Blind African American musician what's the name. famous blind musicians

Stevie Wonder (born Stevie Wonder; real name Stivland Hardaway Morris; May 13, 1950, Saginaw, Michigan) is an American soul singer, a living legend of the world pop industry, composer, pianist, drummer, harper, music producer and public figure who has had a huge influence on the development of music of the XX century, suffering from blindness. 25-time Grammy Award winner. One of the founders of classical soul and R'n'B. Stevie is one of the most famous vocalists in the world, he is constantly included in "lists of the best vocalists of all time." Blinded shortly after birth, at the age of eleven he signed his first recording contract with Motown Records and continues to perform and record there to this day. Stevie Wonder is a multi-instrumentalist musician: he has a vocal range of four octaves and an incredibly complex vocal technique, masterfully owns the piano and all kinds of synthesizers, drums, clarinet, harmonica. Stevie has achieved outstanding success in the musical field, being blind. Along with Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder is the most famous and popular blind musician in the world. Some of Stevie Wonder's most famous songs are "My Cherie Amour", "For Once in My Life", "Pastime Paradise", "Superstition", "Living For The City", "Skeletons", "All In Love Is Fair", " Sir Duke", "I Wish", "Isn "t She Lovely".

In Russia, the song "I Just Called to Say I Love You" is the most famous. The most famous albums of the "classic period": Characters, Innervisions and Songs in the Key of Life. Wonder has recorded more than thirty US top ten hits, written over 2,000 songs, and won a record 25 Grammy awards for excellence in recording. He is also known for his work as a political activist, including his 1980 campaign to make the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr. a national holiday in the United States. On this occasion, Wonder, who by that time was already a well-known advocate for the rights of African Americans, recorded the song "Happy Birthday", entirely dedicated to the campaign in support of the holiday. In 2009, Stevie Wonder was announced as a UN envoy. In 2008, Billboard magazine published a list of "The 100 Greatest Artists of All Time", in which Wonder was ranked fifth.

Stevie Wonder has been called one of the greatest musicians of our time:

1. Won 25 Grammy Awards
2. Became one of the musicians who actually determined the popular styles of "black" music - rhythm and blues and soul of the middle of the 20th century,
3. The name of Wonder is immortalized in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (1989) and the Composers Hall of Fame (1983),
4. Winner of the Gershwin Prize.

During his career, he recorded over 30 albums. Their last studio album, A Time to Love, was released in 2005. The album debuted at number five on the US pop chart. It received critical acclaim, a Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance ("From The Bottom Of My Heart"), and sold 169,000 copies as of the summer of 2007 (according to Nielsen SoundScan). Stevie Wonder's last official live album was released in 2008, a recording from a London concert at the O2 Arena. The album contains 27 tracks, mostly Wonder's own songs, plus one Miles Davis ("All Blues"), one Chick Corea ("Spain"), and a medley of The Beatles and The Rolling Stones.

Stevie Wonder was born on May 13, 1950 in the town of Saginaw, Michigan, completely blind. He was a child prodigy who started his career at the age of 12 at Motown Records. In a matter of years, he has grown into the musical genius we have known and loved for many years. We still listen to such hits as "I Just Called to Say I Love You" and "Superstition". Today Stevie Wonder turned 66 years old, so the pretexts to remember the best of his songs.

Stevie Wonder started his musical career when he was 12 years old, and a year later his name topped the charts. The song "Fingertips" became No. 1 in 1963, and after that more and more hits from Stevie Wonder began to be placed at the top of the charts. Wonder easily moved from the so-called "Motown sound" of the 60s to the more social and ambitious albums of the 70s and, finally, to the glossy MTV hits of the 80s.

TOP 10 SONGS OF STEVEY Wander

BOOGIE ON REGGAE WOMAN

Many now mistakenly believe that this song was performed by the American rock band Phish. But those who listened to the radio in 1974 know for sure that "Boogie on Reggae Woman" is performed by Stevie Wonder. This is the absolute hit of the album "Fulfillingness' First Finale", which became the first since his car accident in 1973. Unlike reggae or boogie, this song is loaded with one of the most haunting bass synth sounds in the history of music.

I BELIEVE (WHEN I FALL IN LOVE IT WILL BE FOREVER)

Career Stevie Wonder reached a new level in 1972 with the release of the Talking Book album. He was only 22 years old, and he was already a recognized genius with 15 albums under his belt. Stevie Wonder enjoyed limitless creative freedom and touring with the Rolling Stones introduced him to new audiences. This album contains many famous works of the musician ("Superstition", "You Are the Sunshine of My Life"), but the main hit is still the optimistic "Believe (When I Fall In Love It Will Be Forever)"

SIR DUKE

This song is a tribute to Duke Ellington. And even those who have never heard of this jazz legend were amazed by the song. In 1977, it sounded from everywhere. And while this song was focused on Ellington's legacy, Stevie Wonder was able to expand it to pay homage also to Count Basie, Ellie Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong and Glen Miller. Some might argue that Miller isn't quite up to the level of the rest, but who's going to argue with Stevie Wonder when it comes to music?

