Pianist, drummer, synthesizer, guitarist, harmonica player, keyboardist, producer, singer and songwriter, soul icon Stevie Wonder lost his sight in infancy, and what he lacked in visibility, he made up for in sound. His style ranges from downright funky to light and poppy to smooth as butter, and he sure does know a thing or two about love. Born in Saginaw, Michigan, his relationship with the music industry commenced in 1962, when he was signed to Motown's Tarnia label. At age 11, he was dubbed Little Stevie Wonder. His first major hit at 13 foreshadowed a golden road ahead; throughout the 1960s, he recorded his own compositions while working as a songwriter for Motown.
By the time 1970 rolled around, Stevie Wonder was an established musician with hits like "Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I'm Yours)" and "Mon Cherie Amour" under his belt. The signature sound of Wonder continued to have influential and commercial impact, and the '70s proved to be highly prolific, with the release of several acclaimed albums, including Talking Book and Songs in the Key of Life. He reined in the '80s with a movie soundtrack, an Academy Award, numerous collaborations with other artists, a string of singles, and four applauded albums.
Throughout the '90s and into the millennium, he continued to compose, record, and produce, albeit at a slower pace. Wonder has won a total of 25 Grammy Awards, has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall Fame, and has been presented with a string of other awards and honors. Throughout his career he's made significant humanitarian contributions and has influenced a countless number of artists in his wake. Wonder has seven children, and his 4- year-old (at the time) played the drums with him for the prelude to the 2006 Super Bowl. In 2009, Stevie Wonder was appointed a UN Messenger of Peace.