“Just because a man lacks use of his eyes doesn't mean he lacks vision”said Stevie Wonder in 1964 said Stevie Wonder in 19601 as a blind pianist,singer,and songwriter he was one of the most famous men in the 1960´s he made many people believe in themselves because they saw that he was blind since birth and had still made his career shot up and followed his dreams. Stevie Wonders was an inspiring role model in the singing and songwriting industry, because he overcame a physical disability
Steveland Judkins Morris was born on May 13, 1950, in Saginaw, Michigan. He is more popularly known as Stevie Wonder. Stevie was blinded shortly after birth. His blindness was caused by a medical accident when he was born. He had to be put in an incubator and he didn’t get enough air. In 1954 his family moved to Detroit and he developed his musical talent early in his life.By the age of 11 years old, he could play the harmonica and piano and he was a talented singer. ¨Stevie was introduced to Motown's Berry Gordy, who recognized Stevie’s talents ¨(Encyclopedia.com). He was signed to Motown in 1962 and he was given the stage name “Little Stevie Wonder”. He later grew out of this nickname and dropped the “little”. Stevie had success with his single, 'Fingertips, Part 2', in 1963 (Allmusic.com). By the time he was 18,
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Over the years Stevie has gotten a lot of recognition over the years from many year.He has won many award because of his singing and his music he has won Grammy Award for Album of the Year - 1977-1975-1974, Kennedy Center Honors - 1999 ,Academy Award for Best Original Song - 1985. As you can see he is one of the most recognized people of the
He was born six weeks early with retinopathy of prematurity. It’s an eye disorder which was exacerbated when he receives too much oxygen in an incubator, leading to his blindness. Before the age of 10, he taught himself how to play the harmonica, piano, and drums. Stevie Wonder was discovered by Ronnie White of the Motown band the Miracles as age 11. He then auditioned for Berry Gordy which was the founder of Motown and he signed him to a record deal. In 1962, they renamed Stevie to Little Stevie Wonder. His commitment to his gifted, he was faced with the difficulty of staying on the topic relevant to what he was known for singing. He grew from a bot to a man, and his voice matured into a tenor. In 1971, Stevie Wonder negotiated a new contract with Motown which gave him a lot of control over his records. Over the course throughout the years, he had four outstanding albums. Stevie Wonder created some of the most indelible songs in popular music history. His album Talking Book offered two number one hits. Next was the album Innervision The record featured two socially conscious number one R&B charts. His first finale release of Fulfillingness was inspired after he survived a bad car accident that left him in a coma. He had two number one hits both the pop and R&B on this album as well. After this Stevie Wonder has created many more albums with a lot more number one hits. With Stevie’s
First known as Steveland Hardaway Judkins changed his original name to Steveland Hardaway Morris, known as Stevie Wonder (Source C-"Biography."). Born on May 13th, 1950 in Saginaw, Michigan Stevie Wonder was born with a condition called Retinopathy of Prematurity where he received too much oxygen in the incubator as a premature baby making him fully blind (Source A-"Steveland Hardaway Morris."). Retinopathy of Prematurity is the cause of a premature baby not yet having the vessels of the eye grow fully or abnormally from the retina to the rear of the eye. Therefore when the baby is placed in an incubator the amount of oxygen causes the vessels to grow uncertainly (Source B-"Retinopathy of Prematurity: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia."). The very first time Stevie showed a gift for music was when he participated in a church choir and the age of 4, further on self teaching himself how to play the harmonica, piano and drums at an early age (Source A-"Steveland Hardaway Morris."). At the age of 10 Stevie was acknowledged for his talent by Ronnie White who was a part of the Motown band “The Miracles.” Later on, the founder of Motown signed Stevie for a record deal, and from then on Stevie Wonder was well known as “Little Stevie Wonder” that hit his first single record “Fingertips, Part 2” in 1963, at the age of 12 (Source D-"The Pop History Dig » “Fingertips – Pt.2″1963."). “Higher Ground” by Stevie Wonder was developed in May of 1973 that hit “#4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #1 on the Us Hot R&B Singles chart” (Source E-"Higher Ground (Stevie Wonder Song).").
In the 1930s many black musicians where coming out of the south. One especially who would soon top the charts and hit fame and fortune starting in his young years, Ray Charles. After conquering poverty, blindness and many other things, success was possible. In his young age he had a few losses in his family and near after came down with a disease which was causing him to go blind. He later came over the blindness and was able to learn and compose music with the help of his skills in mathematics. After enduring a harsh childhood and blindness, Ray Charles was able to over come his handicap and follow his dream in music.
Sammy Davis, Jr. was born in Harlem on December 8, 1925, to Elvera Sanchez, a chorus girl, and Sam Davis, a dancer. He was raised by his father and grandmother. His father was in an act with Will Mastin, who was a close friend of the family. At a young age, Sammy joined the act as a singer and dancer. They were known as the “Will Mastin Trio”. It was not the best job, but it put food on the table.
Stevie Ray Vaughan was born in Dallas, Texas on October 3, 1954 to Jim and Martha Vaughan. Stevie Ray first got interested in the guitar around the age of eleven in 1963. By then his older brother (Jimmie Vaughan born in 1951.) had already been playing for a couple years. He taught Stevie Ray a few tricks, a couple blues chords, and minor pentatonic licks, but not much though. Stevie Ray was mostly self taught, he grew accustomed to never using his pinkie. Growing up he listened to great blues legends like the famous B.B. King, the not as famous, but close, who really didn't get the recognition he deserved, Albert King. He found their music gratifying, and admired them greatly, learning all their licks by ear, on stage he could mirror any solos they threw at him. Both Albert King and B.B. King played a very influential role in the development of Stevie Rays style. By the time he was fourteen he was already playing in Dallas blues clubs with bands like Blackbird, the Shanstones, and the Epileptic Marshmallow. Stevie Ray being so involved with his music barely had time for highschool. He dropped out in 1972.
