STEVIE WONDER BIOGRAPHY - AGE, CAREER, SONGS & FACTS

Stevie Wonder is one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century — a blind child prodigy who became Motown's biggest creative force, with 25 Grammys and over 100 million records sold.

Early Life

Stevie Wonder was born on May 13, 1950, in Saginaw, Michigan, USA, as Stevland Hardaway Judkins (his full name is Stevland Hardaway Morris). Born prematurely, he was blinded shortly after birth when excess oxygen in his incubator caused retinopathy of prematurity. A musical prodigy, he mastered the piano, harmonica, and drums as a child, and at just 11 years old he was signed to Motown's Tamla label in 1961, billed as "Little Stevie Wonder." In 1963, his single "Fingertips" topped the Billboard Hot 100 when he was 13, making him the youngest solo artist ever to achieve the feat.

Career

Between 1972 and 1976, Wonder entered his celebrated "classic period," releasing five landmark albums: Music of My Mind (1972), Talking Book (1972), Innervisions (1973), Fulfillingness' First Finale (1974), and Songs in the Key of Life (1976). He became the first Black musician to win the Grammy Award for Album of the Year — and remains the only artist to win it three times in a row. With 25 Grammy Awards, he holds the record for a solo artist, and he has sold over 100 million records worldwide.

His hits include "Superstition," "Sir Duke," "You Are the Sunshine of My Life," and "I Just Called to Say I Love You" — the 1984 chart-topper from the film The Woman in Red that won the Academy Award for Best Original Song. His pioneering work with synthesizers reshaped the sound of R&B. Beyond music, Wonder wrote "Happy Birthday" (1980) as a tribute to Martin Luther King Jr. and lobbied Congress for years to honor him; Martin Luther King Jr. Day was signed into law in 1983 and first observed in 1986. He was named a United Nations Messenger of Peace in 2009 and received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from Barack Obama in 2014.

Recent News

Wonder is currently celebrating the 50th anniversary of his masterpiece Songs in the Key of Life. As reported in our September 2026 news post, STEVIE WONDER SURPRISES FANS WITH 4 UNRELEASED 1976 SONGS FOR SONGS IN THE KEY OF LIFE 50TH ANNIVERSARY, he surprised fans with four unreleased songs from the 1976 era.

FAQ

How old is Stevie Wonder?
Born May 13, 1950 — he is 76 years old.

Why is Stevie Wonder blind?
He was born prematurely, and excess oxygen in his incubator caused retinopathy of prematurity, leaving him blind.

How many Grammys has Stevie Wonder won?
He has won 25 Grammy Awards, a record for a solo artist.

What are Stevie Wonder's most famous songs?
"Superstition," "Sir Duke," "You Are the Sunshine of My Life," "I Just Called to Say I Love You," and "Fingertips."