History of Stevie Wonder in Timeline
Stevie Wonder, born Stevland Hardaway Morris, is a highly influential American musician known for his pioneering work in various genres like R&B, pop, and soul. Blind from infancy, he was a child prodigy signed to Motown's Tamla label as "Little Stevie Wonder." His innovative use of synthesizers and electronic instruments during the 1970s significantly impacted contemporary R&B. Wonder's albums are recognized for their cohesive structure, social consciousness, and musical complexity, marking his contribution to the album era.
May 13, 1950: Stevie Wonder is Born
Stevland Hardaway Judkins, who would become known as Stevie Wonder, was born on this day.
1961: Audition and Signing with Motown
At 11 years old, Stevie Wonder performed his song "Lonely Boy" for Ronnie White of the Miracles, leading to an audition at Motown. CEO Berry Gordy signed him, changing his professional name to "Little Stevie Wonder" and setting up a trust for his royalties until he turned 21. Wonder and his mother were provided a weekly stipend, and he was assigned a private tutor for when he was on tour.
1961: Signing with Motown Records
Stevie Wonder, at the age of 11, signed with Motown Records, where his stage name was changed to "Little Stevie Wonder."
September 1962: Release of "The Jazz Soul of Little Stevie"
Stevie Wonder's debut album, "The Jazz Soul of Little Stevie," is released. The album primarily featured instrumental tracks with compositions by Clarence Paul, marking the beginning of Wonder's recording career.
October 1962: Release of "Tribute to Uncle Ray"
Stevie Wonder's second album, "Tribute to Uncle Ray," was released. The album primarily consisted of covers of Ray Charles's songs. The record, although recorded before his debut album, was released later, offering a tribute to one of Wonder's key musical influences.
1962: Joining the Motortown Revue
At the end of 1962, Stevie Wonder joined the Motortown Revue, touring the "Chitlin' Circuit" of theaters across America that accepted Black artists.
1962: Enrollment at Michigan School for the Blind
Following the release of his debut album, Stevie Wonder enrolled in the Michigan School for the Blind in Lansing, Michigan.
May 1963: Recorded Live: The 12 Year Old Genius Debut and "Fingertips" Hit
Stevie Wonder, at age 12, released his debut album "Recorded Live: The 12 Year Old Genius". The album included the single "Fingertips", which became a No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100, making Wonder the youngest artist ever to top the chart.
1963: Martin Luther King Jr.'s 'I Have a Dream' Speech
Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his iconic 'I Have a Dream' speech, which Stevie Wonder referenced in his first tweet.
1963: "Fingertips" Tops the Charts
Stevie Wonder's single "Fingertips" reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, making him the youngest solo artist to achieve this milestone at the age of 13.
1964: Film Appearances
During 1964, Stevie Wonder appeared as himself in two films, "Muscle Beach Party" and "Bikini Beach", although neither film was successful.
November 1967: Martin Luther King Jr.'s Honorary Degree
Martin Luther King Jr. received an honorary degree from Newcastle University, which later influenced Stevie Wonder's campaign for a US national holiday in King's honor.
1967: "The Tears of a Clown" Release
Stevie Wonder co-wrote the song "The Tears of a Clown" for Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, which was initially released in 1967 as the last track on their "Make It Happen" LP. Though unnoticed at the time, it became a major success when re-released as a single in 1970.
1968: Release of "Eivets Rednow" Album
Stevie Wonder released an instrumental soul/jazz album titled "Eivets Rednow" (Stevie Wonder spelled backward), primarily featuring harmonica solos. The album received little attention.
1969: Performance at Harlem Cultural Festival
A 19-year-old Stevie Wonder performed at the Harlem Cultural Festival, showcasing his talent to a large audience.
1969: Sanremo Music Festival Participation
Stevie Wonder participated in the Sanremo Music Festival with the song "Se tu ragazzo mio", in conjunction with Gabriella Ferri.
1969: Performance at Harlem Cultural Festival
Stevie Wonder performed at the Harlem Cultural Festival, which was featured in the 2021 documentary, "Summer of Soul", including a notable drum solo during his set.
September 1970: Marriage to Syreeta Wright
Stevie Wonder married Syreeta Wright, a songwriter and former Motown secretary, in September 1970.
1970: "The Tears of a Clown" Becomes a Hit
Smokey Robinson and the Miracles' single, "The Tears of a Clown", co-written by Stevie Wonder, became a No. 1 hit, prompting Robinson to reconsider leaving the group.