The Life of Billy Joel Billy Joel was born on May 9, 1949 in Bronx, New York. He moved at the age of four to a small town on Long Island. This is where at the ripe age of four he discovered the art of music. Originally a classical music fan, Billy Joel honed his skills with classical piano training. This undoubtedly has had a major influence on his life and certainly his music.
Steven Paul “Elliott” Smith born in Omaha, Nebraska was an american folk singer songwriter, recognised as a guitarist and songwriter but was also fluent on piano, clarinet, bass, drums and harmonica. Likely one of the greatest songwriter of his generation he delivered his songs with his distinctive “whispery” vocal style. Smith song writing technique came from trusting your gut and lazing about on the couch.
AIDS is the one of the most devastating diseases known to man as of today. “At the EJAF (Elton John AIDS Foundation) we believe that AIDS can be beaten” (Elton). Elton John AIDS Foundation is one of the most well-known charities in it’s field and is well respected throughout the world. Elton John decided to start this organization after losing two of his close friends, Freddie Mercury and Ryan White, to the disease. The foundation was initially set up in the United States (New York) in 1992, and then the United Kingdom (London) in 1993 (Elton). The principal advocacy of the foundation is to improve the quality of life of those diagnosed with or at high risk for HIV/AIDS.
Stevland Hardaway Judkins was born in Saginaw, Michigan to Calvin Judkins and Lula Mae Hardaway on May 13, 1950. Since Lula Mae Hardaway gave birth to him a month and a half early, Stevie Wonder was born with a condition called retinopathy of prematurity which made him blind. Even with this disability, Stevie Wonder became a pioneer and trailblazer in the music industry.
Throughout America’s history there have been countless influential leaders that have proudly been American. Those have held positions of politicians, soldiers, and . Kanye Omari West has opened the eyes of today's generation and still continues to shape American history. His musical influence has transformed the lives of countless people. Inspiring many to stand up and fight for what they believe in is something Kanye West continues to do even today.. Also, opening the eyes of many to racial injustice towards African American citizens. I’ll further elaborate my claim in the following paragraphs using historical evidence.
Over the end of his career, beginning in the 60’s to the 90’s, he won many Grammy awards, including the 1987 Lifetime Achievement Award. One other nationally recognizable achievement was his induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Not only did Charles get rewards, he gave rewards. He was a strong supporter of civil rights and gave over a million dollars to charitable causes over the years (Funk).
His joy of singing and performing grow with his music. Artist direct states “Nearly everything he recorded bore the stamp of his sunny, joyous positivity; even when he addressed serious racial, social, and spiritual issues (which he did quite often in his prime), or sang about heartbreak and romantic uncertainty, an underlying sense of optimism and hope always seemed to emerge”(Artist direct). All of his songs have a deep meaning to them; therefore so many people really like to listen to his music. Speaking about talent Wonders is not just a Smooth Jazz artist, he is also a Classic Rock, R&B, Soul, and Pop. Wonder sang all this different types of genres to show his affection for music. By having such a strong voice Wonder was able to be a multiple genre artist. When Wonder got to the age of twenty-one his contract for Motown expired, before his contract had expired he made an album called “Where I’m Coming From” which was his first album all by himself (Artist direct). When his contract was finished Wonder did not renew his contract with Motown, therefore Wonder built his own recording studio and had enrolled in some classes in USC for the music theory. After he attended USC, he started running his recording studio, burring that time he was running the studio he was also writing a new album. A year later he released his new album in 1972 called “Talking Book”. “Stevie
Louis Armstrong was born August 4th, 1901 in New Orleans. He was born into a poor family and was the grandson of slaves. His father abandoned the family when Louis was an infant. His mother later left Louis and his younger sister and left them with Louis’ grandmother. At age 5, he moved back in with his mother, her relatives and a parade of “stepfathers”. He went to school at Fisk School for Boys. At this school is where he most likely had exposure to music. He sold many items for money but the money he got wasn’t enough to keep his mother away from prostitution. He was usually in the dance halls near home, where he learned everything from licentious dancing to the quadrille. He hauled coal to Storyville for extra money. He would listen to the bands playing in the brothels and dance halls.
Stevie Ray Vaughan is a legend and was a leading figure in the blues-rock genre. Vaughan was born in Dallas, Texas in October of 1954. (Dutton) He was exposed to music early on in his childhood watching big bother Jimmie Vaughan play guitar. By the age of 14 Vaughan was playing in Dallas blues clubs. (Simon, 2001) When he played he demanded the audience’s attention and had a sound of blues meets Jimi Hendrix. (Wenner, 2011) His fame was based mainly in central Texas. It was not until he played at a party thrown by Mick Jagger that his band Double Trouble got their big break when David Bowie as Vaughan to perform on his upcoming album Let’s Dance. (Stevie Ray Vaughan, 2013.) He became a pretty big success and his fan base grew to places outside of Texas. In 1985 Stevie became the first white performer to win the W.C. Handy Foundation’s Blues Entertainer of the Year award. (Simon, 2001) After a performance in August of 1990 Vaughan got on a helicopter bound for Chicago that crashed into mountains due to fog just minutes after taking off killing everyone onboard. (“Stevie Ray Vaughan”, 2013.) His legacy still lives on to this day with an ever-growing fan base.
Stevie Smith was born into the family of Ethel and Charles Smith.