Stevland Hardaway Judkins a.k.a Stevie Wonder

Stevie Wonder (www.songwriteruniverse.com)

A hero is someone who inspires you to be like them, a role model in other words. The person who took their place in my life as a hero is Stevie Wonder. Stevie Wonder is brilliant, strong-minded and a humanitarian. Stevie has overcome his blindness from birth and has become one of the utmost musicians of his time. He has heavily influenced the music industry and the world with his special variety of music. Also, Stevie has gone on to go help others in need in various ways. With all these acts under his wing, Stevie has become one of the most respected people in not only the music industry, but among all people.

Stevie was born on May 15th in the town of Detroit, Michigan under the name of Stevland Morris. He was born one month before he was due. Immediately after his birth, he was placed in an incubator for his health. However, Stevie’s premature birth and exposure to a surplus of pure oxygen caused him to go blind. He has two older half brothers named Calvin and Milton from his mother’s, Lulu, first husband, Paul.

Eventually, Stevie learned to overcome his blindness. He learned to use his other abilities to learn to talk and other skills that other people need. He learned to use the echoes that sounds make to tell the distance between him and an object. This ability is known as sonar. Stevie also learned to communicate at a young age by using facial expressions. He also learned to use his sense of touch to read Braille. He learned how to act “normally.”

Hitsville USA (dm47.cside.jp)

As a child, Stevie had learned a love of music. When he was only 6, he received a real drum kit. He would practice every day. At some point not much later, Stevie received a piano. He would examine every little detail of it.

Once he was 12, he had a record deal with Hitsville U.S.A., now currently known as Motown Records. So over the next ten years, he would be writing music and producing albums that would make him famous. He started with Rhythm and Blues, changing his style every now and then. The single that made him an instant celebrity was his cover of “Fingertips.” He eventually left Motown Records and went on to create his own record company named “Taurus Productions” and the publisher, “Black Bull Inc.”

Stevie went on to produce many albums. In the 60’s, he produced I Was Made to Love Her, For once In My Life, and My Cherie Amour. The 70’s brought around Signed, Sealed, & Delivered, Music of My Mind, Talking Book, Innervisions, Fulfillingness’ First Finale, Songs in the Key of Life, and Stevie Wonder’s Journey through the Secret Life of Plants. Then the 80’s held Hotter than July, Stevie Wonder’s Original Musiquarium I, The Woman in Red, In Square Circle, and Characters. The 90’s brought Jungle Fever, Conversation Peace, Natural Wonder, and At the Close of a Century. His most recent album, A Time to Love, was released in 2005. Stevie has a lot of music under his belt.

Stevie has won many awards for his music and actions. He has won 25 Grammy’s for his music. In 1989, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In the same year, Stevie was an inductee to the Songwriters Hall of Fame. In ’99, he received the Polar Music Prize and Kennedy Center Honors. In 2002, Stevie was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award. Plus, in 2004, he was awarded the Billboard Music Award for the Century Award in 2004. Stevie has become a very famous man with the help of these awards.

Today, Stevie is going on a concert tour, his first in ten years. He has 3 children, Mandla, Kailand, and Aisha and is married to Kai Milla Morris. Stevie has led a very memorable life and is one to be envied. He is a marvelous musical master.

I admire all aspects of his life and the great respect and talent that Stevie Wonder has is what makes him my hero. He has accomplished great lifetime achievements. He is amazing because he never let his blindness stop him.