May 13
LITTLE STEVIE WONDER DAY
Stevland Morris was born prematurely on this day in 1950. Too much oxygen in the incubator caused the baby to become permanently blind. However, this did not prove to be any kind of handicap to Stevland’s musical talents as a singer, songwriter and multiinstrumentalist.
At the tender age of ten, Little Stevie Wonder, as he was called by Berry Gordy at Motown, was discovered singing and playing the harmonica. The child prodigy got a little bigger and in his teen years recorded Fingertips (his first hit) and My Cherie Amour; co-wrote I was Made to Love Her, For Once in My Life and Tears of a Clown. If You Really Love Me was a #1 hit and Stevie was just 20 years old.
Stevie Wonder won an Oscar in 1984 (I Just Called to Say I Love You); induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989; and 25 Grammy Awards. He has stood up for civil rights, campaigns against cancer, AIDS, drunk driving and the plight of Ethiopians.
As an adult, and no longer little, Stevie Wonder has been no less than wonderful.
Happy Birthday, Stevie!
Those Were the Days, the Today in History service from 440 International
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