Stevie Wonder
Birth: May 13, 1950
Location: Stevie Wonder was born and raised in Saginaw, Michigan. At four years of age Stevie Wonder and his parents moved to Detroit, Michigan. That is where Stevie Wonder’s gift for music began to show. It was when he sang for the church choir at a young age of four out in Detroit.
Early Life: Stevie Wonder was a premature baby; he became blind from getting too much oxygen in the incubator. According to biography, “Later with a bevy of instruments, including the harmonica, piano, and drums, all of which he taught himself before the age of ten.” At eleven years of age a man name Ronnie White of a Motown Band called the Miracles is the one who discovered Stevie. Berry Gordy Jr, who is the Motown founder, was the one who signed young Stevie Wonder the musician a record deal. Stevie Wonder’s first album was called Little Stevie Wonder the 12 Year Old Genius. Has Stevie Wonder began growing up from a boy to a man, his music became more popular. It would forever become successful music in history. Through Wonder’s decade he managed to capture 15 Grammies. In 1984 Stevie’s single hit “I Just Called to Say I Love You” won him an Oscar. According to NY times Stevie Wonder believes, “I don’t think there can ever be too much love…Those of us in the music community are very lucky, because not only can we present harmony in the sense of chord structures, we can show a kind of harmony between people, show them that we can and must live life in true harmony…”
Contributions and Significance: Stevie Wonder is important to American History because he was a young prodigy. He was born blind and proved against all odds that he was still capable of learning and doing things like people who could see. At his very young age he played instruments and could sing and quickly became recognized for his gifts. Stevie Wonder is a history maker because his music became very popular in music history and received many awards to his accomplishments. Stevie Wonder was a committed man to music and showed the world his capabilities and talents as a blind man.
Today’s Impact: This is important today because Stevie Wonder will always be remembered as a great musician and artist. More significantly because he was blind and he accomplished so much through his decade. Stevie Wonder is not only remembered for his music, but also for his character. Stevie Wonder will go a long in history and in future generations I believe he will still be remembered for his music. His success will go along American history in the music industry.
Why You Chose this History Maker: I chose Stevie Wonder because I love his story. I like his music and I think it is amazing that he accomplished what he did and he was blind. He didn’t have the advantage of being able to see things like seeing people. I believe his music comes from his heart and whatever he feels and hears. On Oprah when she asked him if he ever felt bitter for the Doctor’s mistake of giving him too much oxygen which caused him to be blind he has quoted to say, “No. Once when I went to Saginaw, Michigan, and visited the hospital where I was born, there was this big hoopla- they gave me a special award. I think people were scared I was planning to sue that doctor’s ass. But he didn’t have any intent to harm me,” and he has also told Oprah that he doesn’t care if he’s blind that he’s happy but it did impact his mother, “It bothered me that my mother was crying all the time. She thought God might be punishing her or something. She lived during a time when things were particularly difficult for a woman in her circumstances. I used to say that if something happened to my mother, I wanted to die with her. That’s because I love her so much. I want to live so I can carry out the essence of what she has shown me: kindness and goodness.”
Location: Stevie Wonder was born and raised in Saginaw, Michigan. At four years of age Stevie Wonder and his parents moved to Detroit, Michigan. That is where Stevie Wonder’s gift for music began to show. It was when he sang for the church choir at a young age of four out in Detroit.
Early Life: Stevie Wonder was a premature baby; he became blind from getting too much oxygen in the incubator. According to biography, “Later with a bevy of instruments, including the harmonica, piano, and drums, all of which he taught himself before the age of ten.” At eleven years of age a man name Ronnie White of a Motown Band called the Miracles is the one who discovered Stevie. Berry Gordy Jr, who is the Motown founder, was the one who signed young Stevie Wonder the musician a record deal. Stevie Wonder’s first album was called Little Stevie Wonder the 12 Year Old Genius. Has Stevie Wonder began growing up from a boy to a man, his music became more popular. It would forever become successful music in history. Through Wonder’s decade he managed to capture 15 Grammies. In 1984 Stevie’s single hit “I Just Called to Say I Love You” won him an Oscar. According to NY times Stevie Wonder believes, “I don’t think there can ever be too much love…Those of us in the music community are very lucky, because not only can we present harmony in the sense of chord structures, we can show a kind of harmony between people, show them that we can and must live life in true harmony…”
Contributions and Significance: Stevie Wonder is important to American History because he was a young prodigy. He was born blind and proved against all odds that he was still capable of learning and doing things like people who could see. At his very young age he played instruments and could sing and quickly became recognized for his gifts. Stevie Wonder is a history maker because his music became very popular in music history and received many awards to his accomplishments. Stevie Wonder was a committed man to music and showed the world his capabilities and talents as a blind man.
Today’s Impact: This is important today because Stevie Wonder will always be remembered as a great musician and artist. More significantly because he was blind and he accomplished so much through his decade. Stevie Wonder is not only remembered for his music, but also for his character. Stevie Wonder will go a long in history and in future generations I believe he will still be remembered for his music. His success will go along American history in the music industry.
Why You Chose this History Maker: I chose Stevie Wonder because I love his story. I like his music and I think it is amazing that he accomplished what he did and he was blind. He didn’t have the advantage of being able to see things like seeing people. I believe his music comes from his heart and whatever he feels and hears. On Oprah when she asked him if he ever felt bitter for the Doctor’s mistake of giving him too much oxygen which caused him to be blind he has quoted to say, “No. Once when I went to Saginaw, Michigan, and visited the hospital where I was born, there was this big hoopla- they gave me a special award. I think people were scared I was planning to sue that doctor’s ass. But he didn’t have any intent to harm me,” and he has also told Oprah that he doesn’t care if he’s blind that he’s happy but it did impact his mother, “It bothered me that my mother was crying all the time. She thought God might be punishing her or something. She lived during a time when things were particularly difficult for a woman in her circumstances. I used to say that if something happened to my mother, I wanted to die with her. That’s because I love her so much. I want to live so I can carry out the essence of what she has shown me: kindness and goodness.”