 Wonder, Stevie (1950-...), is
an American composer, singer, and musician. A child prodigy, he recorded his first hit,
"Fingertips" (1963), at the age of 13. Wonder has since matured into one of the
most highly praised artists in popular music. He often uses his music as a force for
social progress.
Wonder's compositions range in style from the rhythmic soul music of
"Superstition" (1972) to the social realism of "Living for the City"
(1973). He also wrote melodic ballads such as "You Are the Sunshine of My Life"
(1973). Wonder has incorporated Jamaican and African rhythms into his music. He paid
tribute to the American composer Duke Ellington with the song "Sir Duke" (1977),
one of his biggest hits. He composed and recorded the music for the motion pictures The
Woman in Red (1984) and Jungle Fever (1991). Wonder won a 1984 Academy Award for his song
"I Just Called to Say I Love You" from The Woman in Red.
Wonder was born in Saginaw, Mich. His given and family name is Stevland Morris. Wonder has
been blind almost from birth. Since the early 1970's, Wonder's mastery of synthesizers and
other instruments has made him almost a one-man band in the recording studio.
Contributor: Don McLeese, M.A., Pop Music Critic, Austin American-Statesman.
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