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Stevie Wonder Creates Miles Davis Tribute Album

By Stacey Cole
Published on: 05:27 PST, Mar 18, 2016

Stevie Wonder, despite being born blind, has recorded more than 30 U.S. top 10 chartbusters and won 22 Grammy Awards along with an Academy Award. Today, he has been named as one of the greatest pop musicians of all time. Stevie Wonder may not have been able to see with his eyes, but he recognized his own potential and believed in himself about what he could offer the world. He was a child prodigy who learned to play multiple instruments just by listening to them. His vibrant music is so full of life and energy that it is hard to believe he is not able to view our colorful world. And one may ask, what is the key to his wonderful life?

Stevie Wonder didn’t make excuses, nor did he complain about the obstacles and challenges that life had thrown at him. None of his achievements would have been possible if he had dwelled on his blindness. His only goal was to work hard and rise above his current situation under the mentorship and guidance of Berry Gordie, the CEO of Motown who had discovered the genius of Stevie.

Motown Records, the first African-American record label, encouraged America’s youth to look beyond racial divides and produce good music together in an era when the civil rights movement was at its peak. The highest point in Stevie’s career was in 1976, when his landmark album Songs in the Key of Life was released. The album had songs whose lyrics were way ahead of their time and touched upon a variety of topics like love, sadness, war, death, and life. In general, the theme highlighted Stevie Wonder’s philosophy towards life.

In an interview with Rolling Stone, Stevie shared his inspiration for the songs on the album.

“The album is only a conglomerate of thoughts in my subconscious that my Maker decided to give me the strength, the love+love-hate = love energy making it possible for me to bring to my conscious an idea.”

Stevie Wonder stresses on the fact that love is essential for survival, and it can make even a blind man to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

The Guardian has reported that Stevie Wonder is scheduled to play all the songs from this classic album in the Hyde Park at the British Summer Time festival.

Stevie Wonder has always been a strong supporter of the civil rights movement and the struggle for racial equality. He believes that collaborating and working with other musicians on various projects and concerts will be instrumental in bringing about the changes that society requires.

The Boombox reported that Stevie Wonder has teamed up with composer-pianist Robert Glasper to relive the spirit of Miles Davis, the jazz artist who became the symbol of strength within the African-American community during the civil rights movement. The tribute album is an opportunity to demonstrate how Miles fought against oppression to create music for the community.

As a United Nations Messenger of Peace, Stevie Wonder is committed to raising the awareness of the organization’s efforts to improve the lives of people with disabilities. Stevie has observed that many people with disabilities have tremendous potential to excel, and society needs to empower their independence by providing them with the tools to learn and grow. Recently, the Daily Mail reported that the Grammy Awards ceremony gave Stevie Wonder an opportunity to urge the global audience to make every single thing accessible to every person with a disability, as it will give them a sense of independence and freedom.

[Photo by Christopher Polk/Getty Images]

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