OVERJOYED

Many of the biggest stars of the 70s tried to find their place in the radically different pop universe of the 80s, but Stevie Wonder there was no such problem. Throughout the decade, he continued to release new hits. And his song "Overjoyed" took 24th place in the Hot 100 chart. He originally recorded this song in 1979 for Stevie Wonder's Journey Through The Secret Life of Plants album, but it never made it to the album. And 6 years later he recorded it for In Square Circle. It was one of his last big hits.

Stevie Wonder looks back on his childhood as a "little boy with a hairy head" in his 1976 hit "I Wish". It was written on an electronic rhodes piano. In 1999, Will Smith used the song in his film Wild Wild West and even sang it with Stevie Wonder at the MTV Movie Awards. However, this failed film could not save even Stevie Wonder.

HIGHER GROND

Stevie Wonder almost exploded with musical ideas in 1973, and he recorded "Higher Ground" in a frenzy of creativity. As he himself said:

“I wrote it on May 11th. I remember the date. Then I did everything - words, music, and even recorded a track - in three hours. This is the first time I've finished a song so quickly. It was like I needed to finish this song. I felt that something was about to happen. I didn’t know what and when, but I felt it.”

A month later Stevie Wonder got into a terrible car accident and was in a coma for a long time. In 1989, The Red Hot Chili Peppers introduced the song to a whole new generation of audiences.

Stevie Wonder proclaimed his undying love for a woman in "As", another song on this list from Songs In The Key Of Life. Today it is considered Wonder's best love lyric, although at that time the audience was a little tired of Wonder, and the song only took No. 36 on the Hot 100. This single ended the golden period of creativity of Stevie Wonder. When he returned three years later with Stevie Wonder's Journey Through The Secret Life of Plants, some of the spark had already been lost.

I JUST CALL TO SAY I LOVE YOU

Not many remember Gene Wilder's 1984 sex comedy The Woman in Red, but everyone remembers Stevie Wonder's I Just Called to Say I Love You soundtrack. It became a No. 1 hit and even won an Oscar for best song, overtaking Ray Parker Jr. with Ghostbusters. Stevie Wonder even sang a snippet of the song with the hosts of The Cosby Show when he was invited there a few years later. He invited the whole family to the studio and they sang this song together. It was one of the best episodes in the program's history.

LIVING FOR THE CITY

By 1973, American cities were rotting at an alarming rate, and Stevie Wonder channeled the anger felt by many city dwellers into his classic album Innervisions. The song tells the story of a poor boy from Mississippi who moves to New York to start a new life, but gets involved in drug dealing and is sentenced to 10 years in prison. Most of the story sounds like a story in an interlude in the middle of a song, but it was often cut on the radio. Near the end, Wonder shifts to a growl that better conveys his anger at the plight of minorities in America. This is a powerful song with a message that is often lost these days.

SUPERSTITATION

With this song in 1972, a marathon of hit singles by Stevie Wonder began. Recording for the song began when Jeff Beck came into the studio to play his guitar part for Talking Book. Opinions differ slightly, but Beck created the intro on drums and Wonder suggested the song to the guitarist. Although Berry Gordy claims that Stevie Wonder I wrote this song myself. It became a worldwide hit, and Jeff Beck included it on his album the following year. They performed the song together at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on its anniversary.

Throughout his career Stevie Wonder received 25 Grammy awards, including the main Lifetime Achievement Award and was included in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989. His music is universal, so it has not lost its popularity for 50 years.

Having absorbed the unique sound of the Motown label from an early age, Stevie Wonder continued the tradition of this recording studio. At first, his repertoire consisted of compositions in the genres of pop music and soul. Later, Wonder offered listeners an ambitious hybrid of Tin Pan Alley chords, R&B energy with bright splashes of jazz, reggae and African rhythms.

Stevie Wonder is an innovator in studio recording and a pioneer in the use of synthesizers. He is one of the few musicians who perform on their records the parts of almost all instruments, and doing it masterfully and naturally.

Stevie Wonder - biography, facts, photos

Wonder's songs are notable for their socially significant themes about life in the ghetto and violations of civil rights.

Wonder at Motown Studios

An active supporter of non-violent political change, a follower of Martin Luther King Jr. and Mahatma Gandhi Wonder personifies the naive utopianism of the 60s. At the same time, the performer remained absolutely modern in his musical experiments.

Little Stevie Wonder

Stevie and Barry

The outstanding talent of Stevie Morris (real name of the musician) was one of the first to be appreciated by Ronnie White from The Miracles.

