy at the age of 11 in 1961 to Ronnie White from band The Miracles which led to him bagging a record contract with Motown as new act “Little Stevie Wonder”.
His first album came out when Stevie was still just 11 and it mainly consisted of Ray Charles covers.
He then started releasing original tracks by songwriter Clarence Paul, and his first single Mother Thank You came out in 1962, before he embarked on his first theatre tour with other artists.
He scored a Number One aged 13 with his track Fingertips but faced some criticism from his label as his voice was beginning to change.
However his first famous songs Upright (Everything Is Alright) and The Tears Of A Clown were written towards the end of the 60s, when Stevie dropped “little” from his name and managed to impress fans and record-makers with his talent.
Is Stevie headlining BST 2019 with Lionel Richie?
Yes! Stevie has been revealed as the fifth and final headliner announced for this year’s British Summer Time.
The icon will be joining the likes of Celine Dion, Barbara Striesand, Florence and the Machine with The National as well as Robbie Williams – who have all been confirmed to be headlining.
And it gets even better as it has been revealed that legendary crooner Lionel Richie will also be taking to the stage as a special guest of Stevie’s.
The pair will perform his Song Party show together on July 6.
What are Stevie Wonder’s most famous hits?
Stevie’s first major hits came out towards the end of the 60s – For Once In My Life, Signed Sealed Delivers and My Cherie Amour.
But his distinctive sound came into its own in the 70s with his tracks Superstition, As, You Are The Sunshine Of My Life, Living For The City, Sir Duke, I Wish and Isn’t She Lovely?.
In the 80s and 90s Stevie’s music became much more commercial and he released songs like Happy Birthday – to help establish Martin Luther King’s birthday as a national holiday – Part-Time Lover, Do I Do, Ebony And Ivory wit Paul McCartney and I Just Called To Say I Love You.
The prolific composer has also written hits for the likes of Michael and Jermaine Jackson, Chaka Khan, Aretha Franklin, Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross, Neil Diamond and Roberta Flack.
What is Stevie Wonder’s net worth and what awards has he won?
Having such a huge roster of hits, Stevie is worth a pretty penny as he approaches his seventies.
The vegan musician and father-of-nine is estimated to be worth $110m or around £83m in British sterling.
Stevie has also won 25 Grammys and got the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Grammys in 1996.
He and Frank Sinatra are the only artists to have ever won Album Of The Year three times.
Also hailed as a civil rights hero, Stevie earned a Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama in 2014 after becoming a United Nations Messenger Of Peace.
Is Stevie married and does he have children?
Stevie has been married three times – and this year he wed his third wife Tomeeka Bracy, 42.
Previously he was married to collaborator Syreeta Wright from 1970 to 1972, and fashion designer Kai Millar from 2001 until 2012.
The musician has a whopping nine children by five different women, the eldest being born in 1975 and the youngest being one of the two kids he’s had with current wife Tomeeka, born in 2014.
His song Isn’t She Lovely? is about his first daughter Aisha, one of two children he had with Yolanda Simmons, his lover through most of the 70s.
How did he know Aretha Franklin?
On August 16, 2018, legendary soul singer Aretha Franklin died after an eight-year battle with pancreatic cancer.
Associated Press said that during her final days, Aretha had been visited by the Reverend Jesse Jackson and long-term friend Stevie Wonder.
The two had a long-standing professional relationship having performed together 13 years ago at the Annual Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards in Pasadena, California.
The singing legend will be laid to rest on Friday in her hometown of Detroit, and adoring fans around the world will be able to watch.
Stevie is set to perform at the service alongside Chaka Khan, Ronald Isley, Jennifer Hudson, and Ariana Grande.
