Happy 62nd Birthday, Mr. WONDER-ful

On May 13, 1950 in Saginaw, Michigan, Stevland Hardaway Judkins was the third of six children born to Calvin Judkins and Lula Mae Hardaway. Due to the complications associated with being born six weeks prematurely, he was declared permanently blind just after birth.

When Stevland was four years old, his parents separated and his mother moved herself and the children to Detroit, Michigan. His mother legally changed Stevie's last name from Judkins to Morris, the surname of her relatives. He continues to use the name "Stevland Morris" to this day.

Young Stevie was so full of natural, God-given talent that he not only sang in the choir at Whitestone Baptist Church, but he also played several instruments; including, among others, the piano, keyboards, harmonica, and drums, all by the age of 10.

In 1961 Ronnie White of The Miracles introduced the young boy to Motown, and it wasn't long thereafter, at the age of 11, that "Little Stevie Wonder" would begin his career-long, sometimes rocky, relationship with the label and its CEO, Berry Gordy. 

He was given the stage name "Stevie Wonder" by Clarence Paul, a writer for Motown and one of the young singer's mentors, who is quoted as saying "We can't keep calling him the Eighth Wonder of The World".

His first single, released on the Tamla label (a sub-label of Motown) in 1961 was titled, "I Call it Pretty Music, But The Old People Call it The Blues".

He would release two more singles ("Little Water Boy" and Contract on Love") and his first two studio albums (The Jazz Soul of Little Stevie and Tribute to Uncle Ray) all before his smash hit single "Fingertips" was officially released in 1963, launching him onto the national music scene.

While on tour with Motown's Motortown Revue in June of 1962, Little Stevie Wonder performed "Fingertips" live at the Regal Theater in Chicago, Illinois. Featuring a young Marvin Gaye on drums, the track which reached the #1 slot on Billboard's Top 100 list.

Over the next few years the "Man-Child Wonder" wrote several songs for Motown, including the smash hit "Tears of a Clown", performed by Smokey Robinson and the Miracles. He continued to perform and write for the label but also worked on other, Non-Motown, projects.

In 1964 Stevie Wonder played himself in the movie Muscle Beach Party, where he sang the song "Happy Street". He was also featured in the sequel Bikini Beach, where he performed the song "Happy Feelin' (Dance and Shout)".

In his early teens he was told by school administrators that he would have to give up music until he turned 19 because it was becoming difficult to keep up with his studies and he did not have access to a tutor while on tour.

"I went into the bathroom and cried and prayed that God would allow me to remain in the industry, but I just knew it was impossible. One of my teachers told me that I had three strikes against me that must be considered. I was poor, black and blind."

~ Stevie Wonder

His prayers did not go unanswered, and at the age of 18, Stevie Wonder graduated from the Michigan School for The Blind, with Honors, as a very successful and talented musician with a bright future ahead of him.

Stevie Wonder was breaking and setting records throughout his early career, in both his music and personal life.

In 1969 he met with then President Richard Nixon at the White House and was presented with the Distinguished Service Award from the Committee on Employment of Handicapped People.

His two-year marriage to former Motown secretary and songwriter, Syreeta Wright, in September 1970 may not have lasted long, but the two remained close friends and worked on several projects together before she passed away on July 6, 2004 at the age of 58.

As newlyweds, they co-wrote the songs for Stevie's 1971 album Where I'm Coming From, they worked together on Stevie's album Music of My Mind and her self-titled album, Syreeta, both in 1972. He also produced and co-wrote her album titled Stevie Wonder Presents: Syreeta in 1974.

In May of 1971 Stevie had a lot going on, to say the least. He was turning 21; he was a newlywed; the money that he had earned as a child, that had been held in trust by a state-appointed guardian, was about to be turned over to him; and his contract with Motown was about to expire.

It's sad to note here that even though Stevie Wonder had earned Motown over thirty million dollars ($30,000,000), at the age of 21, when he received the money from his trust, it was a mere one million dollars ($1,000,000).

This fact is part of what fueled the disagreement Stevie now had with the label. But it wasn't just about the money, although that was, I am sure, a major part. What Stevie wanted was more creative control over his music and the rights to the songs he wrote.

So, in May of 1971 Stevie Wonder would let his contract with Motown expire. During the time he was away from the label he would write material for other artists, including the Spinners, in order to showcase and highlight his talents and to strengthen his position in the ongoing contract negotiations.

Eventually giving in to Stevie's demands the 120-page, seven-year contract with Motown would give him full creative control over his music, and the rights to the songs he wrote. He received $13,000,000 and increased royalty revenues.

A deal this sweet was unheard of, especially for a Motown artist. It is thought to be the largest amount paid to an artist in music industry history at that time.