He accidentally overheard a 10-year-old blind boy playing the harmonica and introduced the young talent to the CEO and president of Motown, the legendary Barry Gordy Jr.

He, in turn, was also captivated by the talent of the child prodigy. Naming the boy Little Stevie Wonder - Stevie's Little Wonder - Gordy Jr. offered him a contract.

8 months later single Wonder Fingertips topped the R&B chart. Both on studio recordings and at concerts, young Stevie not only sang, but also played the harmonica, drums, piano and organ.

For the first 3 years in show business, the boy was presented to the public as an excellent R&B performer "in the style of Ray Charles", not least due to the fact that both musicians were blind.

Wonder epitomizes the naive utopianism of the 60s

Frame from the movie with Stevie Wonder

Movie frame Muscle Beach Party

In 1964, Stevie Wonder appears on the silver screen in the films Muscle Beach Party and its sequel Bikini Beach.

By the end of the 70s, Wonder's style became more diverse. A cover version of Dilanov's Blowin' in the Wind, an upbeat A Place in the Sun and an instrumental version of Alfie by Bert Baccarac appear in the repertoire. In 1969, the ballads My Cherie Amour and Yester-Me, Yester-You, Yesterday reach the top of the hit parade.

Own way

Growing up, Stevie Wonder decided to take control of his career development. By the time of the release of Sealed & Delivered, he was actually his own producer and arranger, playing the parts of most of the instruments, and writing new material in collaboration with his wife Cyritha Wright.

Stevie Wonder and Cyrita Wright wedding

During this period, 3 more singles were recorded: Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours, Heaven Help Us All and If You Really Love Me.

In 1971, at the age of 21, Wonder signed a new contract with Motown, which made him the first artist to have full creative control, as well as the money he had earned as a minor. True, out of the 30 million dollars earned, he got only 1 - these were the conditions of the first contract.

At the time, his songs supported the label's corporate tradition of releasing upbeat tracks that radio stations eagerly took into rotation. Nevertheless, they still differed from the main mass, standing out with socially significant topics. The lyrics were about the hardships of living in the ghetto or the violation of civil rights.

Starting with Music of My Mind, the musical palette of Wonder's albums expands significantly. The music is influenced by gospel, rock and roll, jazz, African and Latin American rhythms.

The arsenal of instruments is enriched with synthesizers, which become a distinctive feature of his sound.

Stevie Wonder and Mick Jagger (1972)

Thanks to a joint tour with The Rolling Stones in 1972, the audience of his fans expanded significantly. A few months later, two compositions of Wonder confidently topped the charts. These are Superstition, originally written for Jeff Beck, and You Are the Sunshine of My Life from Talking Book.

In 1972, his marriage to Cyrita Wright, which lasted only a year, broke up. The following year, he was in a serious car accident, after which he fell into a coma for 4 days.

Hits of Stevie Wonder

During the 1980s, Wonder cut back on his studio activities and toured most of his time.

Over the next 4 years, Wonder released three albums, which also included 3 top singles (You Haven't Done Nothin; I Wish; Sir Duke), each of which sold millions of copies. During this time, Wonder received 15 Grammy awards.

Numerous cover versions have been and continue to be recorded for Wonder's songs. Numerous musicians have recognized his influence on their work, from Jeff Beck to Bob Marley.

Stevie Wonder and B.B. King (1972)

Working with The Jackson Brothers, The Supremes, Minnie Ripperton, Rufus and Cyrita Wright, Wonder has established himself as a songwriter and producer.

Plate Songs in the Key of Life, released under a new contract with Motown (worth 13 million dollars), was a real manifestation of artistic maturity and power. For 14 weeks, the album established itself at the top of the charts.

Searching for a new sound

next disc, Journey Through the Secret Life of Plants, the recording of which lasted 3 years, was the soundtrack to the documentary film of the same name. The predominantly instrumental album did not generate much interest at the time. Today it may well be regarded as the forerunner of New Age music.

Hotter Than July became a kind of return to the dance spirit of the early albums, updated with modern trends like reggae and rap. It contained Master Blaster (Jammin') and Happy Birthday, the artist's plea for making Martin Luther King's birthday a national holiday.

Stevie Wonder with theater students in Harlem

In 1982, fans of Wonder's work, who had long been waiting for an album with new material, heard That Girl, Do I Do, a duet with Paul McCartney Ebony and Ivory and a retrospective of the best songs of Musiquarium.

In the 1980s, Wonder cut back on studio activity, but continued to tour.

Stevie Wonder became the first Motown artist to play in the Eastern Bloc.

Stevie Wandre and Bob Dylan

In 1982, along with Bob Dylan and Jackson Browne, Wonder took part in the concert-rally Peace Sunday (Peace Sunday) at the Rose Bowl stadium, calling for an end to the nuclear arms race.

Two years later, he received symbolic keys to Detroit, where he spent his childhood, and subsequently even thought about running for mayor of the city.