May 13, 1971: Motown Contract Expiration
Upon reaching his 21st birthday, Stevie Wonder allowed his contract with Motown Records to expire.
1971: Stevie Wonder Turns Twenty-One
Stevie Wonder turned 21, marking a significant milestone as he gained full control over his career and finances.
March 1972: Return to Motown with "Music of My Mind"
Stevie Wonder returned to Motown Records with a new contract and released the album "Music of My Mind", marking a shift toward a full-length artistic statement with thematic continuity and extensive use of overdubbing and self-played instrumentation.
1972: Release of Talking Book
Stevie Wonder released his album Talking Book which featured the number one hit song "Superstition", recognized for its distinctive sound from the Hohner Clavinet keyboard. The album also included the hit song "You Are the Sunshine of My Life", which also peaked at number one.
1972: Beginning of Wonder's "Classic Period"
Stevie Wonder's critically acclaimed "classic period" began with the release of his albums "Music of My Mind" and "Talking Book." Notably, "Talking Book" featured the iconic song "Superstition," showcasing the distinctive sound of the Hohner Clavinet keyboard.
April 1973: Sesame Street Performance
Stevie Wonder and his band performed his hit song "Superstition", along with an original song called "Sesame Street Song", on the children's television show Sesame Street.
August 6, 1973: Car Accident and Injuries
Stevie Wonder was involved in a serious car accident in North Carolina, resulting in a coma and partial loss of smell and taste.
November 1973: Benefit Concert for Shaw University
Despite doctor's orders to refrain from performing after his accident, Wonder headlined a benefit concert for Shaw University in Raleigh, North Carolina, to help the institution overcome financial difficulties.
1973: "Innervisions" Wins Album of the Year
Stevie Wonder's album "Innervisions" won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year, marking the first of three consecutive wins in this category.
1973: Release of Innervisions and Critical Acclaim
Stevie Wonder released his album "Innervisions", which featured popular hits like "Higher Ground" and "Living for the City." The album received critical acclaim, winning three Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year, and is ranked among Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. Wonder's success solidified his status as one of the most influential black musicians of the early 1970s.
March 1974: Sold-Out Concert at Madison Square Garden
Stevie Wonder performed a sold-out concert at Madison Square Garden, showcasing his diverse musical style with up-tempo hits and extended improvisations on songs like "Living for the City."
July 1974: Release of Fulfillingness' First Finale
Stevie Wonder released his album "Fulfillingness' First Finale", which included hit songs like "You Haven't Done Nothin'" and "Boogie on Reggae Woman." The album won three Grammy awards, including Album of the Year.
1974: Collaboration with Ex-Beatles and Production Work
Stevie Wonder participated in a jam session with John Lennon and Paul McCartney, which resulted in the bootleg album "A Toot and a Snore in '74", and co-wrote and produced Syreeta Wright's album "Stevie Wonder Presents: Syreeta".
1974: Grammy Win for Innervisions
Stevie Wonder won a Grammy Award for his album "Innervisions".
1974: "Fulfillingness' First Finale" Wins Album of the Year
Stevie Wonder's album "Fulfillingness' First Finale" won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year, making it his second consecutive win in this category.
February 2, 1975: Birth of Aisha Morris
Stevie Wonder's daughter, Aisha Morris, was born to Yolanda Simmons. Aisha would later become a singer and tour with her father.
October 4, 1975: Wonder Dream Concert in Jamaica
Stevie Wonder performed at the "Wonder Dream Concert" in Kingston, Jamaica, a benefit concert to support the Jamaican Institute for the Blind.
1975: Grammy Win for Fulfillingness' First Finale
Stevie Wonder won a Grammy Award for his album "Fulfillingness' First Finale", making it two consecutive Grammy wins.
September 1976: Release of Songs in the Key of Life
Stevie Wonder released the double album "Songs in the Key of Life", a complex and ambitious work widely regarded as one of his finest achievements. It debuted at number one on the Billboard charts, a first for an American artist. It included hit singles like "I Wish", "Sir Duke", and "Isn't She Lovely", which was dedicated to his newborn daughter Aisha.
1976: Paul Simon's Grammy Acceptance Speech
Paul Simon, upon winning the Album of the Year Grammy, humorously acknowledged Stevie Wonder's absence in that year's award competition.
1976: "Songs in the Key of Life" Wins Album of the Year
Stevie Wonder's album "Songs in the Key of Life" won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year, completing a remarkable hat trick of consecutive wins in this category.
