A young Stevie Wonder posed with his harmonica circa 1960. At 11 years old, Stevie began his singing career and auditioned at Motown, where Berry Gordy, the founder of Motown, signed him. While Motown producer Clarence Paul gave Wonder the nickname “Little Stevie Wonder,” the music legend is not so little anymore, celebrating a career that spans five decades.
Isn't HE lovely? Born on May 13, 1950, Stevie Wonder has been making us dance for years with hits like 'Ma Cherie Amour,' 'Superstition,' 'Signed Sealed Delivered' and 'I Just Called To Say I Love You.' Take a look back at the singer's impressive career throughout the years.
A young Stevie Wonder posed with his harmonica circa 1960. At 11 years old, Stevie began his singing career and auditioned at Motown, where Berry Gordy, the founder of Motown, signed him. While Motown producer Clarence Paul gave Wonder the nickname “Little Stevie Wonder,” the music legend is not so little anymore, celebrating a career that spans five decades.
Stevie Wonder stepped in front of the cameras at just 13 and played himself in the 1964 film “Muscle Beach Party,” alongside Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello in 1964.
As Stevie Wonder grew in the music industry, he dropped the “little” nickname that Clarence Paul gave him. Between 1968 and 1970, Stevie had several hit songs, including “My Cherie Amour,” “Signed Sealed, Delivered (I’m Yours)” and “For Once in My Life.”
Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye making music at the Motown recording studio in Detroit, Michigan sometime in 1965. Gaye had played drums numerous times for Wonder before becoming an artist himself.
Stevie Wonder doesn’t need sight to play from the heart. The music legend not only plays the piano, but he also plays the harmonica and the drums in some of his biggest hits.
Stevie Wonder was just 20 when he married his first wife Syreeta Wright in 1970. Wright was a former Motown secretary, but after the couple got together, they worked on Wonder’s next album, “Where I’m Coming From,” which came out in 1971. Unfortunately, the pair didn’t last long and divorced just two years later in 1972.
Stevie Wonder and The Rolling Stones’ Mick Jagger rocked out on the stage during the Rolling Stones American Tour in 1972. Wonder was the supporting act for the tour and a few months later released his album “Talking Book,” which featured the hit song “You Are the Sunshine of My Life.”
Stevie Wonder was at the height of his career in 1974 with the release of his 1972 album “Talking Book.” Prior to that, Wonder had several hit songs on the radio that were topping the charts. Music heavyweights Cher and Stevie posed backstage at the Grammy Awards on March 2, 1974.
Stevie Wonder clutches onto Bette Midler and one of his five Grammys at the 16th Annual Grammy Awards. The music legend won Best R&B Song (songwriter) for “Superstition,” Best R&B Vocal Performance – Male for “Superstition,” Best Pop Vocal Performance – Male for “You Are The Sunshine Of My Life” and Album of the Year for “Innervisions” on Mar. 2, 1974.
In 1985, Stevie Wonder was one of the many artists that teamed up with producer Quincy Jones and Michael Omartian for the album “We Are the World.”
Stevie Wonder and Whitney Houston were all smiles while attending the 13th Annual American Music Awards on Jan. 27, 1986, at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, Calif.
Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder and Lionel Richie laughed backstage at the 28th Annual Grammy Awards on Feb. 25, 1986.
Singer Stevie Wonder embraces his bride, Syreeta Wright, a Motown songwriter and songstress, as they depart Detroit’s Bernette Baptist Church on Sept. 12, 1970, following their wedding ceremony.
South African President Nelson Mandela embraced Stevie Wonder in Pretoria, South Africa at the presidential residence on Feb. 6, 1996. Mandela praised Wonder for his involvement in anti-apartheid activities when the African National Congress was still a banned organization in South Africa on Feb. 6, 1996.
Stevie Wonder and Prince performed “Through the Fire” at the 6th Annual BET Awards in 2006.
Stevie Wonder photographed at Abbey Road Studios in London.
Stevie Wonder took the stage at the 2007 Grammy Awards after he and Tony Bennett won the Grammy for “Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals” for the song “For Once in My Life.”
