Stevie Wonder stands as one of the most talented and beloved musicians in history. Initially, he burst onto the scene as a child prodigy who mastered multiple instruments before he became a teenager. Furthermore, his innovative use of synthesizers transformed R&B and influenced countless artists across different genres. Consequently, his legacy includes not just timeless hits, but also significant social change. Explore these intriguing details about the musical genius.
Stevie Wonder
Tragically, a hospital error likely caused his blindness. Because he was born six weeks premature, doctors placed him in an incubator with high oxygen levels. Unfortunately, this excess oxygen caused a condition called retinopathy of prematurity, which detached his retinas permanently.
Amazingly, Marvin Gaye played drums on his first number-one hit. When a young Stevie recorded “Fingertips – Part 2” live at the Regal Theater, the future soul legend sat behind the drum kit. Consequently, the high energy of the track helped launch both of their careers.
Politically, he helped make Martin Luther King Jr. Day a national holiday. He released the song “Happy Birthday” in 1980 specifically to campaign for the recognition of the civil rights leader. Successfully, he organized massive rallies that eventually convinced President Reagan to sign the holiday into law.
Surprisingly, he lost his sense of smell after a car crash. In 1973, a severe accident left him in a coma for several days and caused a temporary loss of taste and smell. Thankfully, he eventually regained these senses, which he relies on heavily due to his blindness.
He holds the record for winning Album of the Year for three consecutive releases. During his “classic period” in the 1970s, he won the top Grammy prize for Innervisions, Fulfillingness’ First Finale, and Songs in the Key of Life. Historically, no other solo artist has achieved this specific feat.
He released an instrumental album under a secret name. In 1968, he put out a jazz album titled Eivets Rednow, which is simply “Stevie Wonder” spelled backward. Cleverly, the cover art did not feature his face, allowing the music to speak for itself.
Technically, he was the first person to own an E-Mu Emulator. He always loved new technology and purchased the very first version of this famous digital sampler. Thus, he pioneered the use of sampling in popular music long before it became a standard practice.
Humorously, he pranked James Corden during Carpool Karaoke. When he appeared on the show, he insisted on driving the car despite his lack of sight. Jokingly, he claimed he had his license, creating one of the funniest moments in the show’s history.
He wrote “The Tears of a Clown” for Smokey Robinson. Before he became a superstar in his own right, he worked as a songwriter for other Motown artists. He composed the music for the hit song, which Robinson then wrote the lyrics for.
Unusually, the bassist did not know the key during “Fingertips.” The hit song was actually an impromptu encore, and the bass player had just switched out. On the recording, you can faintly hear the new bassist yelling, “What key? What key?” as he tries to keep up.
He became the youngest solo artist to top the Billboard Hot 100. At just 13 years old, “Little Stevie Wonder” reached the number one spot. Decades later, this record still stands, proving just how early his genius manifested.
Naturally, he has perfect pitch. He can identify any musical note instantly without a reference tone. Reportedly, he once interrupted a recording session to tell a producer that a specific piece of equipment hummed in the key of B flat.
He personally performed at the funeral of Michael Jackson. The two icons shared a long friendship that began during their early days at Motown. Emotionally, he sang “Never Dreamed You’d Leave in Summer” to pay tribute to the King of Pop.
Strangely, he has a difficult relationship with the song “Superstition.” Although it became one of his biggest hits, he originally wrote it for guitarist Jeff Beck. However, Motown insisted Stevie record it himself first, which caused some tension between the two musicians.
Finally, he owns a radio station in Los Angeles. He purchased KJLH in 1979 to ensure the community had a station that played uplifting music. Today, it remains the oldest black-owned and operated radio station in California.
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