Stevie Wonder

An American singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer, born on May 13, 1950, in Saginaw, Michigan. Blind since infancy, he exhibited musical talent early, mastering piano, drums, and harmonica. In 1961, at age 11, he signed with Motown's Tamla label under the name Little Stevie Wonder. His first hit, "Fingertips," in 1963, made him the youngest artist to top the Billboard Hot 100. The 1970s marked his "classic period," during which he gained full creative control and released albums like "Music of My Mind" (1972), "Talking Book" (1972), "Innervisions" (1973), "Fulfillingness' First Finale" (1974), and "Songs in the Key of Life" (1976), three of which consecutively won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year. His work was characterized by the use of synthesizers, socially conscious lyrics, and innovative arrangements. In the 1980s, he achieved commercial success with songs like "I Just Called to Say I Love You" and "Part-Time Lover," and collaborated with artists such as Michael Jackson and Paul McCartney. Wonder has sold over 100 million records worldwide, won 25 Grammy Awards (the most by a male solo artist), an Academy Award for Best Original Song, and has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame. His activism includes campaigning for Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday to become a national holiday and being appointed a UN Messenger of Peace in 2009. In 2025, he celebrated his 75th birthday, remaining an influential figure in music and public life.