Stevie Wonder and Coretta Scott King attend Martin Luther King Jr. – A Celebration of Life Gala on January 8, 1984 at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.
During the historical “We Are One: The Obama Inaugural Celebration At The Lincoln Memorial” on Jan. 18, 2009, singers Shakira, Stevie Wonder and Usher rocked the stage at the National Mall in Washington, D.C on Jan. 18, 2009.
Former President Barack Obama presented the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor, to Stevie Wonder during an East Room ceremony at the White House on Nov. 24, 2014.
Music icons Jay-Z shook hands with Stevie Wonder as Beyonce and Jamie Foxx looked on in awe. The musicians were in Los Angeles to attend the Stevie Wonder: Songs in the key of Life – An All-Star Grammy Salute on Feb. 10, 2015.
Stevie Wonder, left, as Big Julian Masters, Eddie Murphy as Big Sam during the ‘Cotton Land’ skit on Saturday Night Live on May 7, 1983.
Stevie Wonder, left, and Bob Dylan at the 26th Annual Grammy Awards, presented at Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles on February 28, 1984.
Stevie Wonder, left, and Paul McCartney photographed as they recorded the album in a series of recordings on the Carribean Island of Montserrat.
Musician Stevie Wonder is all smiles onstage as he is presented with the “Key of Life” Award at the ASCAP “I Create Music” Expo on April 15, 2017, in Los Angeles, Calif.
Stevie Wonder and Eddie Murphy celebrate at party at the Red Parrot after Wonder’s Radio City concert.
In this screengrab, Stevie Wonder performs during “One World: Together At Home” presented by Global Citizen on April, 18, 2020. The global broadcast and digital special was held to support frontline healthcare workers and the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund for the World Health Organization, powered by the UN Foundation.
Stevie Wonder photographed in 1980.
Peter Frampton, left, Diana Ross and Stevie Wonder on the 2nd annual Rock Music Awards on Sept. 18, 1976.
Stevie Wonder appears on Sesame Street with character Grover to perform the song “Superstitious.”
David Bowie with Stevie Wonder in 1973.
Stevie Wonder promoting Songs In The Key Of Life.
Singer Stevie Wonder photographed in 1968.
Stevie Wonder holds his Oscar award for the category of Best Song “I Just Called to Say I Love You.”
Singer, songwriter, musician and record producer Stevie Wonder performs on the TV show ‘Ready Steady Go!’ at Television House on Kingsway, London, UK, in Dec. 1963.
Stevie Wonder photographed in 1970.
Stevie Wonder, left, Babyface, Whitney Houston, LA Reid, Narada Michael Walden and Clive Davis attend a party circa 1988.
Stevie Wonder arriving in London for a series of concerts in January 1974.
From left to right, Dionne Warwick, Elizabeth Taylor and Stevie perform the song ‘That’s What Friends Are For’ on the television show ‘Solid Gold’ in Los Angeles in 1986.
Tony Bennett and Stevie Wonder backstage during MLK Gala in Atlanta Georgia on Jan. 13, 1982
Dionne Warwick, Stevie Wonder, Quincy Jones, Michael Jackson, and Lionel Richie congratulate each other backstage after the song “We Are The World” won 4 Grammy Awards.
Mick Taylor, left, and Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones perform with Stevie Wonder at Madison Square Garden.
Luther Vandross and Stevie Wonder pose with a platinum record sales plaque for the album ‘The Night I Fell In Love’ circa 1985.
Stevie Wonder performing in Detroit, circa 1974.
Coretta Scott King, Stevie Wonder and Harry Belafonte during M.L.K Gala in Atlanta Georgia, Jan. 1, 1982
Stevie Wonder photographed in 1970.
Stevie Wonder photographed in 1960.
Stevie Wonder 1971 (Photo by Chris Walter/WireImage)
Stevie Wonder photographed in 1966.
Stevie Wonder performing live on stage in 1960.
Stevie Wonder appears on Sesame Street with Grover to perform the song “Superstitious” in 1973.