Elton John and Stevie Wonder 1973

Of the other events of the decade, it is worth noting:

Recording of the harmonica on Elton John's I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues.

Has a part in the recording of the composition We Are the World.

O skar for the best song I Just Called to Say I Love You, included in the soundtrack to the film "The Woman in Red".

By dedicating the award to Nelson Mandela, Wonder so angered the South African authorities that all of his music was banned from broadcast on local radio stations.

Part-Time Lover became the first single to simultaneously top the charts in different directions - pop, R&B, disco.

Album In Square Circle, which included this track, reached number 5 on the chart and earned Wonder a Grammy in the Best Male R&B Vocal Performance category.

Critics and the public favorably treated the work of Wonder. The success of these works could not be compared with the universal recognition that his records achieved in the 70s.

Stevie Wonder and Michael Jackson

Stevie Wonder and Michael Jackson

Thanks to duets with Michael Jackson (Get It) and Julio Iglesias (My Love), recorded in 1988, the name of Wonder was still on everyone's lips.

A year later, he was solemnly inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The list of awards has been replenished with the Grammy Award for Lifetime Musical Achievement.

In 1995, 4 years after receiving the Nelson Mandela Courage Award, he released the album Conversation Peace, which he had been working on since the late 80s.

Critical response to the 74-minute performance was mixed but generally positive. Everyone rejoiced at the very fact that Wonder returned to studio work after an 8-year break.

Stevie Wonder and Miles Davis

In 1999, Wonder performed in the Super Bowl concert program and was also among those who received the annual Kennedy Center Honors for Lifetime Achievement and Contribution to American Culture.

To the delight of fans, he appeared on the hour-long talk show Donny & Marie, where he performed several hits, mostly accompanying himself on keyboards.

Concluding the decade and century as a whole, Wonder released the four-disc box set At the Close of the Century in November 1999. On it, in chronological order, his best songs for 40 years were collected.

A time to love

In 2005, the famous musician recorded the first album with original material in more than a decade, A Time to Love.

• Paul McCartney and India.Ari took part in the recording of the title track.
• So What the Fuss features the guitar and vocals of the girls from En Vogue.
• On How Will I Know, Wonder was joined by his daughter Aisha Morris.
• The single From the Bottom of My Heart brought the musician another Grammy award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance. At the awards ceremony, he performed the famous Higher Ground in a duet with Alicia Keys.

Wonder and McCartney

The same year, Wonder took part in the Live 8 concert in Philadelphia and performed a medley of his hits before the start of the Super Bowl in his native Detroit.

The following year was marked by participation in the television show American Idol, where Wonder acted as a mentor. As part of the project, each of the 12 participants performed one of his hits in front of a multi-million television audience. In 2007, the artist undertook his first concert tour in 10 years, A Wonder Summer's Night, performing first in the US and then in Europe.

In an interview with Rolling Stone, then-U.S. presidential candidate Barack Obama referred to Wonder as his "musical hero", and he soon returned the compliment by speaking at the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver.

The song Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours became Obama's unofficial campaign anthem.

In January 2009, Wonder performed at the Obama inauguration ceremony at the Lincoln Memorial, as well as one of ten inaugural balls. A month later, at a special ceremony at the White House, Obama presented Wonder with the Gershwin Lifetime Achievement Award.

Barack Obama awards Stevie Wonder with the Gershwin Prize

Stevie Wonder at the White House

In 2009, the artist gave a series of spectacular performances, the first of which was the joint performance of Superstition with the Jonas Brothers at the 51st Grammy Awards. In July, Wonder took part in Michael Jackson's farewell at the Los Angeles Staples Center, performing Never Dreamed You'd Leave in Summer and They Won't Go When I Go.

Wonder and Sir Elton John

In his humanitarian work, Stevie Wonder focuses on:

• in the fight against the spread of AIDS and apartheid,
• participating in campaigns against drunk driving and drug abuse,
• raising funds for blind children and children with special needs,
• to help the homeless.

Translation by Ella Veselkova. Article by journalist Daniel Kreps from Rolling Stone's Encyclopedia of Rock and Roll (2001), published by Simon & Schuster.

In the world, he is constantly included in "lists of the best vocalists of all time." Blinded shortly after birth, signed his first recording contract at the age of eleven Motown Records and continues to perform and record on it to this day. Stevie Wonder is musician-multi-instrumentalist: possesses a vocal range of four octaves and an incredibly complex vocal technique, masterly owns grand piano and all kinds synthesizers , drum set , clarinet , harmonica. Stevie Wonder has achieved outstanding success in the musical field, being blind. Along with Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder is the most famous and popular blind musician in the world.

