STEVIE WONDER

Stevie Wonder, whose real name is Steveland Morris Judkins, was born on May 3, 1950 in Michigan. He was blind from birth. He sang in the church choir until he grew older. He was a very talented musician by the age of eight. He could play the harmonica, piano, and the bongos. When Stevie was around the age of twelve, he signed his first contract with Motown Records in Detroit. They decided to call him Steve “Wonder” after they heard him sing with his wonderful voice. In 1973, Stevie became the first African American to win the Grammy Award for album of the year. He released his next album in 1979. It was called Journey Through the Secret Life of Plants and it was a musical for a film documentary. In 1984, Wonder’s soundtrack for the film Woman in Red brought him an Academy Award for best song with “I Just Called to Say I Love You.”

Stevie Wonder is now a worldwide famous musician. He inspired many people with disabilities. He showed people that being blind cannot stop you from becoming successful in life. He chose to be a musician and wanted to play different instruments. He had the talent and being blind didn’t stop him.