Stevie Wonder Biography (1950-)

Original name, Steveland Judkins Morris; born May 13, 1950, in Saginaw, MI; son of Lula Mae Hardaway; married Syreeta Wright (a singer and songwriter), 1970 (divorced, 1972); children: Aisha, Keita, Mumtaz. Addresses: Agent:Creative Artists Agency, 9830 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, CA 90212.; Office: 4616 West Magnolia Blvd., Burbank, CA 91505-2731.; Contact: Motown Records, 1755 Broadway, New York, NY 10019-3743.

Nationality: American
Gender: Male
Occupation: Singer, writer, musician, composer, music producer
Birth Details: May 13, 1950; Saginaw, Michigan, United States

Famous Works

CREDITS
Television Appearances
Specials
The Smokey Robinson Show, ABC, 1970
John Lennon and Yoko Ono Present the One-to-One Concert, ABC, 1972
Burt Bacharach: Opus No. 3, ABC, 1973
Eubie Blake: A Century of Music, PBS, 1983
Himself, Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever (also known as Motown 25), 1983
Motown Returns to the Apollo, NBC, 1985
Disney's D-TV Valentine (animated), NBC, 1986
Neil Diamond ... Hello Again (also known as Hello Again), CBS, 1986
The Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts, CBS, 1986
Host, "The Temptations and Four Tops," Motown on Showtime, Showtime, 1986
Host, An All-Star Celebration Honoring Martin Luther King, Jr., NBC, 1986
Disney's DTV Monster Hits (animated), NBC, 1987
Superstars and Their Moms, ABC, 1988
That's What Friends Are For: AIDS Concert '88, Showtime, 1988
The Koppel Report: News from Earth (also known as The Koppel Report and News from Earth), ABC, 1988
An All-Star Celebration: The '88 Vote, ABC, 1988
Paris '89, TBS, 1989
There Really Is a Santa Claus, syndicated, 1989
Our Common Future, Arts and Entertainment, 1989
America's All-Star Tribute to Elizabeth Taylor (also known as America's Hope Award and The 2nd Annual America's Hope Award), ABC,1989
Sammy Davis, Jr.'s 60th Anniversary Celebration, ABC, 1990
Motown 30: What's Goin' On!, CBS, 1990
Late Night with David Letterman Eighth Anniversary Special, NBC, 1990
Grammy Legends Show, 1990
Ray Charles: 50 Years in Music, Uh-Huh!, Fox, 1991
A Party for Richard Pryor, CBS, 1991
An American Reunion: New Beginnings, Renewed Hope (also known as An American Reunion: The People's Inaugural Celebration), HBO, 1993
"The Bob Dylan 30th Anniversary Celebration," In the Spotlight, PBS, 1993
The Right Time with Tom Jones, VH1, 1993
A Busch Gardens/Sea World Summer Celebration, CBS, 1994
We Are the World: A 10th Anniversary Tribute, The Disney Channel,1995
Sounds of Summer Preview '95, ABC, 1995
"Inventors: Out of Their Minds," ABC's World of Discovery, ABC, 1995
The 69th Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, 1995
Himself, The History of Rock 'N' Roll, Volume 8 (also known as The '70s: Have a Nice Decade), 1995
Nissan Presents a Celebration of America's Music, ABC, 1996
Celebrate the Dream: 50 Years of Ebony, ABC, 1996
The 53rd Presidential Inaugural Gala (also known as An AmericanGala), CBS, 1997
To Life! America Celebrates Israel's 50th (also known as America Celebrates Israel's 50th), CBS, 1998
Quincy Jones--The First 50 Years (also known as Quincy Jones--A50-Year Celebration), ABC, 1998
Christopher Reeve: A Celebration of Hope, ABC, 1998
Savion Glover's Nu York, ABC, 1998
Himself, America: A Tribute to Heroes, 2001
Himself, The Kennedy Center Honors, 2001
Episodic
All My Children, ABC, 1970
Himself, Musikladen, 1973
Himself, "A Touch of Wonder," The Cosby Show, NBC, 1985
Ready, Steady, Go!, The Disney Channel, 1989
"Stevie Wonder," Biography, Arts and Entertainment, 1994
"James Brown: The Godfather of Soul," Biography, Arts and Entertainment, 1996
Himself, "Is It a Crime?," New York Undercover, Fox, 1996
Crisis Center (also known as The Center), NBC, 1997
Also appeared in episodes of Sesame Street, PBS, You Write theSongs, Parkinson, and The Sound of Motown.
Awards Presentations
The 28th Annual Grammy Awards, CBS, 1986
The 29th Annual Grammy Awards, CBS, 1987
The 19th Annual NAACP Image Awards, 1987
The 30th Annual Grammy Awards, CBS, 1988
The 32nd Annual Grammy Awards, CBS, 1990