Some of the most famous songs Stevie Wonder: "My Cherie Amour", "For Once in My Life", "Signed, Sealed, Delivered I "m Yours", "Superstition", "Living For The City", "Higher Ground", "All In Love Is Fair", "Sir Duke", "I Wish", "Lately". Russia The most famous song is " I Just Called to Say I Love You» . The most famous albums"classical period": Talking Book, inner visions and Songs in the Key of Life. Wonder has recorded over 30 top ten hits USA, wrote more than 2000 songs and received record 25 Grammy Awards, awarded for the highest achievements in the field of sound recording. He is also known for his work as a political activist, including his 1980 campaign for a birthday Martin Luther King status of a national holiday in the United States. On this occasion, Wonder, who by that time was already a well-known advocate for the rights of African Americans, recorded the song "Happy Birthday", entirely dedicated to the campaign in support of the holiday. In 2009, Stevie Wonder was announced as a messenger UN. In 2008 the magazine Billboard published a list of "The 100 Greatest Artists of All Time", in which Wonder was ranked fifth.

Stevie Wonder has been called one of the greatest musicians of our time:

Their last studio album, A Time to Love, was released in 2005. The album debuted at number five on the US pop chart. She received a lot of positive reviews from critics, the award " Grammy"for the best male pop vocal ("From The Bottom Of My Heart") and sold 169 thousand copies in the summer of 2007 (according to Nielsen SoundScan). Stevie Wonder's last official live album was released in 2008, this is a recording from a London concert on O2 arena. The album contains 27 tracks, mostly songs by Wonder himself, there is also one composition Miles Davis("All Blues"), one Chick Corea ("Spain") and potpourri on song themes The Beatles and The Rolling Stones

Biography

Childhood

Stevie Wonder was born on May 13, 1950 in Saginaw, Michigan, was the third of six children in the family. When Stevie was four years old, his mother left her husband and moved with her children to Detroit.

To a certain extent, the blindness of the musician was caused by a medical error. Stevie was born prematurely, the vessels of his eyes have not yet developed correctly, this is a typical disease of premature babies - Retinopathy of prematurity. A large dose of oxygen was supplied to his incubator, which aggravated the development of blindness, this factor is probably not a self-cause. The musician himself in an interview with CNN says that doctors only later found a pattern of such an effect of oxygen on premature babies with his disease. Had they known this before, he might have seen at least something.

It is foolish to be offended by fate, it is foolish to whine, and even more foolish to feel sorry for yourself. Just forget about what your eyes do not see, and live like everyone else - only much better, much more interesting.

Lula Mae Judkins, mother of Stevie Wonder

The mother tried to keep him at home, fearing that the blind child would not be able to stand up for himself on the streets of the city. She taught him to read little by little. Moreover, according to some sources, she did it according to the usual primer (thanks to the unique natural sensitivity of Stevie's fingers, which began to distinguish the smallest grains of printing ink by touch); for others, with the help Braille. So that her son would not be bored, she began to bring him musical instruments: harmonica, drums. At the same time, Stevie sang in the church choir. He calls his first instrument piano. One of his childhood idols was Ray Charles also blind. According to Stevie, for him, as for all the blind, tactile sensations were very important, and the fact that they are combined with sounds aroused great interest. He had five brothers and a sister (one of the brothers later died).

The musician considered his mother to be the head of the family, which he talks about in an interview Larry Kingu :

My father was definitely not the head of the family, my mother raised us. And she worked in a fish company until that happy moment when they noticed my talent. I was 9, at 10 we signed with Motown and by 11 we had our first record out.

Stevie's "discovery" and early recordings on Motown

One of the first famous musicians who heard little Stevie was Ronnie White, from The Miracles. Stevie had an audition with the CEO and president of the firm. Motown Berry Gordy, who was struck by the extraordinary musicianship of the little performer, signed the eleven-year-old boy to his first contract. As legend has it, Gordy said after the audition: “You guy are a real miracle, I advise you to take this one. pseudonym". Before signing the contract, Motown producer Clarence Paul stated that "Stevie is the eighth wonder of the world"! This is how the singer's pseudonym appeared - "Wonder Stevie" or "Stevie Wonder", or rather, then "little Stevie Wonder". At the end of 1961, he makes his first Motown recordings - single"I Call It Pretty Music, But the Old People Call It the Blues", and in 1962 released the first two album: "The Jazz Soul of Little Stevie" and "Tribute to Uncle Ray", which are mostly instrumentals with long solo on the harmonica and percussion. Despite the amazing giftedness boy, these first records did not have much success.

Musical career

First hits and : 1963-1971

At the age of 13, Stevie records his first real hit- Fingertips (Pt. 2), the single was taken from the 1963 album Recorded Live: The 12 Year Old Genius. Song featuring Stevie as vocalist and performer on bongs and harmonica, as well as young Marvin Gaye on drums became a No. 1 hit in American pop and R"n"B charts and noted Wonder in public consciousness.