In 1972 Stevie released his next two albums, Music of My Mind and Talking Book, and he went on tour with the Rolling Stones.

He recorded Innervisions in 1973 and it was released in August, just three days before he would be involved in a collision that almost killed him, and left him in a coma.

"I'm so glad that he let me try it again, 'cause my last time on earth I lived a whole lot of sin, I'm so glad that I know more than I knew then, Gonna keep on tryin', 'till I reach my Highest Ground"
~ Stevie Wonder, lyrics from
"Higher Ground"

The song was written just a couple of months before the accident and Stevie is quoted as saying, "For me, I wrote Higher Ground even before the accident. But something must have been telling me that something was going to happen to make me aware of a lot of things and to get myself together. This is like my second chance for life, to do something or to do more, and to value the fact that I am alive."

Stevie bounced right back after the accident. He was stronger and more passionate than ever about his music. In 1973 he won his first Grammy for his song "Superstition". To date he has received a total of twenty-three Grammy Awards, including the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.

After releasing Songs in The Key of Life in 1976, the ever-talented and creative musician didn't release any new material for awhile. With nothing new being delivered to the label, Motown put out a compilation of previous hits titled Looking Back.

His next studio album, Hotter Than July, would be his first platinum-selling album.

In 1980 Stevie Wonder became dedicated to the movement to have the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. declared a national holiday. He worked closely with the King family and often performed at benefit concerts to raise money for the cause.

In 1983 when the bill passed declaring Dr. King's birthday a national holiday, Stevie said this, "Somewhere, Dr. King is smiling, not because his birthday is a holiday, but because he too is convinced that we are moving in the right direction. I know that this day is a day for all Americans to celebrate love, peace and unity. It is not a cure all, but it is a healing aid".

Music is also a healing aid, and when you love it as much as Stevie does, what do you do? You create a record label and buy a radio station. His label, Wondirection, incorporated in September of 1981 and is currently located in Burbank, California. He purchased KJLH, a Los Angeles based radio station in 1983. The call letters "KJLH" have long been known to stand for Kindness, Joy, Love and Happiness.

In 1985 the talented Mr. Wonder received the Academy Award Oscar for his song "I Just Called to Say I Love You", from his 1983 movie soundtrack Lady in Red. 

During his acceptance speech he dedicated the award to the then imprisoned South African leader Nelson Mandela. Stevie Wonder's music was banned from all of South Africa shortly after the Oscars.

His humanitarian efforts continued and in 1985 he was one of forty-seven artists to record the song "We Are The World" under the band name USA For Africa, whose mission and purpose is to raise money to fight famine and disease in Africa.

He also participated in demonstrations against apartheid in 1985 and was arrested outside of the South African Embassy for disturbing the peace.

"They said I was disturbing the peace. I was just singing."
~ Stevie Wonder

Stevie celebrated his 35th birthday by performing before the United Nations. He was being recognized by them for his work against apartheid and discrimination.

In addition to many other charitable endeavors here in the US, the ever-giving soul has, since 1995, held the annual charity concert House Full of Toys. The event has grown over the years and many organizations and individuals now also help to raise money to purchase gifts for underprivileged children.

Stevie Wonder has a total of seven children of his own. His first daughter, Aisha Zakia (African for strength and intelligence), was born to he and Yolanda Simmons on February 2, 1975. Aisha is the inspiration for the song "Isn't She Lovely". Stevie and Yolanda gave birth to their son Keita Sawandi in April of 1977.

He also has two sons with his current wife, fashion designer Kai Milla Morris, whom he married in 2001. Kailand Morris and Mandla Kadjay Carl Stevland Morris born May 13, 2005, on Stevie's 55th birthday.

2007 would see the launch of A Wonder Summer's Night, a thirteen concert tour, his first in over ten years and inspired by the recent passing of his mother.


Lula Mae Hardaway passed away on May 31, 2006 in Los Angeles, California, where she had moved in 1975 from Detroit. She is credited with co-writing several songs with her son during his teen years, including "Signed, Sealed, Delivered, I'm Yours", for which she was nominated for the 1970 Grammy award for Best R&B Song.

Stevie Wonder's genius spanning over four decades continues, his musical creativity continues, he continues to be a humble humanitarian, and he simply continues to love us all, "always".

"Just as hate knows love's the cure, you can rest your mind assured, that I'll be loving you always"
~ Stevie Wonder, lyrics from
"As"

One day I hope to meet the talented Mr. Wonder. I want to tell him that his music has inspired me, comforted me, made me laugh, and made me cry. I have grown up living my entire life through his music and his lyrics. His sound is like no other in my ear, and I want to share with him that I am thankful to my God, to have known such a talent in my lifetime.