Host, The American Music Awards, 1990
The 23rd Annual NAACP Image Awards, 1991
Presenter, The 34th Annual Grammy Awards, CBS, 1992
The American Music Awards 20th Anniversary Special, 1993
VH1 Honors, VH1, 1994
The American Music Awards, 1994
The 1994 World Music Awards, 1994
The 1995 World Music Awards, 1995
The Soul Train 25th Anniversary Hall of Fame Special, 1995
The 1995 Billboard Music Awards, 1995
The 25th Anniversary Essence Awards, 1995
The 4th Annual VH1 Honors, VH1, 1997
The 10th Annual Essence Awards, 1997
The 39th Grammy Awards, CBS, 1997
The 40th Annual Grammy Awards, CBS, 1998
The 1998 Billboard Music Awards, 1998
Film Appearances
Himself, Muscle Beach Party, American International Pictures, 1964
(As Little Stevie Wonder) Himself, Bikini Beach, American International Pictures, 1964
Himself, Cocksucker Blues (also known as CS Blues), 1972
Himself, Ten for Two, 1989
Film Work
Other
Song producer, "The Pick-Up Artist," The Pick-Up Artist, 1987
Music arranger and music producer, Jungle Fever, Universal, 1991
Song producer, Get On the Bus, 1996
RECORDINGS
Albums
(As Little Stevie Wonder) Tribute to Uncle Ray, Motown, 1962
(As Little Stevie Wonder) Jazz Soul of Little Stevie Wonder, Motown, 1962
(As Little Stevie Wonder) 12 Year Old Genius, Motown, 1963
(As Little Stevie Wonder) With a Song in My Heart, Motown, 1963
(As Little Stevie Wonder) Workout Stevie, Workout, Tamla, 1963
(As Little Stevie Wonder) Little Stevie Wonder, Motown, 1963
Call It Pretty Music, Stateside, 1964
Stevie at the Beach, Tamla, 1964
Stevie Wonder, Motown, 1965
Up-Tight (Everything's Alright), Motown, 1966
Down to Earth, Motown, 1966
I Was Made to Love Her, Motown, 1967
Someday at Christmas, Motown, 1967
Eivets Rednow ... Alfie, Motown, 1968
Alfie, Motown, 1968
For Once in My Life, Motown, 1968
Greatest Hits, Motown, 1968
My Cherie Amour, Motown, 1969
Stevie Wonder Live, Tamla, 1970
Talk of the Town, Motown, 1970
Signed, Sealed, and Delivered, Motown, 1970
Where I'm Coming From, Motown, 1971
Greatest Hits, Volume 2, Motown, 1971
Music of My Mind, Motown, 1972
Talking Back, Motown, 1972
Innervisions, Motown, 1973
Fulfillingness' First Finale, Motown, 1974
Songs in the Key of Life, Motown, 1976
Free with Songs in the Key of Life, Motown, 1976
Portrait, EMI, 1976
Looking Back, Motown, 1977
Anthology, Motown, 1977
Journey through the Secret Life of Plants, Motown, 1979
Light My Fire, MFP, 1979
Greatest Hits, Volume 1, Motown, 1979
Hotter Than July, Motown, 1980
Original Musiquarium I, Motown, 1982
Motown Legends, Motown, 1983
The Woman in Red, Motown, 1984
In Square Circle, Motown, 1985
Love Songs, Motown, 1985
20 Classic Hits/Love Songs, Motown, 1986
Characters, Motown, 1987
Jungle Fever, Motown, 1991
Conversation Piece, Motown, 1995
Natural Wonder, Motown, 1995
Song Review: Greatest Hits, Motown, 1996
Other albums include Dick Clark Presents Stevie Wonder, Radio; Merry Christmas/Someday at Christmas, Motown; Musical Biography with Alison Steele, DWJ Associates; and Nothing but a Man (O.S.T.), Motown.
Recorded numerous singles, including (with USA for Africa) "We Are the World," 1985; "Get It," Motown, 1988; "For Your Love," Motown, 1995; "TomorrowRobins Will Sing," Motown, 1995; "Treat Myself," Motown, 1995; "Kiss Away Your Tears," Motown, 1996. Other singles include "Fingertips (Part 2)," "For Once in My Life," "Movin' On," "Blowin' in the Wind," "Superstition," "Boogie onReggae Woman," "You Are the Sunshine of My Life," "My Cherie Amour," "Uptight," "Signed, Sealed, Delivered, I'm Yours," "We Can Work It Out," "Isn't SheLovely?," "Livin' for the City," "Contusion," "I Wish," "Have a Talk with God," "Master Blaster (Jammin')," (with Paul Riser) "Do As I Do," (with Paul McCartney) "Ebony and Ivory" and "What's That You're Doing," "That Girl," "I Just Called to Say I Love You," "The Woman in Red," "My Eyes Don't Cry No More,""Part-Time Lover," (with Dionne Warwick, Gladys Knight, and Elton John) "That's What Friends Are For," "Skeletons," and (with Babyface) "How Come, How Long."
Albums; Contributing Performer
B. B. King, King of the Blues, 1961
Package of 16 Big Hits, 1967