In 1964, Stevie Wonder made his debut in Muscle Beach Party as himself, in credits indicate his name: "little Stevie Wonder". Five months later, he returns to the screen in sequel Bikini Beach. He performed in both films, singing the songs "Happy Street" and "Happy Feelin" (Dance and Shout)" respectively.

Dropping the "little" nickname from his nickname in the mid-60s, Stevie Wonder has a number of hits such as "Uptight (Everything's Alright)", "With a Child's Heart", and cover version songs Bob Dylan"Blowin' in the Wind", which is interesting because it was one of the first songs to reflect public consciousness Stevie. He also begins to work as a composer in Motown, writing songs for himself and his labelmates, for example, his song "Tears of a Clown" became a No. 1 hit by Smokey Robinson and The Miracles.

In 1968, Wonder recorded an album of instrumental soul -jazz compositions, mainly solo harmonica, under the pseudonym (the album was also called) Eivets Rednow, which means "Stevie Wonder", written backwards. The album went almost unnoticed, the only single " Alfie”, reached only 66 on the US pop charts and 11 on the US adult charts. However, Stevie managed to release several hits between 1968 and 1970, namely "My Cherie Amour", "I Was Made to Love Her", "For Once in My Life" and "Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours. In September 1970, at age 20, Wonder married Syreeta Wright, a former Motown secretary and songwriter. With permission Berry Gordy, she helped Stevie produce his next album Where I'm Coming From (translated from English Where am I from). This very important record in Wonder's career needs to be said separately.

As for the name of the album, shortly before its release, in one of the disputes with the leaders Motown, Stevie said a phrase remarkable for its ambiguity: “When I turn 21, I'm going to take control of my career. It seems to me that you do not know me very well and have a poor idea of ​​where I came from. After the release of the album in Motown gradually begin to understand this. Curiously, with the release of 1971 album "Where I'm Coming From", all subsequent studio albums by Stevie Wonder (with the exception of soundtracks) bore names that did not match the title of any of the songs included in these records. And it especially emphasized them conceptuality. This tradition was interrupted only in 1995, with the release of the album "Conversation Peace", which included the composition of the same name. April 12th 1971 album "Where I'm Coming From" goes on sale. The album is a smooth transition from the traditional "sweet" sound of Motown to the sound of Stevie Wonder, who will very soon be admired by the whole world. At first, after its release, the album is perceived ambiguously. His arrangements are generally traditional Motown, not yet available. synthesizers. However, there are several important features that distinguish this album from its predecessors:

First, Stevie Wonder is the first complete and only producer own album, in other words, is responsible for its sound, arrangement and repertoire. Although formally he was listed as a producer on some previous albums, in fact he was not yet. For example, on the 1970 album Signed, Sealed & Delivered, he is assisted by a whole team of Motown arrangers: Henry Cosby, Paul Riser, Wade Marcus, Tom Baird, Dave Blumberg, and, strictly speaking, this is not yet “the sound of Stevie Wonder”, but peppy “ sound of Motown", designed for a fairly wide, mass pop -soul audience, including whites. On Where I'm Coming From, the sound is already different: soft, gentle arrangements, with very interesting findings. Some songs, such as "Something Out Of The Blue", use not quite typical soul-music instruments such as oboe , flute, soloist violin, as well as others stringed instruments. Wonder's first production experience was generally successful. The best songs of the Where I'm Coming From album already portend Wonder's incredible production flair, although not everyone understands this yet.

Secondly, Stevie Wonder is the first complete and only music author own album, he wrote all the songs himself. On previous records (especially the earliest ones) there was quite a lot of music by other composers, often quite mediocre (although there were also high-level songs like Sunny Bobby Hebb, The Shadow Of Your Smile or We Can Work It Out John Lennon and Paul McCartney). In the early years of his career, even the songs actually written by Wonder himself, the names of other famous authors (most often Moy and Cosby) were added on the album covers to attract buyers. In the best compositions of the album, one can already hear Wonder's signature subtle melodic and amazing harmonic ingenuity. Although, in general, the material of the album is still uneven. Stevie confidently declares himself as a full-fledged author of music for his records, and the management of Motown understands for the first time that he really reveals himself in recording and performing his own songs, and not someone else's.

In general, contemporaries reacted to the album warmly, but calmly, and it did not become a hit. Today, despite the aforementioned "transitionality", the album is deservedly considered a classic of soul music. Currently, at least three of the nine songs on this record ("Do Yourself A Favor", "If You Really Love Me" and "Never Dreamed You'd Leave In Summer", the latter being especially popular) have cover versions other musicians, including world famous ones such as Phil Collins , ocean color scene and others.

May 13, 1971 - on his 21st birthday, Stevie Wonder terminates his expired first contract with Motown and receives his first million dollars earned from it.

