Stevie Wonder Biography

Stevie Wonder is an American musician, singer and songwriter, considered to be one of the most creative musical performers of the 20th century. This biography provides detailed information about his childhood, life, achievements, works & timeline

Quick Facts

Also Known As:

Little Stevie Wonder, Steveland Hardaway Judkins, El Toro Negro, Eivets Rednow, The Black Bull, Stevland Hardaway Morris, Steveland Judkins Hardaway, Rednow, Eivets, Steve Wonder, Steveland Morris

Famous as:

Musician

Nationality:

American

Birth Date:

May 13, 1950

Age:

67 Years

Sun Sign:

Taurus

Height:

1.84 m

Born in:

Saginaw

father:

Calvin Judkins

mother:

Lula Mae Hardaway

Spouses/Partners:

Kai Millard Morris, Syreeta Wright

children:

Mandla Kadjay Carl Stevland Morris, Sophia Morris, Mumtaz Morris, Aisha Morris, Kailand Morris, Kwame Morris, Keita Morris

City, States, Provinces & Districts:

Michigan

Diseases & Disabilities:

Visual Impairment

Founder/Co-Founder:

Kurzweil Music Systems

Net worth:

$110 Million as of May 11, 2017

More Facts

awards:

Grammy Award for Album of the Year - 1977-1975-1974
Kennedy Center Honors - 1999
Academy Award for Best Original Song - 1985

Billboard Icon Award - 2012
Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award - 1996
Grammy Hall of Fame Award - 2009-2002-1999
Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance - 2006-1977-1975
Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals - 1987
Grammy Award for Producer of the Year
Non-Classical - 1977
Grammy Award for Best R&B Song - 1996-1975-1974
NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Album - 2001
Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance - 1999-1996-1986
Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song - 1985
Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals - 2006-2003
Grammy Award for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals - 2007
American Music Award of Merit - 1982
American Music Award for Favorite Soul/R&B Album - 1978-1977
NAACP Image Award – Hall of Fame Award - 2008
Grammy Award for Best Arrangement
Instruments And Vocals - 1999
Billboard
usic Century Award - 2004
American Music Award for Favorite Soul/R&B Male Artist - 1986-1982-1978
NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Duo or Group - 2003
Soul Train Music Award for Heritage Award – Career Achievement - 1987
American Music Award for Favorite Soul/R&B Single - 1974
The BET Honors Award for Musical Arts - 2012
Rhythm and Blues Foundation Pioneer Award - 2000
American Music Award for Favorite Soul/R&B Male Video Artist - 1986
NME Award for Best R&B/Soul Act - 1975-1974-1973
ASCAP Film and Television Music Awards for Most Performed Songs From Motion Pictures - 2000

Pictures Of Stevie Wonder

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Stevie Wonder is an American musician, singer and songwriter, considered to be one of the most creative musical performers of the 20th century. Blind from birth, he was a child prodigy and became a skilled musician by the age of eight. After signing a contract with Motown label, he was renamed ‘Little Stevie Wonder’ and made his recording debut at the age of 12.Subsequently, he emerged as an able artist with his hit single “Fingertips” and later, his passionate delivery of the pounding single “Uptight (Everything’s Alright)” confirmed the arrival of a compelling performer. In the following years, Wonder had numerous hits with several chartbusters including “I Was Made to Love Her” and “For Once in My Life”. In the 1970s, his albums produced a steady stream of classic hits such as “Superstition”, “You Are the Sunshine of My Life”, “Living for the City”, “I Wish” and ‘Sir Duke”. The 1980's saw Wonder scoring his biggest hits and reaching an unprecedented level of fame which was evident by the increased album sales, high-profile collaborations and television appearances. Throughout his career, Wonder has recorded many critically acclaimed albums and hit singles. He has 25 Grammy Awards to his name —the most ever won by a solo artist—and is considered to be among the best selling artists of all time

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Stevie Wonder

Childhood & Early Life
Career
Major Works
Awards & Achievements
Personal Life & Legacy
Net Worth

