▲The smile, the sunglasses, the voice—Stevie Wonder is recognizable in every corner of our planet. Songs such as 'Superstition' and 'I Just Called to Say I Love You,' among many others, will go down in history as classics. From child prodigy to one of the most critically-acclaimed and successful music artists in the world, we celebrate the life and legacy of Stevie Wonder in this new gallery. Click through!

▲Stevie Wonder was born Stevland Hardaway Morris on May 13, 1950 in Saginaw, Michigan.

▲Wonder was born six weeks premature. He suffered from an eye disorder that exacerbated while he was in an incubator, leading to blindness.

▲Stevie Wonder signed his first record deal at age 11. He was 12 when his debut album, 'The Jazz Soul of Little Stevie,' was released.

▲Little Stevie Wonder earned a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records in 1963 as the "Youngest Solo Artist at No. 1."

▲In 1968, Stevie Wonder released an innovative instrumental album called 'Eivets Rednow' (his name backwards).

▲He covered Bob Dylan’s 'Blowin’ in the Wind' and it was a hit. In fact, both artists released their debut albums in the same year.

▲Stevie Wonder was involved in a serious car crash in 1973. He was in a coma for several days, permanently lost his sense of smell, and temporarily lost his sense of taste.

▲Stevie Wonder has been married three times. He has nine children from five different women.

▲The artist started wearing braids in the early '70s.

▲Stevie Wonder can play the piano, organ, harmonica, drums, and a range of percussion instruments.

▲Stevie Wonder is known for not using his right thumb when playing keyboards.

▲Wonder owned the first unit of the E-mu Emulator, a digital sampling synthesizer.

▲Wonder's hit song 'Isn't She Lovely' was inspired by the birth of his daughter, Aisha Morris. Aisha went on to perform with her father years later.

▲Stevie Wonder is vegan and supports the fight against climate change.

▲In 1985, Wonder won an Oscar for Best Original Song with his famous hit 'I Just Called to Say I Love You' from the film 'The Woman in Red.'

▲In 1989, Stevie Wonder was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Wonder set yet another record and became the youngest person to ever be inducted. He was just 38.

▲Stevie Wonder has won 25 Grammy Awards, including a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1996.

▲Together with Paul Simon and Frank Sinatra, Stevie Wonder is one of three artists to ever win 'Album of the Year' three times in their career.

▲Stevie Wonder has met and performed for a number of US presidents, including Barack Obama and George W. Bush.

▲In 2009, Stevie Wonder was designated UN Messenger of Peace.

▲

In 2010, Wonder was made Commander of the Arts and Letters in France. The artist was originally named to receive the honor in 1981, but it didn't happen until decades later. He also received a Victoires de la Musique Lifetime Achievement Award.

▲In 2014, then-US President Barack Obama awarded Stevie Wonder with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

▲Wonder wrote songs for big names like Elton John, Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, The Beach Boys, and Luciano Pavarotti.

▲Wonder has sung alongside the likes of Beyoncé, Paul McCartney, Michael Jackson, and Snoop Dogg, among many others.

▲Stevie Wonder paid tribute to late music star Prince in 2016. Wonder played harmonica on Chaka Khan's 1985 version of 'I Feel for You,' which was written by Prince.

▲Wonder has played many famous funerals, including those of Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, and Aretha Franklin.

▲All of Wonder's albums have been released under the same record label, Tamla/Motown, throughout his almost six-decade-long career.

▲

Stevie Wonder has, so far, released 23 studio albums.

Isn't he lovely? Wonderful facts about Stevie Wonder

The living legend turns 69 on May 13

09/05/19 por StarsInsider

MUSIC Retrospective

The smile, the sunglasses, the voice—Stevie Wonder is recognizable in every corner of our planet. Songs such as 'Superstition' and 'I Just Called to Say I Love You,' among many others, will go down in history as classics. From child prodigy to one of the most critically-acclaimed and successful music artists in the world, we celebrate the life and legacy of Stevie Wonder in this new gallery. Click through!