Stevie Wonder Tour Information
The family moved to Detroit and Steveland began singing and playing instruments in church at around the age of five. He took to the piano, congas, and harmonica in particular. He was educated at the Michigan School for the Blind in Lansing, Michigan where he was trained in classical piano.
In 1962 Wonder was introduced to Ronnie White of the popular Motown act "The Miracles". He introduced Stevie to Motown CEO Berry Gordy. Impressed by the 12 year old, Gordy signed him to Motown's Tamla label under the name "Little Stevie Wonder".
Little Stevie Wonder had his first major hit, "Fingertips (Pt. 2)", at the age of thirteen. The song, featuring Wonder on vocals, bongos, and harmonica, and a young Marvin Gaye on drums. It was a #1 hit on the US pop charts and put Wonder in the public spotlight. Shortly after he dropped "Little" from his name. During the mid-60s Wonder had a number of other hits including "Uptight (Everything's Alright)", "With a Child's Heart", and a cover of Bob Dylan's "Blowin' in the Wind". He also started working in the Motown songwriting department, composing songs both for himself and fellow labelmates. One of his most successful songs is Smokey Robinson & the Miracles number one hit, "Tears of a Clown".
Stevie Wonder is a very successful, and prolific artist. Between 1962 and 2007, Wonder released 30 live and studio albums, and another eight compilation albums. Each album achieved a high level of success and produced nearly 100 hit singles. Between 1974 and 2007 he received 25 Grammy awards in various categories. Other awards received by Wonder include an Academy Award for Best Song for "I Just Called to Say I Love You" from The Woman in Red. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1989. Wonder received the Polar Music Prize and Kennedy Center Honors in 1999. In 2002, he was presented with the George and Ira Gershwin Lifetime Achievement Award at UCLA's Spring Sing. He was awarded the Billboard Music Award for the Century Award in 2004, and was one the first inductees into the Michigan Walk of Fame.
Stevie is currently working on a new album titled "The Gospel Inspired By Lula" which will deal with the various spiritual and cultural crises facing the world