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Stevie Wonder: A Life in Music and Activism
13 May
Summary
- Born in Saginaw, Michigan, Wonder lost sight early but mastered piano by age 9.
- He earned an Oscar for 'I Just Called to Say I Love You' in 1985.
- Wonder is a father of nine, actively involved in his children's lives.
Born Stevland Hardaway Judkins in Saginaw, Michigan, on May 13, 1950, Stevie Wonder lost his vision shortly after birth. A child prodigy, he learned piano by age 9 and signed with Motown by 12, earning the nickname Stevie Wonder.
Wonder's career highlights include performing with music legends like Marvin Gaye and appearing on The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour in 1969. He received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and Grammys for best male R&B vocal performance and best R&B song in 1996. He also earned an Academy Award in 1985 for Best Song.
Beyond music, Wonder has been a dedicated activist, attending the MLK Gala in 1982 and being honored for his anti-apartheid involvement. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989 and appointed a United Nations Messenger of Peace in 2009. President Obama presented him with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2014.
As of May 2026, Wonder continues to be a public figure, releasing new music and performing, most recently at a Motown tribute in 2023 and a funeral for Rev. Jesse Jackson in February 2026. He is a proud father of nine children, born between 1974 and 2014, actively guiding them as a friend and father.
