Stevie Wonder

Induction Year: 1989

Induction Category: Performer

Only 12 when he began to record for Motown, Steveland Morris grew up on vinyl in the public eye.

His first hit, “Fingertips - Pt. 2,” under the name of Little Stevie Wonder, rose to No. 1 as an R&B shouter in the mold of .. He then steered toward ballads with “I Was Made to Love Her” (1967) and “For Once in My Life” (1968).

After turning 21, Wonder wrested artistic control over his career from the Motown hit-making factory; the results were such No. 1 hits as “Superstition” (1972), “You Are the Sunshine of My Life” (1973), “I Wish” (1976) and “Sir Duke” (1977).

Many of his ‘70s songs dealt with politics and ghetto life, but by the ‘80s he had returned to more predictable material, such as “I Just Called to Say I Love You” (1984) and “Part-Time Lover” (1985).

TIMELINE

May 13, 1950: Stevie Wonder was born.

August 10, 1963: Motown’s 12-year-old prodigy, Little Stevie Wonder, tops the pop charts with “Fingertips (Pt. II)” Recorded in concert, it is the first live single in history to reach Number One.

August 10, 1963: Stevie Wonder hits #1 on the R&B and pop chart with “Fingertips - Pt. 2.

January 21, 1973: Superstition (Stevie Wonder) was a hit.

May 13, 1973: You Are the Sunshine of My Life (Stevie Wonder) was a hit.

1974: Stevie Wonder hits #1 with “You Haven’t Done Nothin’” and #8 with “Living For the City”.

October 27, 1974: You Haven’t Done Nothin’ (Stevie Wonder) was a hit.

1975: Stevie Wonder hits #3 with “Boogie on Reggae Woman”.

January 16, 1977: I Wish (Stevie Wonder) was a hit.

May 15, 1977: Sir Duke (Stevie Wonder) was a hit.

October 4, 1980: Stevie Wonder’s tribute to , the reggaefied “Master Blaster (Jammin’),” enters the singles charts. It will top the R&B chart for seven weeks and peak at #5 on the pop chart.

October 7, 1984: I Just Called to Say I Love You (Stevie Wonder) was a hit.

October 27, 1985: Part-Time Lover (Stevie Wonder) was a hit.

Essential Recordings

Superstition
Higher Ground
Livin’ in the City
You Haven’t Done Nothin’
Master Blaster (Jammin’)
I Wish
Sir Duke
Boogie On, Reggae Woman
Uptight (Everything’s Alright)
Signed, Sealed, Delivered I’m Yours