Quincy Jones, I Heard That!, 1969
Syreeta, Syreeta, 1972
B. J. Thomas, Billy Joe Thomas, 1972
B. J. Thomas, Rock and Roll Lullaby, 1972
Dave Mason, It's Like You Never Left, 1973
B. B. King, To Know You Is to Love You, 1973
Minnie Riperton, Perfect Angel, 1974
Supremes, Anthology, 1974
Syreeta, Stevie Wonder Presents Syreeta, 1974
Pointer Sisters, Steppin', 1975
Buddy Miles, More Miles Per Gallon, 1975
Billy Preston, It's My Pleasure, 1975
John Lennon, Shaved Fish, 1975
Jeff Beck, Blow by Blow, 1975
Flying Burrito Brothers, Airborne, 1976
Dan Hartman, Images, 1976
James Taylor, In the Pocket, 1976
Peter Frampton, I'm in You, 1977
Pointer Sisters, Having a Party, 1977
Sergio Mendes, Sergio Mendes and the New Brazil '77, 1977
Ramsey Lewis, Love Notes, 1977
Ronnie Foster, Love Satellite, 1978
Johnny Mathis, That's What Friends Are For, 1978
Jermaine Jackson, Let's Get Serious, 1979
Maria Muldaur, Open Your Eyes, 1979
Quincy Jones, Superdisc, 1979
Roberta Flack, Roberta Flack Featuring Donnie Hathaway, 1980
Minnie Riperton, Love Lives Forever, 1980
Quincy Jones, Dude, 1980
LaToya Jackson, LaToya Jackson, 1980
Rory Block, Best Blues and Originals, 1981
Paul McCartney, Tug of War, 1982
Donna Summer, Donna Summer, 1982
Gap Band, Gap Band V: Jammin', 1983
Elton John, Too Low for Zero, 1983
Manhattan Transfer, Bodies and Souls, 1983
Djavan, Djavan, 1984
Chaka Khan, I Feel for You, 1984
King Sunny Ade, Aura, 1984
Beach Boys, Beach Boys, 1985
Eddie Murphy, How Could It Be, 1985
Eurythmics, Be Yourself Tonight, 1985
Barbra Streisand, Broadway Album, 1985
Stanley Turrentine, Wonderland, 1986
Howard the Duck (soundtrack), 1986
Neil Diamond, Headed for the Future, 1986
Rory Block, I've Got a Rock in My Sock, 1986
Carly Simon, Coming Around Again, 1987
Prefab Sprout, From Langley Park to Memphis, 1988
Julio Iglesias, Non Stop, 1988
Dionne Warwick, Greatest Hits, 1979-90 (also known as Dionne Warwick's Greatest Hits, 1979-90), 1989
Third World, You've Got the Power, 1989
Whitney Houston, I'm Your Baby Tonight, 1990
Paul Young, Other Voices, 1990
Winans, Return, 1990
Sounds of Murphy Brown, 1990
Paula Abdul, Spellbound, 1991
Steel Pulse, Victims, 1991
Herbie Hancock, Man-Child, 1991
X-Clan, Xodus, 1992
Elton John, Greatest Hits: 1976-1986, 1992
Manhattan Transfer, Anthology: Down in Birdland, 1992
Norman Brown, Just between Us, 1992
Eddie Murphy, Love's Alright, 1993
Janet Jackson, Janet, 1993
Vinx, Storyteller, 1993
Bob Dylan, Bob Dylan 30th Anniversary Concert, 1993
Christmas in the City [Motown], 1993
Elton John, Duets, 1993
Will Downing, Love's the Place to Be, 1993
Third World, Reggae Ambassadors: 20th Anniversary, 1993
Third World, Best of Third World, 1993
El DeBarge, Heart Mind and Soul, 1994
Shared Vision: Songs of the Beatles, 1994
Tribute to Curtis Mayfield, 1994
Take Six, Join the Band, 1994
Kiss My A**: Classic Kiss Regrooved, 1994
Temptations, Emperors of Soul, 1994
Trammps, This is Where the Happy People Go, 1994
Lionel Hampton, For the Love of Music, 1994
Quincy Jones, Q's Jook Joint, 1994
