From 1965-70, Stevie Wonder was marketed like the other big Motown stars, recording stuff that was chosen for him by the label's executives, and issuing albums that mixed conventional soul compositions with pop principles. Stevie also recorded his versions of Bob Dylan's “Blowin’ ln The Wind” and Ron Miller's 'A Place In The Sun' in 1966. He co-wrote almost all of his singles from 1967 onwards, and also began to work on releases by other Motown artists, especially co-writing Smokey Robinson And The Miracles' hit 'The Tears Of A Clown', and writing and producing the (Motown) Spinners' 'It's A Shame'.
His contract with Motown expired in 1971, rather than re-signing right away, as the label expected, Wonder financed the recording of two albums of his own material, playing almost all the instruments himself, and experimenting for the first time with more determined musical forms. He pioneered the use of the synthesizer in Black Music, and also broadened his lyrical concerns to include racial problems and spiritual questions. Wonder then used these recordings as a lift to convince Motown to offer a more open contract, which gave him complete artistic control over his music, plus the chance to hold the rights to the music publishing with his own company, Black Bull Music.
The signing of the contract with the release of the solo recordings 'Where I'm Coming' From and 'Music Of My Mind', which, despite warm serious reaction, quickly established him at the head of black music. 'Talking Book', in 1972, combined the technical advances of recent albums with big profitable success, producing hit singles from the driving 'Superstition', to the ballad standard 'You Are The Sunshine Of My Life'.
Wonder married fellow Motown artist Syreeta on 14th September 1970; he premiered many of his new production techniques on 'Syreeta' (1972) and 'Stevie Wonder Presents Syreeta' (1974), for which he also wrote most of the material. 'Innervisions' (1973) consolidated the growth and success of 'Talking Book', bringing further hit singles with the socially aware 'Living For The City' and 'Higher Ground' The release of 'Fulfillingness First Finale' in 1974 epitomized a more thoughtful approach.
The double album 'Songs In The Key Of Life', in 1976, was widely greeted as his most motivated and satisfying work to date. It demonstrated a mastery and diversity of musical forms and instruments, offering a cheerful tribute to Duke Ellington on 'Sir Duke', and heralding a pantheon of major black figures on 'Black Man'. Surprisingly, after this huge success, no new records surfaced for over three years, as Wonder thought on perfecting the soundtrack music to the documentary film 'The Secret Life Of Plants'. This mainly instrumental double album was greeted with poor reviews and sales. Wonder quickly delivered the highly successful 'Hotter Than July' in 1980, which included a tribute song to the late Dr. Martin Luther King, 'Happy Birthday', and 'All I Do'. The failure of his film plan brought an time of concern into Wonder's work, and delays became a consistent factor in his recording process.
After compiling the display double album 'Stevie Wonder's Original Musiquarium' in 1982, which included four new recordings (including 'Do I Do' and 'Ribbon In The Sky') alongside the best of his post-1971 work, Wonder scheduled an album entitled 'People Move Human Play' in 1983. This never appeared, instead, he composed the soundtrack music for the film 'The Woman In Red', which strangely included his biggest-selling single to date, the weak ballad 'I Just Called To Say I Loved You'. The album, which he had been working since 1980 finally, appeared in 1985 as 'In Square Circle'.
Wonder's status as an elder statesman of black music, and as a champion of black rights, was boosted by his campaign in the early 80's to have the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King celebrated as a national holiday in the USA. The late President Reagan granted this request, and the first Martin Luther King Day was celebrated on 15th January 1986 with a concert at which Wonder topped the bill. His most public collaborations included work with Paul McCartney, which produced the hit, 'Ebony And Ivory', Gary Byrd, Michael Jackson and the Eurythmics, and on the benefit records by U.S.A. For Africa and Dionne Warwick & Friends.
A story appeared from Reuters December 3, 1999, which read:
'American pop superstar Stevie Wonder told fellow worshippers at
a church service in Detroit December 2 that he is to undergo an
operation that would enable him to see again. Wonder hopes
to have the operation, which involves the insertion of a microchip
in his eye, at Baltimore's John Hopkins University's Wilmer Eye Institute.'
His songs can be heard on Spike Lee's movie 'Bamboozled, entitled 'Misrepresented People' and 'Some Years Ago' and represented a return to Stevie's political comment.
Stevie returned to recording in 2004 with the album 'A Time 2 Love'.
The man has been the most influential Black Music artist over the last 4 decades. Whatever he turns his songwriting skills to, demands attention.
Musical Contributions
- My Cherie Amour (Talma 1969) R&B- piano
- All I Do (Talma 1980) R&B- piano
- Superstition (Talma 1972) R&B- synthesizer
- Isn’t She Lovely (Talma 1976) R&B-harmonica
