Stevie Wonder Gave R & B a Huge Boost‍

Stevie Wonder’s Early Life and Musical Beginnings

Stevie Wonder was born Stevland Hardaway Morris on May 13, 1950, in Saginaw, Michigan. He was the first of ten children, and his parents were both gospel singers. He began playing the piano at the age of three and developed an interest in R&B music at age nine when he discovered the music of James Brown. He was also influenced by the likes of Ray Charles, Billy Joel, Elton John, Carole King, and the Beatles. Stevie Wonder began his professional music career at age 11 when he signed with Motown Records. He became the first artist to have a No. 1 hit on the Hot R&B charts in six years with his first single, “Fingertips, Part 2.” Stevie Wonder continued to release hit singles and albums throughout the 1960s and 1970s, including “I Was Made to Love Her,” “My Cherie Amour,” “For Once in My Life,” “Isn’t She Lovely,” “Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I’m Yours),” “You Are the Sunshine of My Life,” “Living for the City,” and “Superstition.”

Why Stevie Wonder is Important to R&B

As the leader of the legendary Motown Records, Stevie Wonder helped to put R&B back on the map after a decline in the 1950s, 1960s, and early 1970s. He bridged the gap between R&B and pop music with his catchy tunes and thoughtful lyrics, which explored themes of love, friendship, social justice, and spirituality. His songwriting helped to raise the bar, particularly in the area of rhyme, meter, and metaphor. And his music attracted new listeners to R&B who might have otherwise ignored the genre. R&B musicians, who had been experiencing a decline since the 1950s, took notice of the success of Wonder’s songs like “I Was Made to Love Her,” “Uptight (Everything’s Alright),” and “For Once in My Life,” which appealed to both black and white audiences. They began to take their own music more seriously and write catchier, more sophisticated lyrics.

R&B Comes Back with a Vengeance in the 1970s

In the 1970s and 1980s, black musical artists and soul music artists regained much of the commercial success they’d lost in the 1950s, 1960s, and early 1970s with upbeat, danceable tunes like “Superstition,” by Stevie Wonder and “That’s the Way of the World” by Earth, Wind & Fire. Stevie Wonder’s “Superstition,” for example, reached number one on the R&B charts and number two on the Billboard Hot 100 charts. The song’s success brought R&B back into the mainstream and showed that black musicians and soul music artists could successfully compete with white musicians in the pop and rock genres. “That’s the Way of the World,” by Earth, Wind & Fire, was the number one song of the year on the Billboard Year-End Hot 100 chart for 1976. Its popularity helped to bring R&B back into the pop music mainstream and showed that black musicians could successfully compete with white musicians in the pop and rock genres.

The Importance of Songs Like “Superstition” and “That’s the Way of the World”

Successful songs like “Superstition” and “That’s the Way of the World” have had a lasting impact on R & B. They continue to be heard on the radio and are played at concerts, nightclubs, and festivals. They are also referenced in contemporary pop music, are covered by modern-day artists, and have been sampled by hip-hop artists. These songs, as well as other popular R&B songs from the 1970s and 1980s, have become part of the cultural landscape. They are frequently quoted in TV shows and movies and are used as the soundtrack for sporting events and other forms of entertainment.

Stevie Wonder "Superstition" Live at Java Jazz Festival 2012 (youtube)

Conclusion

The 1970s were a successful decade for R&B music. The genre was revitalized with catchy tunes that appealed to both black and white audiences. R&B artists, such as Stevie Wonder, Earth, Wind & Fire, and Marvin Gaye, enjoyed commercial success with upbeat, danceable songs. Stevie Wonder, in particular, helped put R&B back on the map with songs like “Superstition” and “That’s the Way of the World,” which showed that black musicians could successfully compete with white musicians in the pop and rock genres. He really did put R & B back on the map!