Three13 · Music Legend Feature
Stevie WonderSaginaw's ProdigyWho Redefined Pop
Born blind in Saginaw, signed to Motown at eleven, and forged in Detroit into a 25-time Grammy winner who reshaped soul, funk, and pop — and helped make MLK Day a national holiday.
Stevie Wonder — born Stevland Hardaway Judkins on May 13, 1950, in Saginaw, Michigan — is widely regarded as one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century. Blind since shortly after birth, he was a child prodigy who signed with Motown's Tamla label at just eleven years old and grew up in Detroit, where Berry Gordy's empire gave him a stage and a microphone before he could legally drive.
From Saginaw to Motown
Wonder was born six weeks premature. The oxygen-rich atmosphere of his hospital incubator caused retinopathy of prematurity, leaving him blind from infancy. When he was four, his mother moved the family to Detroit, where he sang in the choir at Whitestone Baptist Church and became a soloist at age eight.
Discovered through a family connection with Miracles member Ronnie White, the eleven-year-old auditioned for Motown and was signed to Tamla, given the stage name Little Stevie Wonder. His 1963 live single "Fingertips" topped the Billboard Hot 100 when he was just thirteen — the youngest solo artist ever to reach #1.
The Classic Period
After renegotiating his Motown contract in 1971 for unprecedented creative control, Wonder embarked on what critics call his "classic period" (1972–1976). Beginning with Music of My Mind and Talking Book, he abandoned the Motown sound in favor of a synthesizer-driven, deeply personal approach. "Superstition" and "You Are the Sunshine of My Life" both reached #1.
The run continued with Innervisions (1973), Fulfillingness' First Finale (1974), and the sprawling double album Songs in the Key of Life (1976) — the first album by an American artist to debut at #1 on the Billboard 200. He became the first Black musician to win the Grammy for Album of the Year, and the only artist to win it with three consecutive releases.
Key Milestones
1950
Born Stevland Hardaway Judkins in Saginaw, Michigan. Born six weeks premature, retinopathy of prematurity left him blind from infancy.
1961
Signed with Motown's Tamla label at age 11 and given the professional name Little Stevie Wonder.
1963
'Fingertips' tops the Billboard Hot 100 at age 13, making him the youngest solo artist ever to reach #1.
1972
Begins his 'classic period' with Music of My Mind and Talking Book, featuring the #1 hit 'Superstition' and 'You Are the Sunshine of My Life.'
1973
Releases Innervisions, winning his first Grammy Award for Album of the Year — the first Black musician to win the honor.
1976
Songs in the Key of Life debuts at #1 on the Billboard 200, the first album by an American artist to do so. Wins a third consecutive Album of the Year Grammy.
1980
Leads the campaign to make Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday a federal holiday, releasing 'Happy Birthday' on Hotter Than July.
1984
Wins the Academy Award for Best Original Song for 'I Just Called to Say I Love You' from The Woman in Red.
2009
Named a United Nations Messenger of Peace.
2014
Awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama.
Major Achievements
- ◆25 Grammy Awards — the most ever won by a solo artist — plus a Lifetime Achievement Award
- ◆Academy Award for Best Original Song ('I Just Called to Say I Love You', 1984)
- ◆Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductee (1989)
- ◆Songwriters Hall of Fame Inductee
- ◆Presidential Medal of Freedom (2014)
- ◆Kennedy Center Honors (1999) and Polar Music Prize
- ◆100+ million records sold worldwide
External Links
Frequently Asked
Is Stevie Wonder from Michigan?+
Yes. Stevie Wonder was born Stevland Hardaway Judkins on May 13, 1950, in Saginaw, Michigan. His mother moved the family to Detroit when he was four, where he sang in the choir at Whitestone Baptist Church and was discovered by Motown.
How did Stevie Wonder go blind?+
Wonder was born six weeks premature. The oxygen-rich atmosphere in the hospital incubator caused retinopathy of prematurity, a condition that arrested eye growth and detached his retinas, leaving him blind from shortly after birth.
How many Grammys does Stevie Wonder have?+
Stevie Wonder has won 25 Grammy Awards — more than any other solo artist in history — including a Lifetime Achievement Award. He won Album of the Year three consecutive times for Innervisions, Fulfillingness' First Finale, and Songs in the Key of Life.
When was Stevie Wonder inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame?+
Stevie Wonder was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989. He has also been inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame and the Rhythm and Blues Music Hall of Fame.
About This Feature
This Three13 feature draws on verified public sources including Wikipedia, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, the Recording Academy, and Stevie Wonder's official site. All biographical data — birth in Saginaw, Motown signing age, and Grammy totals — are editorially verified.