Stevie Wonder

Stevie Wonder

My hero, what does that mean to you? A hero is someone you look up to and admire for what they do. Your hero can be from your friend to your parents to someone famous. Like me, Stevie Wonder is one of my heroes because, even though he became blind when he was a baby, he still overcame it and pursued his love for music. He doesn’t hold back. He shows anyone can do anything as long as they strive.

Steveland Morris was born on May 13, 1950 in Saginaw, Michigan. His mother is Lulu Mae Morris Hardway. When he was born they put him in an incubator because he was premature and he was in there for 56 days. Since he was in there too long and got too much oxygen, his eyes were irreparably damaged. When he was three years old he moved to Detroit. Stevie’s siblings are his older brothers Milton and Calvan and his younger brothers Larry and Timothy and his sister Renee. When he was seven, a doctor explained his blindness to him. He understood what had happened to him.

Stevie

The first instrument he received was a cardboard drum. Then by the time he was nine he could play the harmonica, drums, piano and he joined the choir. He would take his instruments everywhere. Then he entered school. He was in special classes for the blind, but it was difficult to learn so he used facial expressions to help. Stevie's way to teach himself about the world was to listen to music on the radio. He enjoyed B.B. king.

Stevie Wonder married Syretta Wright. They stayed married for one year. He got into a fatal car crash that left him with a severe head injury and he almost lost his life. Then he married Yolanda Simmons. The first song he wrote was “Mother thank you.” He also made songs called “Fingertips” and “I just called to say I love you.” In 1974 his first Grammy award and also won four more. Then Stevie Wonder was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, along with the Rolling Stones. The Rolling Stones were the only band he chose to tour with for the song “Superstition.”

Stevie Wonder

In 2002 Stevie Wonder was inducted in the Songwriters' Hall of Fame. He was the first African American to be awarded the Johnny Mercer award in 2004. Stevie was also awarded the Billboard Century Award.

Stevie supports charities fighting child hunger, disease and homelessness. Stevie’s plans for the future are to continue producing. writing and recording music. Some lifetime achievements he has made are: He put an effort in making Martin Luther King a national holiday. He was awarded the NARAS Lifetime Achievement Award. At age 49 he was the youngest person to be awarded the Kennedy Center Honors. Now he is coming out with a new CD.