Stevie Wonder

Does the lyrics “very superstitious” ring a bell? How about Isn’t she lovely? Born on 1950 in
Saginaw, Michigan. A singer, songwriter, and an activist. I present to you the Grammy Award-
winner Steveland Hardaway Morris or better known as Stevie Wonder. Stevie was born
prematurely that lead to complications leaving him permanently blind. Also, on 1972, he had a car
accident which caused him to get a partial loss of his sense of smell and a temporary loss of his
sense of taste. Currently, He has nine children by five different women.
Moving on to his career, what made him a wonder is because of his ability to play numerous
instruments and his ability to sing, doing both at the same time. He is a pioneer and influence by
musicians across a range of genres that include rhythm and blues, pop, soul, gospel, funk, and jazz.
A virtual one-man band, Wonder's use of synthesizers and other electronic musical instruments
during the 1970s reshaped the conventions of R&B. Wonder experimented with synthesizers and
was one of the first musicians to use electronic music extensively in Black American songs.
Also, his activism has been pivotal in U.S. and world events. In 1983, he spearheaded a
campaign to make Martin Luther King Day a national holiday in the United States. Actually, he had
composed a song about Martin entitled happy birthday. He even advocated for the end of apartheid
in South Africa.
He has written, produced or performed songs for charities and has been recognized for his
philanthropic efforts by the U.S. President’s Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities.
Then, in 2009, he was named a United Nations Messenger of Peace. Lastly, in 2014, he was honored
with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.