When I think of Funk music Stevie Wonder doesn’t come to mind. During the time period that Funk music was really popular a lot of the artist sang about love and partying, while Stevie Wonder sang about what was happening during the time period.
Early Life
Stevie Wonder was born on May 13th,1950. He was born as Stevland Morris and he was born prematurely. Even though Stevie Wonder is completely blind he taught himself how to play 9 instruments by the time he was 10 years of age. He had an eye disorder when he was born which caused him to go blind. He changed his name to Stevie Wonder when he was 11 years old. He got the name Stevie Wonder because people who heard him sing were amazed and have him the nickname Stevie “A Little Wonder.” Stevie Wonder got his start on Motown, where the CEO Berry Gordy signed him to Motown’s Tamla label. His first song that was ever published is named Sunset and he wrote that the young age of 11.
Stevie Wonder's Funk music
When Stevie Wonder first started his musical career he didn’t start with funk music but when he eventually transitioned over to Funk music he achieved everyone’s expectations on what funk music is truly supposed to be. The words that he sung it his songs truly moved people and made people think about what he was saying. So many people these don’t listen to the words carefully and don’t actually know what they are singing about. With Mr. Wonders’ people know what they are singing about and know exactly what he’s talking about.
Most Black people during the 70’s were singing about talking about love and having fun, but Stevie Wonder was singing about things going on in the world and how he wanted to change it or how he wanted people to help change what was happening for the better. Stevie’s words really made people feel like they could change the world and help others with their struggles in the world. He used his platform to not only sing about real world problems but he went out and became an activist.
Later in Life and Personal Life.
When his career began to take off, he created hit after hit. Those hits that he created won him 18 Grammys. During Stevie Wonder’s personal years he has gotten married and divorced twice and has been married to his new wife since 2017. In the midst of his marriages he has 7 children. When his first child (a daughter) was born he dedicated the song “Isn’t she lovely” to her. He has won several awards including being awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by former President Barack Obama. He doesn’t make as much music now but he made a song in 2016 with Ariana Grande.