Concept albums and peak success: 1972-1976

After the termination of the contract with Stevie Wonder, the head Motown Berry Gordy realized that he had lost at least the biggest star of his label to say the least. And immediately began negotiations about the return of Wonder to Motown. The result of the negotiations was a new 120-page contract, thanks to which Stevie Wonder received full creative control over the entire production process of future records and the rights to his own songs.

The real turning point in his work came in the early seventies, when at the age of 21 he received all the money he earned and was able to move from releasing singles to recording. concept albums. The first records of the "new Stevie Wonder" were " Music Of My Mind"("Music of my thoughts") and "Talking Book" ("Talking book") (both - 1972), not similar to almost anything he had done before, although the main lines of development were outlined in the previous disc "Where I "m Coming From" ("Where am I from" - 1971). S. Wonder was able to fully preserve the beauty of his melodies, while abandoning the usual sentimentality of "Motuan" and drawing closer to the work of such musicians as Sly Stone , Curtis Mayfield , Jimi Hendrix. Thus, he took a decisive step towards rock, with his greater honesty, adherence to principles and uncompromisingness.

In the lyrics that Wonder wrote himself, in addition to traditional romantic themes, social , political and mystical. In music, Stevie began to use new recording technologies: dubbing and overlaying voices, instrumental parts and backing vocals. This allowed him to record the album virtually alone - he himself sings all the vocal parts, creating a whole palette polyphonic backing vocals plays all instruments (except solo on the trombone Art Baron in Love Having You Around and guitar solo Buzzy Feiton in Superwoman). First synthesizer becomes a full-fledged member of the recording, before this album synthesizers almost never used in black music. Album Music Of My Mind marked the beginning of Stevie Wonder's long collaboration with Malcolm Cecil and Robert Margouleff from English electronic musical duet. AT 2003 the album entered the list, where it takes 284th place. Currently, all the songs on this record (with the exception of "Sweet Little Girl") have cover versions other musicians (for example, a cover version of "Evil" was performed by musicians from CIS), including world famous ones, such as for example Quincy Jones, George Duke, Lionel Hampton, The Main Ingredient and others.

Talking Book (1972)

For two songs from Talking Book, Wonder got three Grammy awards. In an episode of the popular children's TV show " sesame street”, which aired in April 1973, Wonder and his band performed “Superstition”, as well as the original song “Sesame Street”, which Wonder sang with a new, at that time, vocal gadget called “Talk Box”. Album "Talking Book" won three Grammy awards(these were the first awards in his career) and in 2003 entered the list Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time, where he took 90th place. Currently, for all the songs from this disc, there are numerous cover versions other musicians, including world famous ones such as Ray Charles , Frank Sinatra , Quincy Jones, Herbie Hancock, George Michael , Liza Minnelli , Joe Pass , Ella Fitzgerald , Stefan Grappelli , Tom Jones , Stevie Ray Vaughan , Phil Collins , Larisa Dolina and many others.

Innervisions (1973)

Fulfillingness" First Finale (1974)

Songs In The Key Of Life (1976)

Music by Stevie Wonder

Stevie Wonder's songs are notorious for being quite difficult to sing. Thanks to his superbly developed sense of harmony, Wonder loves to use many complex patterns in his compositions. chords, often with non-chord sounds, seventh chords , nonchords, downvoted chords fifth etc. Wonder often uses sequences, more often ascending (for example, the chorus "Golden Lady"), but there are also descending ones ("Never In Your Sun"). Many of his melodies make abrupt, unpredictable changes. The difficulty of their implementation is that they are widely used melismas, meaning that the syllable is sung over several notes. Also, many of his songs are written in not typical for popular music. keys, which are more common in jazz, than in pop and rock music. For example, such famous compositions as "Superstition", "Higher Ground" and "I Wish" were written in in E-flat minor, and "You And I" in G flat major. Often found modulation to others keys, often quite far from original. For example, in the famous song "Living For The City" there is a modulation from the main key G flat major in G major. In addition, quite often Wonder's compositions start and end in the same key, but have a very complex tonal plan inside. A vivid example of this is the song "Overjoyed". A rather rare example of the use of a whole-ton scales in Wonder's music is the intro to "You Are The Sunshine Of My Life" (the first eight bars).

Cover versions and compositions for other artists

Participation in projects of other musicians

Participation in socially significant events

Concert activity

Stevie Wonder decided to return to active concert activity after a 20-year hiatus and began his American tour on August 23, 2007 with a concert in San Diego. The "A Wonder Summer's Night" tour, which took place in 13 cities in the United States, ended in Boston on September 20 and was a success. Stevie Wonder was the main star and guest of honor of the festival " New wave" in Jurmala (Latvia) in 2007.

