Born: May 13, 1950
Place of Birth: Saginaw, Michigan
Major Notes:
Stevie Wonder holds the modern record for having received the most Grammy awards given anyone.
The above was no easy feat since Wonder has been blind since birth.
Wonder's parents split up when he was only four and he moved with his mother to Detroit where the youngster took part in the church choir.
He had a natural talent for music and could play the piano at age seven.
By the time Wonder had turned nine years old, he had learned to play several additional music instruments.
Ronnie White of the Miracles, an R&B singing group, coincidentally heard Wonder singing for some friends and recommended him to Motown Records.
Wonder was signed as Little Stevie Wonder and by 1963 he had a number one harmonica instrumental "Fingertips" on the R&B hit parade.
Motown paid for Stevie Wonder to attend the Michigan School for the Blind where he took further training in classical music.
In 1964, Wonder realized that Motown Records had more control over the music he used than he wished.
He continued to produce hit songs following Motown's guidance but he felt something lacking in the final product.
When he turned 21 in 1971, Wonder won a better deal with Motown increasing his royalties and setting up his own publishing company, Black Bull Music.
Now with more personal control, he produced an album where he played nearly all the instruments and styled the music to his satisfaction.
Wonder's success with music over the next few years brought him to a superstar status as the world was recognizing his genius.
Throughout the 80's and 90's, he released many new songs and made synthesizer arrangements an accepted norm in music.
He has continued his career and been an influence on many jazz, R&B, and pop performers.
Stevie Wonder was honored with the Montreal Jazz Festival Spirit Award in 2009, given to someone who makes an extraordinary contribution to the musical world.
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