1977: Birth of Keita Morris
Stevie Wonder and Yolanda Simmons welcomed their son, Keita.
1977: Release of Looking Back Anthology
Stevie Wonder released "Looking Back", a three-disc anthology album covering his early work with Motown.
1979: Release of Journey Through "The Secret Life of Plants"
Stevie Wonder released "Stevie Wonder's Journey Through "The Secret Life of Plants", a soundtrack album primarily instrumental and composed using the Computer Music Melodian, an early music sampler. It marked his first digital recording.
1979: Tour and Use of Fairlight CMI Sampler
Stevie Wonder toured briefly with an orchestra to promote his album "Journey Through "The Secret Life of Plants." Notably, he incorporated the Fairlight CMI sampler during his live performances.
1980: Campaign for Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Stevie Wonder actively campaigned for the recognition of Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday as a federal holiday in the U.S., a testament to his commitment to social justice.
1980: Release of Hotter than July and Advocacy for MLK Day
Stevie Wonder released his album "Hotter than July", which became his first platinum-selling single album. It featured the hit song "Happy Birthday", which played a significant role in his campaign for establishing Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday as a national holiday. The album also included other hits like "Master Blaster (Jammin')" and "I Ain't Gonna Stand for It."
1980: Production and Songwriting for Jermaine Jackson
Stevie Wonder wrote and produced the hit dance song "Let's Get Serious" for Jermaine Jackson, which became a number one R&B single.
1981: Christgau's Record Guide Review
Music critic Robert Christgau published a review of Stevie Wonder's "Greatest Hits Vol. 2" in his "Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies."
1982: Stevie Wonder's Original Musiquarium Released
Stevie Wonder released a retrospective of his 1970s work with 'Stevie Wonder's Original Musiquarium', which included four new songs: 'Do I Do', 'That Girl', 'Front Line', and 'Ribbon in the Sky'. He also collaborated with Paul McCartney on the hit single, 'Ebony and Ivory'.
1983: Stay Gold for The Outsiders
Stevie Wonder performed "Stay Gold", the theme song for Francis Ford Coppola's film adaptation of S. E. Hinton's novel 'The Outsiders'. He wrote the lyrics for the song.
1983: Birth of Mumtaz Morris
Stevie Wonder's son, Mumtaz Morris, was born to Melody McCulley.
1984: The Woman in Red Soundtrack Released
Stevie Wonder released the soundtrack album for the movie 'The Woman in Red'. The lead single 'I Just Called to Say I Love You' was a number one hit in the United States and the United Kingdom.
1984: Academy Award for Best Original Song
Stevie Wonder won an Academy Award for Best Original Song for his contribution to the film "The Woman in Red."
1985: Collaborations with Various Artists
Stevie Wonder co-wrote and played harmonica on the song 'If Ever' for John Denver's album 'Dreamland Express'. He wrote the track 'I Do Love You' for the Beach Boys' self-titled album and played harmonica on 'Can't Help Lovin' That Man' on 'The Broadway Album' by Barbra Streisand.
1985: Release of "Overjoyed"
Stevie Wonder released the song "Overjoyed."
1985: Honored by the United Nations Special Committee Against Apartheid
Stevie Wonder was honored by the United Nations Special Committee Against Apartheid for his stance against racism in South Africa. He also appeared on 'The Cosby Show' demonstrating his ability to sample.
1985: Academy Award for Best Original Song
Stevie Wonder won an Academy Award for Best Original Song for 'I Just Called to Say I Love You'. He dedicated the award to Nelson Mandela and was subsequently banned from all South African radio by the government.
1986: Charity Singles for African Famine Relief and AIDS
Stevie Wonder participated in the all-star charity single 'We Are the World' for African Famine Relief and 'That's What Friends Are For' for AIDS relief.
1987: Collaboration with Michael Jackson
Stevie Wonder appeared on Michael Jackson's 'Bad' album on the duet 'Just Good Friends'. Jackson sang a duet with Wonder on 'Get It' on Wonder's album 'Characters'.
1989: Harmonica on Jon Gibson's Album
Stevie Wonder played harmonica on a remake of his song 'Have a Talk with God' on Jon Gibson's album 'Body & Soul'.
1991: Jungle Fever Soundtrack Released
Stevie Wonder recorded the soundtrack album for Spike Lee's film 'Jungle Fever'. Singles and videos were released for 'Gotta Have You', 'Fun Day', 'These Three Words', and 'Jungle Fever'.
