Stevie Wonder

Being blind is not a disability, it's a gift. Stevie Wonder was given life with a disability of being blind, although he pursued as a famous singer and songwriter. Stevie Wonder was born on May 13th, 1950. Blind as a result, he received too much oxygen in the incubator as a premature baby. Wonder showed an early gift for music, first with a church choir in Detroit, Michigan, where he and his family moved when was 4 years old. He later played many instruments that included, the harmonica, piano and drums, all of which he taught himself before the age of 10. A hero must possess hard work and care, therefore Stevie wonder is a hero, a hero who possesses hard work, citizenship/caring, and inspiration.

Stevie Wonder's work as a singer/song writer, concerned many people. Therefore he is a person who cares for his fans and others. "Wonder's extensive humanitarian work has concentrated on AIDS awareness, anti apartheid efforts, crusades against drunk driving and drug abuse, and fund-raising for blind and mentally disabled children and the homeless"(Rolling Stone). Stevie Wonder cared for other people's health. He concentrated and was concerned on AIDS awareness, crusading against drunk driving and drug abuse, and fund raising for blind and or disabled children and homeless. His blind disability didn't stop him from singing. He wasn't in for the fame or the money, he wanted to express his music, and inspire and care for people with a disability. "Just because a man lacks the use of his eyes doesn't mean he lacks vision"(Stevie Wonder). What Stevie Wonder means in this quote is that just because a person has a disability doesn't mean he can't try. Or on his prospective, just because a man lacks the use of his eyes doesn't mean he can see, but though can see what is there to come.

As repeated Stevie Wonder was born blind but he didn't find it as a bad disability as he got older. "God gave me life to continue to do the things that I would never have done" (Stevie Wonder). Stevie made his recording debut at age 12. He recorded his first hit single in 1963. Over the next decade, Wonder recorded several hit songs, including "Living in the City"(Stevie Wonder Bio). He worked hard toward to where he is now. "I've had some incredibly triumphal things happen in my life"(Stevie Wonder). Stevie wonder had his ups and downs. Though he had no intention to start a music career, many other artists found him as a successful singer and musician. Due in part to his innate talent, but also because of his deep commitment to his craft, Stevie Wonder faced the difficulty of staying relevant as a musician as he grew from boy to man. In 1971, Wonder, who had begun writing his own music, negotiated a new contract with Motown that gave him almost total control over his records and greatly increased his royalty rate. This results him to be an inspiration and hard worker to many singers, heroes, and fans.

"It's funny, but I never thought of being blind as a disadvantage, and I never thought of being black as a disadvantage" (Stevie Wonder) . Stevie Wonder shows that being blind is not a disability, but a gift. Many other songwriters such as Michael Jackson inspired him as a person to pursue his dream to become a songwriter, due to they were both alike, both had a "Disease" or "Disability". Although Wonder's career is usually connected with his work from the 1970's, his extensive musical talents and his political interests enriched the decades following that time period. With his In Square Circle, Wonder reinvented himself to work in a mainstream pop style, and he redoubled his commitment to social justice, including on that album a track entitled "It's Wrong (Apartheid)." While Wonder's popularity waned over the course of the 1980's, giving way to the next generation of popular singers, such as Michael Jackson, Madonna, and Prince, his influence on popular and rhythm-and-blues music has been substantial. In his role as one of Motown's premier recording artists, he played a critical part in bridging the gap between the 1960's rhythm-and-blues style and the rhythm-and-blues-influenced popular music that came to dominate the early twenty-first century.

Stevie Wonder worked through his problem and pursued a music career. Though Stevie Wonder was blind he achieved a goal to make music. He was critically acclaimed as a popular artist who won twenty-five Grammy's. He as well inspired many other people to be aware of drunken driving, drug abuse and etc. Stevie Wonder is an inspiration because he cared for people and charity, he was hard working to start off. Despite his disability he still strives even when his name was kept before the public before he got famous. This makes Stevie Wonder a hero.