Berry Gordy, Music, the Magic, the Memories of Motown, 1995
Inner City Blues: The Music of Marvin Gaye, 1995
Amos Milburn, Motown Sessions, 1962-1964, 1996
Motown's Blue Evolution, 1996
Dead Presidents, Vol. 2, 1996
Babyface, Day, 1996
Neil Diamond, In My Lifetime, 1996
Kassav, Dife, 1997
James Taylor, Hour Glass, 1997
Williams Brothers, Still Standing, 1997
Nancy Wilson, Friends in Love, 1997
Christmas Hits, 1997
Album Producer
Syreeta, Stevie Wonder Presents Syreeta, 1974
Jackson 5, Anthology, 1976
Spinners, The Best of the Spinners, 1978
Jermaine Jackson, Let's Get Serious, 1979
Smokey Robinson, Warm Thoughts, 1980
Rhythm Come Forward, Rhythm Come Forward, 1984
Julio Iglesias, Non Stop, 1988
Third World, You've Got the Power, 1989
Whitney Houston, I'm Your Baby Tonight, 1990
Sounds of Murphy Brown, 1990
Jermaine Jackson, Greatest Hits and Rare Classics, 1991
Diana Ross, Force behind the Power, 1991
Spinners, One of a Kind Love Affair, 1991
Supremes, Greatest Hits and Rare Classics, 1991
Hitsville USA: The Motown Singles Collection, 1992
Hitsville USA, Vol. 2: The Motown Singles Collection, 1992
Elton John, Duets, 1993
Third World, Reggae Ambassadors: 20th Anniversary, 1993
Third World, Best of Third World, 1993
Tribute to Curtis Mayfield, 1994
Lionel Hampton, For the Love of Music, 1994
Quincy Jones, Q's Jook Joint, 1994
Berry Gordy, Music, the Magic, the Memories of Motown, 1995
Inner City Blues: The Music of Marvin Gaye, 1995
Cruzin' to Motown, 1995
Baddest Love Jams, Vol. 3, 1996
Stealing Beauty (soundtrack), 1996
Get on the Bus (soundtrack), 1996
Rent, 1996
Nancy Wilson, Friends, 1997
Williams Brothers, Still Standing, 1997
Album Arranger
Rhythm Come Forward, Rhythm Come Forward, 1984
Third World, You've Got the Power, 1989
Whitney Houston, I'm Your Baby Tonight, 1990
Norman Brown, Just between Us, 1992
Hitsville USA, Vol. 2: The Motown Singles Collection, 1992
Elton John, Duets, 1993
Third World, Reggae Ambassadors: 20th Anniversary, 1993
Third World, Best of Third World, 1993
Tribute to Curtis Mayfield, 1994
Quincy Jones, Q's Jook Joint, 1994
Berry Gordy, Music, the Magic, the Memories of Motown, 1995
Baddest Love Jams, Vol. 3, 1996
Get on the Bus (soundtrack), 1996
Rent, 1996
Nancy Wilson, Friends, 1997
Album Editor
Third World, You've Got the Power, 1989
Album Programmer
Elton John, Duets, 1993
Get on the Bus (soundtrack), 1996
Album Sequence Supervisor
Williams Brothers, Still Standing, 1997
Music Videos
(With USA for Africa) "We Are the World," 1985
Also appeared in Will Smith's "Wild Wild West"; music videos for his songs.
Videos
Himself, We Are the World: The Video Event, 1985
Harmonica player, Sting: A Brand New Day Tour--Live from the UniversalAmphitheatre, 2000
WRITINGS
Albums Not Performed by Wonder
Roger Williams, Phantom of The Opera, 1980
Mikki Bleu, Gimme the Keys, 1991
Songs Not Performed by Wonder
With Smokey Robinson, wrote "The Tears of a Clown," performed by Smokey Robinson and the Miracles.
Film Scores
The Secret Life of Plants (documentary), 1978
(With others) Underground U.S.A., New Cinema, 1980
