On this date in 1950, the great Stevie Wonder was born. Over the years, Stevie has appeared in nearly 50 entries on “My Favorite Songs”, whether as a composer, vocalist, or instrumentalist. He is, without a doubt, one of my all-time favorite artists. A 25-Grammy Award winning performer (the most by a male solo artist), Stevie has won Album of the Year three times. The recipient of a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and an Academy Award, he has been a Library of Congress Gershwin Prize Winner and has been inducted into the Rhythm and Blues Hall of Fame, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
I have seen Stevie in-person twice—the last time in 1986 at Madison Square Garden (the “In Square Circle” Tour), and before that, in 1983, in the far more intimate setting of Radio City Music Hall. “You Haven’t Done Nothin’” until you’ve seen Stevie live on stage. If you think his studio recordings are brilliant, fuhgeddaboudit! His live concerts are other-worldly. The man can play 3 hours of music, and there’s not a single unrecognizable song in his setlist. One terrific hit after another, one brilliant, improvised lyrical or melodic hook and keyboard or harmonica solo after another. Fortunately, he’s performed in live concert settings over the years, many of which can be found on YouTube. His music has offered such spiritual fuel for me that I’d consider them “Desert Island” necessities.
He’s also got a sense of humor that is as big as his heart. In honor of his seventy-fourth birthday, instead of a song… here’s a hilarious Carpool Karaoke (with plenty of songs) featured on “The Late Late Show with James Corden.” Happy birthday, Stevie! To many more Wonder-ful years!
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