Stevie Wonder Research Paper

According to Steve Huey, “Wonder was born Steveland Hardaway Judkins in Saginaw, MI, on May 13, 1950” (np). As a premature infant, he was put in an incubator, with an excess of oxygen that resulted in a visual condition known as retinopathy, causing blindness (Huey np). Steve Huey said that, “He learned piano, drums, and harmonica all by the age of nine” (np). Stevie performed for a few friends in 1961, while being discovered by Ronnie White of the Miracles, who arranged an audition with Berry Gordy at Motown (Huey np). Steve Huey also said that, “Gordy signed the youngster immediately and teamed him with producer/songwriter Clarence, under the new name Little Stevie Wonder” (np). Stevie covered one of his heroes, Ray Charles, in his first two albums in 1962: A Tribute to Uncle Ray (Huey np). His song “Fingertips, Pt. 2” skyrocketed to the top of both the pop and R&B charts; meanwhile the young genius became Motown’s first chart topping (Huey np). Steve Huey said that, “Wonder charted a few more singles over the next year, but none on the level of “Fingertips, Pt. 2” (np).
On his 21st birthday, his contract with Motown expired, and the royalties set aside in his trust fund became available to him” (np). Stevie did not immediately renew his contract with Motown, as they had expected; instead he used his trust find to build his own recording studio and to attend classes at USC (Huey np). According to Steve Huey, “Wonder’s marriage to Wright broke up; the two remained friends, however, and Wonder produced and wrote several songs for her debut album” (np). In 1972, “Talking Book” was released and made him a superstar (Huey np). Steve Huey said that, “Wonder topped the charts with the gutsy, driving funk classic “Superstition” and the mellow, jazzy ballad “You Are the Sunshine of My Life,” which went on to become a pop standard; those two songs went on to win three Grammy’s between them”