Nachtfahrer, 1981
The Adventures of Pinocchio (also known as Carlo Collodi's Pinocchio, Die Legende von Pinocchio, and Pinocchio), New LineCinema, 1996
Film Additional Music
(With others) Underground U.S.A., New Cinema, 1980
Jungle Fever, Universal, 1991
Songs Featured in Films
"All in Love Is Fair," Mahogany, Paramount, 1975
(Extract) "Sunshine Of My Life," That Sinking Feeling, 1979
"Stay Gold," The Outsiders, Warner Bros., 1983
"It's You," "The Woman in Red," "Moments Aren't Moments," "Don't Drive Drunk," "Love Light in Flight," "Weakness," and "I Just Called to Say I Love You," The Woman in Red, Orion, 1984
"Upset Stomach," The Last Dragon (also known as Berry Gordy's The Last Dragon), 1985
Lola, 1985
"Chan's Song (Never Said)," 'Round Midnight, Warner Bros., 1986
Title song, The Pick-Up Artist, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1987
Die Hard, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1988
"I Can Only Be Me," School Daze, Columbia, 1988
"Livin' for the City," New Jack City, Warner Bros., 1991
Title song, "If She Breaks Your Heart," "Gotta Have You," and others, Jungle Fever, Universal, 1991
"Too High," Passenger 57, Warner Bros., 1992
"It's a Shame (My Sister)," Class Act, Warner Bros., 1992
Poetic Justice, Columbia, 1993
"Signed, Sealed, Delivered, I'm Yours" and (with Smokey Robinson) "The Tears of a Clown," Crooklyn, Universal, 1994
Dangerous Minds, Buena Vista, 1995
"Superstition," My Fellow Americans, Warner Bros., 1996
A Smile Like Yours, Paramount, 1997
Holy Man, 1998
How Stella Got Her Groove Back, 1998
"Tell Me Something Good," Safe Men, 1998
"Signed Sealed Delivered I'm Yours," You've Got Mail, 1998
"Don't You Worry 'Bout a Thing," Bringing Out the Dead, 1999
Just the Ticket, 1999
The Best Man, 1999
"Wild Wild West" and "I Wish," Wild Wild West, 1999
"My Cherie Amour," Almost Famous (also known as Untitled: Almost Famous the Bootleg Cut), DreamWorks Distribution LLC, 2000
Bamboozled, 2000
"Higher Ground," Center Stage, 2000
High Fidelity, 2000
"Tell Me Something Good," Next Friday, 2000
"Tell Me Something Good," Nutty Professor II: The Klumps, 2000
Glitter, Twentieth Century-Fox, 2001
"As," Snow Dogs, 2002
Songs Featured in Television Specials
"I Just Called to Say I Love You," Disney's D-TV Valentine (animated), NBC, 1986
"Sir Duke," Neil Diamond ... Hello Again (also known as Hello Again), CBS, 1986
"I Just Called to Say I Love You," Superstars and Their Moms, ABC,1988
"Superstition," The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, 1988
Paris '89, TBS, 1989
"Livin' for the City," Jacksonville Jazz XI, PBS, 1991
Songs Featured in Television Episodes
"How Come, How Long," Crisis Center (also known as The Center), NBC, 1997

Further Reference

OTHER SOURCES

Books

Encyclopedia of World Biography, Supplement vol. 19, Gale Group, 1999
Haskins, James, Story of Stevie Wonder, Lothrop, 1976

Periodicals

Entertainment Weekly, November 1, 1999, p. 93
New York Times, February 23, 1975

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