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Stevie Wonder’s Michigan Beginnings

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Stevland Hardaway Judkinswas born on May 13, 1950, in Saginaw, Michigan. The child prodigy, who lost his vision shortly after being born, learned how to play the piano before the age of 9. By 12 years old, Judkins signed to his first record contract with Berry Gordy’s Motown’s Tamla label, which is around the time he’d impressed label executives so much that he’d earned the nicknameStevie Wonder.

Read on to dive into the life and achievements of one of the greatest, most gifted musicians of all time.

02of 18Stevie Wonder Records with Marvin GayeGilles Petard/RedfernsA young Stevie Wonder manned the mic next to music legend Marvin Gaye at the Motown recording studio in Detroit in 1965.

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Stevie Wonder Records with Marvin Gaye

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Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye around a microphone at the Motown recording studio in Detroit in 1965 in the United States. (Photo by Gilles Petard/Redferns)

A young Stevie Wonder manned the mic next to music legend Marvin Gaye at the Motown recording studio in Detroit in 1965.

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Stevie Wonder Rehearses for Sounds of Tamla Motown

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Smokey Robinson MoTown

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Stevie Wonder Guest Stars on The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour

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FINGERTIPS

05of 18Stevie Wonder’s Family at the 1974 GrammysCBS via Getty ImagesThe star’s mom and brother joined him at the 16th annualGrammy Awards— and snapped a photo with Little Richard and Chuck Berry — in 1974.

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Stevie Wonder’s Family at the 1974 Grammys

CBS via Getty Images

Little Richard

The star’s mom and brother joined him at the 16th annualGrammy Awards— and snapped a photo with Little Richard and Chuck Berry — in 1974.

06of 18Stevie Wonder Live at The GardenStevie Wonder.Michael Putland/Getty ImagesStevie Wonder performed hits from hisJourney Through the Secret Life of Plantsdouble album at Madison Square Garden in New York City in 1979.

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Stevie Wonder Live at The Garden

Stevie Wonder.Michael Putland/Getty Images

Stevie Wonder

Stevie Wonder performed hits from hisJourney Through the Secret Life of Plantsdouble album at Madison Square Garden in New York City in 1979.

07of 18Stevie Wonder Attends the MLK Gala in 1982Rick Diamond/GettyIn support of Civil Rights and friends Coretta Scott King and Harry Belafonte, Wonder attended the MLK Gala at The Atlanta Civic Center in 1982.

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Stevie Wonder Attends the MLK Gala in 1982

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ATLANTA JANUARY 01: Coretta Scott King, Stevie Wonder and Harry Belafonte during M.L.K Gala at The Atlanta Civic Center in Atlanta Georgia, January 01, 1982 (Photo by Rick Diamond/Getty Images

In support of Civil Rights and friends Coretta Scott King and Harry Belafonte, Wonder attended the MLK Gala at The Atlanta Civic Center in 1982.

08of 18Stevie Wonder Is Inducted Into the Rock and Roll Hall of FameVinnie Zuffante/Michael Ochs Archives/GettyPaul Simon of Simon & Garfunkel had the honor of introducing and inducting Wonder into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in New York City in 1989. Wonder took the stage with his daughter Aisha to accept his award.

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Stevie Wonder Is Inducted Into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

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American singer and songwriter Stevie Wonder with his trophy at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony in New York City, 18th January 1989. His daughter Aisha is on the right. (Photo by Vinnie Zuffante/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)

Paul Simon of Simon & Garfunkel had the honor of introducing and inducting Wonder into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in New York City in 1989. Wonder took the stage with his daughter Aisha to accept his award.

09of 18Stevie Wonder Poses with Michael Jackson and Friends at the 1986 Grammy AwardsMichael Ochs Archive/GettyIt was a star-studded event at the 28th AnnualGrammy Awards, where Wonder gathered with fellow music giants Quincy Jones, Dionne Warwick, Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie for a photo.

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Stevie Wonder Poses with Michael Jackson and Friends at the 1986 Grammy Awards

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Lionel Richie cover

It was a star-studded event at the 28th AnnualGrammy Awards, where Wonder gathered with fellow music giants Quincy Jones, Dionne Warwick, Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie for a photo.

10of 18Stevie Wonder Receives the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 1996 GrammysJEFF HAYNES/AFP/GettyThe proud dad brought his kids, son Keita and daughter Aisha, to the 38th AnnualGrammy Awards, where he was given the Lifetime Achievement Award and Grammys for best male R&B vocal performance and best R&B song for “For Your Love.” The musician has been married three times and has nine children.

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Stevie Wonder Receives the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 1996 Grammys

JEFF HAYNES/AFP/Getty

LOS ANGELES, UNITED STATES: Musician Stevie Wonder (C) holds a Lifetime Achievement award as his son Keita (L) and daughter Aishia Morris hold his Grammy Awards for Best Male R & B Vocal Performance and Best R & B Song for “For Your Love” at the 38th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles 28 February. AFP PHOTO Jeff HAYNES/mn (Photo credit should read JEFF HAYNES/AFP via Getty Images)

The proud dad brought his kids, son Keita and daughter Aisha, to the 38th AnnualGrammy Awards, where he was given the Lifetime Achievement Award and Grammys for best male R&B vocal performance and best R&B song for “For Your Love.” The musician has been married three times and has nine children.

