by Robert Wilkinson
Our Saturday early show celebrates the life and music of one of the greatest, Mister "Little" Stevie Wonder! There are so many classic tunes we begin this one early.
Stevie Wonder (born Stevland Hardaway Judkins on May 13, 1950) is one of the most creative and well-loved musical talents of the 20th century. Singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, producer, activist, and United Nations Messenger of Peace, this child prodigy who has been blind since infancy is a master musician who has given us some of the most memorable tunes in history. Star at 13, superstar at 21, this musical genius is a man for the ages!!
He is an amazing and extraordinary talent, and his music has been part of the soundtrack of my life. When I saw him years ago he introduced his band by their astrological signs, which let me know he's totally wired into "groovin' on the one!" His shows are simply amazing in their ability to bring forth Oneness in The Love. And he is one of the only blind people in history to drive a car.....
For your enjoyment, “Little Stevie Wonder!”
From the Summer of 1962 in Chicago, here’s “Little Stevie Wonder” doing both parts of the tune that first blew the doors down, the amazing “Fingertips”
Here’s a great clip from 1963 of the exciting rave up that got everyone’s attention and got them hitting the dance floor by the millions, “Fingertips Part 2”
Also from early in his career, live on The Mike Douglas Show, here’s Stevie performing “Up Tight” and “Place in the Sun”
From 1974, an entire 31 minutes of an extremely funky Stevie Wonder Live at Musikladen
This year his rare performance on Soul Train doing a medley of “My Cherie Amore,” “Sir Duke,” and more is gone.
Here are some great performances with some more added to round out the sound! If you didn’t catch them then, catch them now!!
Live at the Apollo in 1985, an ab-fab live performance by Mister Stevie Wonder of his very funky sendup to Duke Ellington and other jazz legends, the chart-topping “Sir Duke”
In the same spirit, here’s a live performance in Japan in 1982 of his tribute to the Prophet Bob Marley, the very danceable reggae masterpiece, “Master Blaster”
From sometime in the 80s, Mister Stevland offering up a live groove on television with “Sir Duke” and “I Wish”
From 1969, Stevie live on tv performing the classic “For Once In My Life”
From 1969 on the This is Tom Jones television show, Stevie live giving us “A Place in the Sun,” “Up Tight (Everything’s Alright,” “It’s Not Unusual,” “Nothing’s Too Good For My Baby.”
Here’s Stevie live on Sesame Street in 1973 doing his hugely funky dance hit, “Superstition”
Leaping forward 20 years to 1993, here’s Stevie in a duet with the great Tom Jones of “Superstition”
From The Right Time, Stevie and Tom giving us “Blame It On The Sun”
Here’s a rare treat! Stevie and Stevie Ray Vaughan live doing “Superstition” and “Come Let Me Make Your Love Come Down”
Live in London in 1995, here’s Stevie live performing his masterpiece, “I Just Called To Say I Love You.” From the same show, “Master Blaster.” and “Overjoyed”
From Live at Last, A Wonder Summer’s Night in London 2008, “Spain” and from the same show, a great performance of “Part Time Lovers.” The show is one of our encores!
From 2009, Stevie Wonder and Sting in a great live performance of “Higher Ground” and “Roxanne”
Here’s a great sentiment for these edgy times! Here’s Stevie live in London 2008 performing “Don’t You Worry “Bout A Thing”
From World Rock Live, Stevie giving us “Lately” and “My Cherie Amour”
From his live performance at the White House in 2009 for the Gershwin Prize, here’s Stevie doing “We Can Work it Out.”
I can't figure out whether these are from that concert or another one. In any case, these are great! First, his smash hit “You Are the Sunshine of My Life.” and then “Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I’m Yours).” We continue with the very funky “Superstition,” and we'll close with “Sir Duke”
3 years ago I had the entire 52 minute performance, but it’s still gone. Better luck next year!
Also from 2009 at the 25th Anniversary of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, here’s Stevie and the great BB King in a live duet of “The Thrill is Gone”
Speaking of awesome duets, here’s Stevie and the legendary Ray Charles in dueling keyboards doing Stevie’s monster hit “Living for the City”
Here’s a great performance from 2010 in Glastonbury of “Human Nature” which we’ll follow with “If You Really Love Me” and “All I Do”
Here are three full shows! First, from 1985, live in Budokan, a full one hour 7 minute show! Stevie Wonder Live in Japan 1985
From 1988, an hour and 13 live in Japan! Stevie Wonder Live in Japan 1988
And from 2011, an hour and 23 of! Stevie Wonder Rock In Rio 2011
If you still haven’t had enough, I found audio only clips of 4 of his best albums in their entirety. Just hit play and kick back to some great background music that grooves! And of course, if you feel like dancin’, Stevie’s good for happy feet!
The entire 1972 Talking Book album
Also from 1972, the entire Music of my Mind album
From 1973, the entire Innervisions album
From 1976, the entire Songs In The Key of Life album
For a rare treat, here’s an audio-only offering from 1975 by the Prophet and Stevie in Jamaica, “I Shot the Sheriff”
From the show Biography, here’s a great 6-part documentary on Stevie Wonder! If you want to learn about this American musical treasure, check it out!!
Part 4 has been blocked in the US for some strange reason.
This is a great 74 minute documentary giving us the inside look about one of his greatest albums, Songs In The Key of Life. For your enjoyment, the story of Songs In The Key of Life.
For our closer, a 55 minute video concert from 1972! Stevie Wonder Live in NY - Wonderlove
For our encore, a concert that seems apropos for our birthday boy! From 1989, the full 2 hour CBS television special Stevie Wonder Live in London – The Birthday concert
For our second encore, a 2 hour and 14 show in London from 2008 show! This is a real treat! Live at Last, A Wonder Summer’s Night
Thanks for everything over the years, Stevie. To be one of the best at what you do, and one of the most loved for what you do, puts you in rare company with the legends of all time! May you live as long as you want, and never want as long as you live! Just watch out for those crazies on the road when you’re behind the wheel....
Copyright © 2023 Robert Wilkinson
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