Trivia

In addition to his being blind, he also has loss of smell on account of a 1973 automobile crash in North Carolina from which he also has a scar.

Has been blind since birth resulted from retinopathy of prematurity.

In his acceptance speech for the Academy Award for Best Song in 1984, Wonder dedicated his award to imprisoned civil rights leader Nelson Mandela. The South African government promptly banned Wonder's music from the country.

Freddie Mercury once said he thought Wonder was the best ballad writer in the world.

His 1976 song "Isn't She Lovely" (from album "Songs in the Key of Life") was dedicated to then newborn daughter Aisha whose name and "baby sounds" can be heard on the track.

Became the very first blind recipient of an Academy Award when his composition "I Just Called to Say I Love You" won Best Original Song from The Woman in Red (1984) soundtrack.

Played harmonica on Chaka Khan's 1984 hit single "I Feel for You".

His first #1 hit was the half-improvised "Fingertips - Part 2", recorded live in concert (The first live pop single to ever reach #1). It topped the Pop Music and R&B charts in 1963 when Stevie Wonder was only age 12. You can hear the musicians struggling to keep up with the young vocalist and harmonica player as he improvises rhythm and blues riffs, and at one point in the recording a musician is heard shouting "What key? What key?".

Shortly after reaching his 21st birthday in the spring of 1971, he became the first Motown Recording artist to gain complete artistic control of his records.

Has won 21 Grammy Awards (a record for most Grammy Awards).

"Little Stevie" Wonder grew up to not very little at all, as he stands over six feet tall.

At age 49, he was the youngest-ever recipient in the 22-year history of Kennedy Center Honors given annually for lifetime contribution to arts and culture, presented by President Bill Clinton in Washington, D.C. on December 5, 1999.

The funky "guitar riff" that underscores most of his song "Superstition" was actually generated on a Hohner D6 Clavinet keyboard that is still, to this day, a mainstay among Wonder's array of keyboard instruments.

Joined friends Dionne Warwick, Gladys Knight and Elton John on the 1986 chart-topper "That's What Friends Are For", the proceeds of which were donated to AIDS research. Also played harmonica on the recording.

At age 17, he performed with The Jimi Hendrix Experience playing drums at the BBC (Jammin'/I Was Made to Love Her, BBC Sessions).

Recorded an instrumental jazz album under the name "Eivets Rednow" ("Stevie Wonder" spelled backwards).

He was voted the 15th Greatest Rock 'n' Roll Artist of all time by Rolling Stone.

He has seven children. The last of these, Mandla Kadjaly Carl Stevland Morris, was born May 13, 2005. He was born on his 55th birthday and is his and Kai's first child. Mandla means "Powerful/Defiant" in Zulu. Kadjaly is Swahili for "Born from God".

A guest at the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Concert.

First African-American artist to win the Grammy Award for "Album of the Year" for "Innervisions" (1973). The trophy was presented by Telly Savalas and Cher (Hollywood Palladium / 2 March 1974).

He is the youngest artist ever to have a song reach number one on the charts.

Inducted into the American Songwriters Hall of Fame (1983), the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (1989), the Apollo Legends Hall of Fame (2011), and the Rhythm and Blues Hall of Fame (2019).

Friend Dizzy Gillespie played the trumpet solo on "Do I Do" from Wonder's compilation album "Original Musiquarium" (1982).

Dedicated his song "Sir Duke" (from "Songs in the Key of Life" (1976)) to lifelong hero Duke Ellington.

Son of songwriter Lula Mae Hardaway.

His song "Another Star" was chosen by BBC television as the theme tune for their coverage of the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

His ex-wife, Syreeta Wright, died of breast cancer in Los Angeles on July 6, 2004.

Awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama on 24 November 2014.

Voted the ninth greatest singer of the rock era in a Rolling Stone magazine poll (2008).

Dedicated the finale of his 2008 "Live At Last" London concert to the memory of his beloved mother who had died 31 May 2006. Wonder performed his song "As" (from album "Songs in the Key of Life") to commemorate the moment.

Friends with Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Donny Hathaway, Maurice White, Nancy Wilson, Teddy Pendergrass and Wyclef Jean.

Has a recording studio called Wonderland.

He is the youngest solo artist to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

He is among a handful of recording artists to have won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year three times. Others include Frank Sinatra, Paul Simon and Taylor Swift.

Collaborated on the 1985 smash hit single "We Are the World" (USA for Africa).

Oddly enough, two other vocalists introduced his 1973 smash hit "You Are the Sunshine of My Life" (from album "Talking Book") before Wonder actually sang any lyrics. Respectively, these singers were James Gilstrap and Lani Groves.

He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Recording at 7050 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California on February 1, 1994.

Named United Nations Messenger of Peace on December 2, 2009.

Wrote "Superstition" originally for friend Jeff Beck while completing his album "Talking Book" (1973). Though Beck had actually recorded the number in 1972, Motown rush-released Wonder's cut ahead of the album, and "Superstition" became his second number one hit in January 1973.

Awarded the Polar Music Prize, the Royal Swedish Academy of Music Award (1999).

Wrote the tribute for Mariah Carey's endorsement in Time magazine's "100 Most Influential People in the World" (Artists & Entertainers section / Issue May 12, 2008).

He was nominated for a 2010 New Jersey Hall of Fame for his services and contributions to Arts and Entertainment.

Stevie's signature mouth organ sound is created on his Hohner 64-Reed Chromonica, a 16-hole harmonica that's been part of his musical inventory for decades.

He was the youngest person ever inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame at age thirty-eight. He held the title until he was surpassed by thirty-two year old guitarist Josh Klinghoffer (2012).

In 1988, he announced his interest in running for mayor of Detroit in the 1992 election. However, he never followed through with a campaign.

Father of Aisha Morris, Keita Morris and Ekow.

Received the Second Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song on February 25, 2009. Selection was announced September 2008.

Sir Elton John has described his album "Songs in the Key of Life" (1976) as the "best album ever made" and said he always takes a copy of this with him when he travels.

He was the first Motown artist and second African-American musician to win an Academy Award for Best Original Song, for The Woman in Red (1984).

He is also the only artist to have won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year with three consecutive album releases.