1992: Performed at Panafest in Ghana
Stevie Wonder performed at Panafest, an international music festival in Ghana, where he composed songs for his 'Conversation Peace' album.
1994: Headlined Panafest Concert in Accra
Stevie Wonder co-chaired Panafest and headlined a concert at the National Theatre in Accra, Ghana.
1994: Contribution to Kiss Tribute Album
Stevie Wonder played harmonica on the track 'Deuce' for the tribute album 'Kiss My Ass: Classic Kiss Regrooved'.
1995: Expressed Desire to Move to Ghana
In an interview, Stevie Wonder shared his decision to eventually move to Ghana permanently, inspired by his previous visit.
1996: Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award
Stevie Wonder received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, acknowledging his contributions to the music industry.
1996: Performed at the Summer Olympics Closing Ceremony
Stevie Wonder sang at the closing ceremony of the 1996 Summer Olympics.
1997: Collaboration with Babyface
Stevie Wonder collaborated with Babyface on 'How Come, How Long', a song about domestic violence that received a Grammy nomination.
May 1999: Received Honorary Doctorate from Rutgers University
Stevie Wonder received an honorary doctorate degree in fine arts from Rutgers University.
December 1999: Announced Interest in Retinal Prosthesis
Stevie Wonder expressed interest in pursuing an intraocular retinal prosthesis to partially restore his sight.
1999: Super Bowl XXXIII Halftime Show
Stevie Wonder performed in the Super Bowl XXXIII halftime show.
2000: Contributed Songs to Spike Lee's Bamboozled Soundtrack
Stevie Wonder contributed two new songs, 'Misrepresented People' and 'Some Years Ago', to the soundtrack for Spike Lee's film 'Bamboozled'.
2002: 'I Just Called to Say I Love You' Ranked 13th in UK Best Selling Singles
Stevie Wonder's song 'I Just Called to Say I Love You' was ranked 13th in the list of best-selling singles in the United Kingdom.
2002: Performance at the 2002 Winter Paralympics
Stevie Wonder performed at the opening ceremony of the 2002 Winter Paralympics in Salt Lake City.
May 13, 2005: Birth of Mandla Kadjay Carl Stevland Morris
On his 55th birthday, Stevie Wonder welcomed his son Mandla Kadjay Carl Stevland Morris with his second wife, Kai Millard Morris.
October 2005: Release of "A Time to Love" Album
Stevie Wonder released his first album in 10 years, "A Time to Love." It received lower sales and lukewarm reviews compared to previous albums.
2005: Performance at Live 8 Concert
Stevie Wonder performed at the Live 8 concert in Philadelphia.
2005: A Time to Love Album Released
Stevie Wonder released a new album titled 'A Time to Love'.
2005: Release of 'A Time to Love'
Stevie Wonder released his album 'A Time to Love,' which featured his daughter Aisha.
May 31, 2006: Death of Lula Mae Hardaway
Stevie Wonder's mother, Lula Mae Hardaway, passed away at the age of 76.
June 2006: Collaboration with Busta Rhymes and Snoop Dogg
Stevie Wonder made guest appearances on Busta Rhymes' album 'The Big Bang' on the track 'Been through the Storm', and on Snoop Dogg's album 'Tha Blue Carpet Treatment' on 'Conversations', a remake of 'Have a Talk with God'.
2006: Grammy Award for "For Once in My Life" with Tony Bennett
Stevie Wonder and Tony Bennett won a Grammy for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals for their rendition of "For Once in My Life."
2006: Performance at Super Bowl XL Pregame Show
Stevie Wonder performed at the pre-game show for Super Bowl XL.
2007: North American Tour
Stevie Wonder embarked on a 13-date tour of North America, his first in the US in over a decade.
June 2008: Work on "The Gospel Inspired by Lula" and "Through the Eyes of Wonder" Albums
Stevie Wonder was working on two new albums: "The Gospel Inspired by Lula" and "Through the Eyes of Wonder."
September 8, 2008: Start of Wonder Summer's Night Tour
Stevie Wonder started the European leg of his Wonder Summer's Night Tour, his first European tour in over a decade.
2009: Harmonica Performance on "Never Give You Up"
Stevie Wonder's harmonica playing was featured on the Grammy-nominated song "Never Give You Up" by CJ Hilton and Raphael Saadiq.
2009: Performance at Obama Inaugural Celebration
Stevie Wonder performed at the Obama Inaugural Celebration.
