STEVIE WONDERSTEVIE WONDER

The Life of a LegendThe Life of a Legend

Stevland Hardaway Stevland Hardaway JudkinsJudkins

• Born May 13, 1950 in Born May 13, 1950 in Saginaw, MichiganSaginaw, Michigan

• Son of Lula Mae Hardaway Son of Lula Mae Hardaway and Calvin Judkinsand Calvin Judkins

• After Lula left Calvin After Lula left Calvin Stevie’s surname was Stevie’s surname was changed to Morrischanged to Morris

• Born premature, Stevie Born premature, Stevie went blind due to stunted went blind due to stunted growth in the blood vessels growth in the blood vessels in his eyes and heightened in his eyes and heightened oxygen in the incubatoroxygen in the incubator

Little Stevie WonderLittle Stevie Wonder• Discovered by Ronnie White Discovered by Ronnie White

of the band the Miracles, of the band the Miracles, who’s brother brought him who’s brother brought him to see Stevie playto see Stevie play

• Ronnie Introduced him to Ronnie Introduced him to Berry Gordy Jr., founder of Berry Gordy Jr., founder of Motown RecordsMotown Records

• Signed at 11 years oldSigned at 11 years old• Released his first album Released his first album

Little Stevie Wonder 12 Little Stevie Wonder 12 Year Old Genius Year Old Genius in 1962in 1962

• His first single ‘Fingertips’ in His first single ‘Fingertips’ in 1963 was an instant hit1963 was an instant hit

• Leads him into his prime of Leads him into his prime of the 70s and 80sthe 70s and 80s

70s Hit Machine70s Hit Machine• Stevie was turning out a new Stevie was turning out a new

album practically yearly album practically yearly throughout the decadethroughout the decade

• Released several of his most Released several of his most famous singles including famous singles including ‘Superstition’, ‘I Wish’, “Higher ‘Superstition’, ‘I Wish’, “Higher Ground’, ‘Livin’ for the City’ and Ground’, ‘Livin’ for the City’ and ‘Sir Duke’. All hitting number #1 in ‘Sir Duke’. All hitting number #1 in the U.S. and charting very high in the U.S. and charting very high in the U.K.the U.K.

• In 1972 he toured with The Rolling In 1972 he toured with The Rolling StonesStones

• November 18, 1974 was declared November 18, 1974 was declared Stevie Wonder day in Los AngelesStevie Wonder day in Los Angeles

• One of his most famous albums One of his most famous albums Songs in the Key of Life Songs in the Key of Life debuts at debuts at #1 on pop and R&B charts#1 on pop and R&B charts

• 14 Grammies were won throughout 14 Grammies were won throughout he decade – 5 in 1974, 5 in 1975 he decade – 5 in 1974, 5 in 1975 and 4 in 1977and 4 in 1977

80s Don’t Slow Down80s Don’t Slow Down• Begins campaign to make Martin Begins campaign to make Martin

Luther King’s birthday a national Luther King’s birthday a national holiday – bill passed in 1983holiday – bill passed in 1983

• Purchases L.A. radio station KHLHPurchases L.A. radio station KHLH• Works with Paul McCartney on Works with Paul McCartney on

‘Ebony and Ivory’‘Ebony and Ivory’• More #1 albums and singles More #1 albums and singles

including ‘I Just Called to Say I Love including ‘I Just Called to Say I Love You’ (first #1 in the U.K.), You’ (first #1 in the U.K.), Character Character albumalbum, In Square Circle , In Square Circle albumalbum

• 1985 Oscar for ‘I Just Called to Say I 1985 Oscar for ‘I Just Called to Say I Love You’Love You’

• 1986 Grammy for ‘That’s What 1986 Grammy for ‘That’s What Friends Are For’ with Dionne, Elton Friends Are For’ with Dionne, Elton and Gladysand Gladys

• 1989 induction into the Rock n’ Roll 1989 induction into the Rock n’ Roll Hall of FameHall of Fame

• Grammies keep coming in the Grammies keep coming in the upcoming decadesupcoming decades

Notable AwardsNotable Awards• 25 Grammy Awards, 25 Grammy Awards,

including a Grammy Lifetime including a Grammy Lifetime Achievement AwardAchievement Award

• 1989 inducted into the Rock 1989 inducted into the Rock n’ Roll Hall of Famen’ Roll Hall of Fame

• Academy Award and Golden Academy Award and Golden Globe for best original songGlobe for best original song

• Billboard Music Century Billboard Music Century AwardAward

• Multiple American Music Multiple American Music AwardsAwards

• Multiple BET Honors AwardsMultiple BET Honors Awards• Multiple NAACP AwardsMultiple NAACP Awards• Soul Train AwardSoul Train Award

Family ManFamily Man

• Stevie is 1 of 6 childrenStevie is 1 of 6 children• He has 9 Children of his own – He has 9 Children of his own –

oldest 39, youngest just 1 oldest 39, youngest just 1 year oldyear old

• Married twice - first to Syreeta Married twice - first to Syreeta Wright, then to Kai MillardWright, then to Kai Millard

• 2 children with Kai2 children with Kai• 5 children with 2 ex-girlfriends 5 children with 2 ex-girlfriends

– Yolanda Simmons and – Yolanda Simmons and Melody McCullyMelody McCully

• 2 children with current fiancé, 2 children with current fiancé, Tomeekah Robyn BracyTomeekah Robyn Bracy

Little Known FactsLittle Known Facts• Marvin Gaye played drums on Marvin Gaye played drums on

Stevie’s first single ‘Fingertips’Stevie’s first single ‘Fingertips’• Stevie was a leader in declaring Stevie was a leader in declaring

Martin Luther King’s birthday a Martin Luther King’s birthday a national holidaynational holiday

• In 1973 he was in a serious car In 1973 he was in a serious car accident that put him in a coma accident that put him in a coma for ten days and caused him to for ten days and caused him to permanently lose his sense of permanently lose his sense of smell and temporarily lose his smell and temporarily lose his taste taste

• Refers to his alter ego as DJ Tick Refers to his alter ego as DJ Tick Tick BoomTick Boom

• In 1976 signed a $13 million deal In 1976 signed a $13 million deal with Motown, the largest with Motown, the largest recording deal in history at that recording deal in history at that timetime

• Current net worth of $110 millionCurrent net worth of $110 million

Man of Many HatsMan of Many Hats• Plays drums, keyboards, Plays drums, keyboards,

harmonicaharmonica• Musician, songwriter, Musician, songwriter,

singer, producersinger, producer• Has written over 80 songs Has written over 80 songs

for others including Marvin for others including Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson, Gaye, Smokey Robinson, The Supremes and The The Supremes and The TemptationsTemptations

• Has had over 30 top ten hitsHas had over 30 top ten hits• Ten #1 hitsTen #1 hits• One of the top 60 best-One of the top 60 best-

selling artists of ALL TIMEselling artists of ALL TIME

SourcesSources• http://www.allmusic.com/artist/steviehttp://www.allmusic.com/artist/stevie

-wonder-mn0000622805/awards-wonder-mn0000622805/awards• http://www.steviewonder.org.uk/bio/lihttp://www.steviewonder.org.uk/bio/li

fe-stories/wonder_timeline.htmlfe-stories/wonder_timeline.html• http://www.biography.com/people/http://www.biography.com/people/

stevie-wonder-9536078stevie-wonder-9536078• http://www.imdb.com/name/http://www.imdb.com/name/

nm0005567/bionm0005567/bio