Childhood & Early Life

Stevie Wonder was born on May 13, 1950, in Saginaw, Michigan, to Calvin Judkins, and his wife, Lula Mae Hardaway. He was the third of six children in the family and was born six weeks premature, which caused retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in his eyes and subsequently he lost his vision.
From an early age, he started playing musical instruments and later formed a singing partnership with a friend. The duo played on street corners, occasionally at parties and dances, calling themselves Stevie and John.
At the age of 11, Wonder sang his own composition titled “Lonely Boy” to the musician Ronnie White, co-founder of the musical group, ‘The Miracles’. Soon, he was signed to Motown's Tamla label and was given the name ‘Little Stevie Wonder’.
In 1962, the popular song “I Call It Pretty Music, But the Old People Call It the Blues” was released as his début single. The following year, his album ‘Recorded Live: The 12 Year Old Genius’ was released which included the single “Fingertips” that went on to become a major hit.
In mid-1960s, Wonder went on to have a number of other hits such as “With a Child's Heart” and “Blowin' in the Wind”. Between 1968 and 1970, he managed to score several hits including “I Was Made to Love Her”, “For Once in My Life” and “Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours”.

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Career

In 1970, Wonder collaborated with his wife, Sylvia, and together they worked on his next album titled ‘Where I’m Coming From’. The album became a moderate success upon its release in the following year.
In March 1972, his album ‘Music of My Mind’ was released which has been marked as the beginning of Wonder’s “classic period”. Same year, he also released the album ‘Talking Book’ which featured hits such as “Superstition” and “You Are the Sunshine of My Life”.
In the following years, he came up with several blockbuster albums such as ‘Innervisions’ (1973), ‘Fulfillingness' First Finale’ (1974), ‘Songs in the Key of Life’ (1976), and ‘Stevie Wonder's Journey Through "The Secret Life of Plants” (1979). With the success of these albums, Wonder became the most acclaimed black musician by the end of 1970s.
In 1980s, he achieved his biggest hits and highest level of fame with albums including ‘Hotter Than July’ (1980) and ‘Stevie Wonder's Original Musiquarium’(1982).
In 1984, he recorded the soundtrack album for the movie ‘The Woman in Red’ which featured the Academy Award winning song “I Just Called to Say I Love You”.
In 1987, he released his album entitled ‘Characters’ which was followed by the soundtrack album for the 1991 movie ‘Jungle Fever’.
In 1995, his album ‘Conversation Peace’ was released which consisted of hits such as “For Your Love” and “Tomorrow Robins Will Sing”.
In the new millennium, he came out with the album ‘A Time For Love’, in 2005. In the subsequent years, he toured North America and also performed on several occasions including the ‘Obama Inaugural Celebration’ in 2009.

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Major Works

Among Wonder's major works are singles such as “Superstition”, “Sir Duke”, “You Are the Sunshine of My Life” and “I Just Called to Say I Love You”. In his long and illustrious career, he has produced many chartbuster albums including‘ Innervisions’, ‘Songs in the Key of Life’ and ‘Hotter than July’.

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Awards & Achievements

Stevie Wonder has won 25 Grammy Awards in his career.
In 1983, he was inducted to the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
In 1984, he won an Academy Award for Best Song for ‘I Just Called to Say I Love You’ from the movie ‘The Woman in Red’.
In 1989, he was inducted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
In 1996, he received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.
In 1999, he was awarded the ‘Polar Music Prize’ and ‘Kennedy Center Honors’.
In 2002, he was conferred the ‘Sammy Cahn Lifetime Achievement Award’ by the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
In 2004, he was honored with the ‘Billboard Century Award’.
In 2006, he received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis. Same year, he was inducted to the Michigan Walk of Fame.
In 2009, he was named a United Nations Messenger of Peace.
In 2014, he became a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

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Personal Life & Legacy

In 1970, Stevie Wonder married Syreeta Wright, the Motown singer/songwriter and frequent collaborator. Two years later, the couple got divorced amicably.
Later, Wonder met Yolanda Simmons when she applied for the post of his secretary for his publishing company. In 1975, Simmons gave birth to their daughter, Aisha Morris.
In 2001, he entered into a wed lock with Kai Millard Morris, a fashion designer. In 2009, the couple separated and Wonder filed for divorce in August 2012. The couple has two sons Kailand and Mandla Kadjay Carl Stevland Morris.
Later, Wonder got involved in an affair with Tomeeka Robyn Bracy. In 2014, Bracy gave birth to the couple’s second child, Nia, who is the ninth child of Wonder.

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Net Worth