2009: United Nations Messenger of Peace
Stevie Wonder was appointed as a United Nations Messenger of Peace, highlighting his global influence and dedication to peace and humanitarian causes.
2009: Performance at Michael Jackson Memorial Service
Stevie Wonder sang at Michael Jackson's memorial service.
2010: Performances at Various Festivals and Events
Stevie Wonder's 2010 tour included a two-hour set at the Bonnaroo Music Festival, a stop at the Hard Rock Calling festival, appearances at England's Glastonbury Festival, Rotterdam's North Sea Jazz Festival, a concert in Bergen, Norway, and a concert in Dublin, Ireland.
2011: Performance at the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games
Stevie Wonder performed at the opening ceremony of the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Athens, Greece.
2012: Performance at Etta James' Funeral
Stevie Wonder sang at Etta James' funeral.
October 2013: Collaboration on Celine Dion's "Loved Me Back to Life" Album
Stevie Wonder appeared on Celine Dion's studio album "Loved Me Back to Life," performing a cover of his 1985 song "Overjoyed."
2013: Recording of "When the World Began" and "Ten Billion Hearts" Albums
Stevie Wonder revealed he was recording new material for two albums, "When the World Began" and "Ten Billion Hearts," in collaboration with producer David Foster.
December 2014: Birth of Nia
Stevie Wonder's ninth child, Nia, was born to Tomeeka Robyn Bracy.
2014: Planned Release of "When the World Began" and "Ten Billion Hearts"
Stevie Wonder planned to release the albums "When the World Began" and "Ten Billion Hearts." The albums were never released.
2014: Presidential Medal of Freedom
Stevie Wonder received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor in the United States, recognizing his exceptional contributions to American culture and society.
2014: Presidential Medal of Freedom
Stevie Wonder was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama in recognition of his musical achievements and civil rights work.
October 2015: Appearance on 'Carpool Karaoke'
Stevie Wonder discussed his vegan lifestyle during an appearance on 'The Late Late Show with James Corden's 'Carpool Karaoke' segment.
2015: Collaboration on Mark Ronson's "Uptown Special" Album
Stevie Wonder was featured on two tracks on Mark Ronson's album "Uptown Special."
December 2016: Street Naming and Honorary Key to the City
Detroit honored Stevie Wonder by renaming a part of Milwaukee Avenue West to 'Stevie Wonder Avenue' and presenting him with an honorary key to the city.
April 4, 2018: Debut on Twitter
Stevie Wonder joined Twitter and shared a video tribute to Martin Luther King Jr. titled 'The Dream Still Lives.'
2018: Performance at Aretha Franklin's Funeral
Stevie Wonder sang at Aretha Franklin's funeral.
2018: Collaboration on Travis Scott's "Astroworld" Album
Stevie Wonder was featured on the track "Stop Trying to Be God" on Travis Scott's album "Astroworld."
July 6, 2019: Announcement of Kidney Transplant
During a concert in London's Hyde Park, Stevie Wonder revealed that he would undergo a kidney transplant in September.
October 2020: Launch of So What the Fuss Records
Stevie Wonder launched his new vanity label, So What the Fuss Records, released via Republic Records. This marked the first time his music was not released through Motown Records.
October 2020: Update on "Through the Eyes of Wonder" and "The Gospel Inspired by Lula" Albums
While promoting his two recent singles, Stevie Wonder mentioned "Through the Eyes of Wonder" and "The Gospel Inspired by Lula" as ongoing projects.
June 2021: Appearance in "Summer of Soul" Documentary
Stevie Wonder appeared in the documentary "Summer of Soul," directed by Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson, which showcased the Harlem Cultural Festival of 1969.
2021: Featured in "Summer of Soul" Documentary
Stevie Wonder's performance at the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival was prominently featured in the music documentary "Summer of Soul".
October 2022: 50th Anniversary of "Talking Book"
Stevie Wonder celebrated the 50th anniversary of his album "Talking Book."
2023: Freedom of the City of Newcastle upon Tyne
Stevie Wonder was bestowed with the Freedom of the City of Newcastle upon Tyne, England, in recognition of his advocacy for a Martin Luther King Jr. national holiday.
2023: Death of Tony Bennett
Tony Bennett passed away.
May 13, 2024: Ghanaian Citizenship Conferred
On his 74th birthday, Stevie Wonder was granted Ghanaian citizenship by President Nana Akufo-Addo.