Awards and recognition

Grammy Awards

Stevie Wonder is in second place among pop musicians in terms of the number of Grammy Awards: he received Grammy Award 25 times, including a Grammy for Lifetime Achievement. Only his friend and colleague got more than him Quincy Jones who won this award 27 times. Wonder is one of the few performers (along with Frank Sinatra and Paul Simon) who were awarded one of the most prestigious Grammy awards " Album of the Year» the greatest number of times. And also the only musician in the world who received " Album of the Year» three times in a row for their albums inner visions(1973), Fulfillingness" First Finale (1974) and Songs In The Key Of Life (1976).

Year	Nomination	Name
1973	Best R&B Song	Superstition
1973		Superstition
1973		"You are the Sunshine of My Life"
1973	Best Album of the Year	inner visions
1973		inner visions
1974	Best R&B Song	"Living for the City"
1974	Best Male R&B Vocal Performance	"Boogie On Reggae Woman"
1974	Best Male Pop Vocal Performance	Fulfillingness" First Finale
1974	Best Album of the Year	Fulfillingness" First Finale
1974	Best Non-Classical Producer of the Year*	Fulfillingness" First Finale
1976	Best Male R&B Vocal Performance	"I Wish"
1976	Best Male Pop Vocal Performance	Songs in the Key of Life
1976	Best Non-Classical Producer of the Year*	Songs in the Key of Life
1976	Best Album of the Year	Songs in the Key of Life
1985	Best Male R&B Vocal Performance	In Square Circle
1986	Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group (also awarded Dionne Warwick , Elton John and Gladys Knight)	"That's What Friends Are For"
1995	Best R&B Song	"For Your Love"
1995	Best Male R&B Vocal Performance	"For Your Love"
1996	Grammy Lifetime Achievement	home
1998	Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanied by Vocalist(s) (also awarded to Herbie Hancock and Robert Sadin)	"St. Louis Blues»
1998	Best Male R&B Vocal Performance	"St. Louis Blues»
2002	Take 6)	"Love's in Need of Love Today"
2005	Best Male Pop Vocal Performance	"From the Bottom of My Heart"
2005	Best R&B Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group (Joint Wonder and beyoncé)	"So Amazing"
2006	Best Collaborative Pop Vocal Performance (Joint Wonder and Tony Bennett)	"For Once In My Life"

• In the period from 1965 to 1980, in the nominations " Record of the Year" and " Album of the Year» an artist who is at the same time producer own record or album, received one Grammy Award as an artist and an additional award as producer.

Other awards and recognition

Discography

Stevie Wonder's discography includes 23 studio albums, three soundtracks, four live albums, 10 compilations, one box set and 98 singles. Four albums are included in the magazine's "500 Greatest Albums of All Time" list. Rolling stone , namely: inner visions (1973, 23rd place), Songs in the Key of Life (1976, 56th place), Talking book(1972, 90th place) and Music of My Mind (1972, 284th place).

Additional facts

Your magical world, pure as a diamond; to see everything, there are not enough eyes.

And any of us enters your city, bowing his head before the beauty

In fabulous colors, in the blue sky, in marvelous clouds, your magical home.

And without looking down from your height, you made the cruel world a little kinder

You are probably right: to just sing, it would be better not to look around at all

And, closing your eyes, it is sacred to believe in the myth - that the human world is fabulously beautiful.

• Soviet-Russian rock band " Time Machine dedicated a song to Stevie Wonder. On the album It was so long ago...”, recorded in 1978, and released in 1992, there is a composition “Dedication to Steve Wonder” with lyrics Andrei Makarevich.
• Soviet VIA " Funny boys"In 1979 he released the album" Musical Globe ", which included the composition" School Time "with Russian text by V. Kharitonov. This is the original song by Stevie Wonder "Ebony Eyes" from the album Songs in the Key of Life 1976 .
• In 1974 on the album Stevie Wonder Presents Wonder's song "Cause We've Ended As Lovers" is released (translated from English 'Cause we're not lovers anymore ) performed by his now ex-wife Syrita Wright. The song is interesting in that it is one of Wonder's most powerful songs, never performed by him himself. In 1975, an instrumental version of this composition was released on the solo album of the British guitarist Jeff Beck Blow by Blow in a completely different fatal arrangement. "Cause We've Ended As Lovers" becomes almost his main hit and brings the musician international fame.
• In 1998 British pop singer George Michael recorded with Mary J. Blige his version of the song "As" and shot a video clip for it. Originally a song by Stevie Wonder from the album Songs in the Key of Life 1976.
• In 1999, American actor and hip-hop artist Will Smith recorded the song "Wild Wild West" and shot a video clip for it (in which Stevie Wonder himself was filmed). The original song is Stevie Wonder's "I Wish" from the album Songs in the Key of Life 1976.
• In the song "Isn't She Lovely" from the album Songs in the Key of Life 1976, Wonder's daughter Aisha Morris, who was only a year old at the time of the recording of the album, is heard crying. Subsequently, Aisha Morris became a singer, currently performing with her father as a solo and