11of 18Stevie Wonder Wins an Oscar for Best Song in 1985GettyThe legend isn’t just a Grammy winner, he’s won an Oscar, too. Wonder earned an Academy Award for Best Song in 1985 for “I Just Called to Say I Love You” for the film,The Woman in Red.

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Stevie Wonder Wins an Oscar for Best Song in 1985

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Stevie Wonder who began learning the piano at the age of seven holds his Oscar award for the category of Best Song.

The legend isn’t just a Grammy winner, he’s won an Oscar, too. Wonder earned an Academy Award for Best Song in 1985 for “I Just Called to Say I Love You” for the film,The Woman in Red.

12of 18Stevie Wonder Guest Stars on Saturday Night LiveAnthony Barboza/GettyEddie Murphy did the honors of playing Wonder onSaturday Night Livein 1983.

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Stevie Wonder Guest Stars on Saturday Night Live

Anthony Barboza/Getty

American musician Stevie Wonder appears on an episode of ‘Saturday Night Live’ with comedian and actor Eddie Murphy (dressed as Stevie Wonder), New York, New York, 1983. (Photo by Anthony Barboza/Getty Images)

Eddie Murphy did the honors of playing Wonder onSaturday Night Livein 1983.

13of 18Stevie Wonder Poses with His Wax Statue in LondonJulian Parker/LiaisonWhile on tour in the U.K., Wonder took a photo with his wax double at Piccadilly’s London Pavillion in 1989.

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Stevie Wonder Poses with His Wax Statue in London

Julian Parker/Liaison

61497 02: Singer Stevie Wonder poses next to his wax double May 19, 1989 at Piccadilly’s London Pavillion in London, England. Wonder is in London for a concert on his UK Tour. (Photo by Julian Parker/Liaison)

While on tour in the U.K., Wonder took a photo with his wax double at Piccadilly’s London Pavillion in 1989.

14of 18Stevie Wonder Embraces Nelson MandelaWALTER DHLADHLA/AFP/GettyThe then-South African President Nelson Mandela hugged the singer and thanked him for his involvement in anti-apartheid activities when the African National Congress was still a banned organization in South Africa.

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Stevie Wonder Embraces Nelson Mandela

WALTER DHLADHLA/AFP/Getty

South African President Nelson Mandela embraces American international pop-star Stevie Wonder (R) in Pretoria at the presidential residence 06 February. Mandela praised Wonder for his involvement in anti-apartheid activities when the African National Congress was still a banned organization in South Africa. AFP PHOTO (Photo credit should read WALTER DHLADHLA/AFP via Getty Images)

The then-South African President Nelson Mandela hugged the singer and thanked him for his involvement in anti-apartheid activities when the African National Congress was still a banned organization in South Africa.

15of 18Stevie Wonder Performs at the Super Bowl in 1999Al Pereira/Getty Images/Michael Ochs Archives/GettyGloria Estefan and Wonder headlined the Super Bowl XXXIII Halftime Show in Miami in 1999.

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Stevie Wonder Performs at the Super Bowl in 1999

Al Pereira/Getty Images/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty

MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA–JANUARY 31: Musicians Gloria Estefan and Stevie Wonder perform at the Super Bowl XXXIII Halftime Show on January 31, 1999 in Miami. (Photo by Al Pereira/Getty Images/Michael Ochs Archives)

Gloria Estefan and Wonder headlined the Super Bowl XXXIII Halftime Show in Miami in 1999.

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NESHAN NALTCHAYAN/AFP/Getty

WASHINGTON, DC - DECEMBER 4: The 1999 Kennedy Center Honorees, actor Sean Connery (top, R), dancer and teacher Judith Jamison (top,L), actor Jason Robards (seated,L), singer and songwriter Stevie Wonder (C) and comedian and pianist Victor Borge (seated, R) pose for the press following a dinner, hosted by US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright at the State Department in Washington DC late 04 December, 1999. The 1999 Honorees will be saluted by their peers at a gala at the Kennedy Center’s Opera House 05 December. AFP PHOTO Neshan H. NALTCHAYAN (Photo credit should read NESHAN NALTCHAYAN/AFP via Getty Images)

17of 18Stevie Wonder Meets with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moonNeilson Barnard/GettyThen-UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon appointed Wonder to be the United Nations Messenger of Peace in 2009.

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Stevie Wonder Meets with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon

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NEW YORK - DECEMBER 03: Musician Stevie Wonder (L), who was appointed The United Nations Messenger of Peace, stands with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon at the United Nations on December 3, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Neilson Barnard/Getty Images)

Then-UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon appointed Wonder to be the United Nations Messenger of Peace in 2009.

18of 18Stevie Wonder Is Awarded the Presidential Medal of FreedomAlex Wong/GettyPresidentBarack Obamapresented Wonder with the Presidential Medial of Freedom at the White House in 2014.

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Stevie Wonder Is Awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom

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WASHINGTON, DC - NOVEMBER 24: U.S. President Barack Obama (L) presents the Presidential Medal of Freedom to singer songwriter Stevie Wonder (R) during an East Room ceremony at the White House November 24, 2014 in Washington, DC. The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the nation’s highest civilian honor. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

PresidentBarack Obamapresented Wonder with the Presidential Medial of Freedom at the White House in 2014.

source: people.com