Happy birthday, Stevie Wonder, born on this day in 1950.

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Stevie Wonder: A Musical Genius Beyond Compare

Stevie Wonder (born Stevland Hardaway Morris, May 13, 1950) is one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century. A child prodigy turned global icon, Wonder mastered multiple instruments, pioneered groundbreaking recording techniques, and composed timeless hits blending soul, funk, R&B, jazz, and pop. Blind since infancy, Wonder’s extraordinary musical intuition and innovative spirit have earned him 25 Grammy Awards, an Academy Award, and induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

In this article:

• His biography (early life, rise to fame, career evolution)
• Musical style (harmony, rhythm, vocal techniques)
• Signature licks & harmonic innovations
• Influences & legacy
• Key works, filmography, and discography
• Documentaries & essential performances

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Biography

“Music is a world within itself / With a language we all understand.” – Stevie Wonder, “Sir Duke”

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Early Life & Discovery (1950–1961)

Born in Saginaw, Michigan, Stevie Wonder was prematurely blinded due to retinopathy of prematurity. Despite this, he displayed prodigious musical talent early on, teaching himself piano, harmonica, and drums by age 5.

At age 11, he was discovered by Ronnie White of The Miracles, who arranged an audition with Motown’s Berry Gordy. Impressed, Gordy signed him as “Little Stevie Wonder”—a name reflecting his youthful energy and astonishing skill.

Motown Years (1962–1971)

Wonder’s early hits included:

• “Fingertips (Pt. 2)” (1963) – A live, improvised harmonica-driven hit.
• “Uptight (Everything’s Alright)” (1965) – His first major songwriting contribution.
• “Signed, Sealed, Delivered I’m Yours” (1970) – Co-written with his mother, Syreeta Wright.

Despite success, Wonder chafed under Motown’s control, seeking artistic independence.

Golden Era (1972–1980): The Classic Albums

After negotiating full creative control at 21, Wonder entered his peak period, producing masterpieces like:

• “Music of My Mind” (1972) – First full artistic statement.
• “Talking Book” (1972) – Featuring “Superstition” and “You Are the Sunshine of My Life.”
• “Innervisions” (1973) – Socially conscious hits like “Higher Ground” and “Living for the City.”
• “Songs in the Key of Life” (1976) – A double-LP masterpiece with “Isn’t She Lovely,” “Sir Duke,” and “I Wish.”

Later Career & Legacy (1980–Present)

• 1980s: Hits like “I Just Called to Say I Love You” (1984, Oscar-winning) and “Part-Time Lover” (1985).
• 1990s–2000s: Collaborations with Prince, Michael Jackson, and rap artists.
• 2010s–Present: Political activism, live performances, and influence on modern R&B.

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Musical Style & Innovations

Harmony & Chord Progressions

Wonder’s music blends:

• Jazz-influenced extended chords (9ths, 11ths, 13ths)
• Modal interchange (borrowing chords from parallel scales)
• Chromatically descending basslines (e.g., “Superstition”)

Example progression (from “Isn’t She Lovely”)

| Ebmaj7 | D7#9 | G-7 | C7 |  
| F7 | Bb7 | Ebmaj7 | Abmaj7 |  

• Uses secondary dominants (D7#9 → G-7) and borrowed chords (Abmaj7 in Eb).

Rhythm & Groove

• Syncopated clavinet riffs (“Superstition”)
• Polymeters (e.g., “Higher Ground” in 4/4 but with implied 6/8 feel)
• Half-time shuffle grooves (“Boogie On Reggae Woman”)

Vocal Techniques

• Melismatic phrasing (influencing Mariah Carey, Beyoncé)
• Call-and-response ad-libs (“Don’t You Worry ‘Bout a Thing”)
• Harmonized multi-tracking (“As”)

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Signature Licks & Riffs

1. “Superstition” Clavinet Lick

E7#9 (E-G#-D-G) → A7sus4 (A-D-E-G)  

• Built on the Mixolydian mode with bluesy #9 tension.

2. “I Wish” Bassline & Syncopation

| F7 | E7 | D7 | C7 |  

• Funky chromatic walkdown in the bass.

3. “Sir Duke” Horn-Like Keyboard Lines

• Emulates big-band jazz phrasing with pentatonic runs.

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Influences & Legacy

Key Influences on Stevie

• Ray Charles (vocals, piano)
• Nat King Cole (phrasing)
• Jimi Hendrix (harmony)
• The Beatles (songwriting)

Artists He Influenced

• Prince (multi-instrumentalism)
• Michael Jackson (melodic hooks)
• D’Angelo, Erykah Badu (neo-soul movement)
• Bruno Mars, Anderson .Paak (modern funk revival)

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Essential Works

Studio Albums

Year	Album	Key Tracks
1972	Talking Book	“Superstition,” “You Are the Sunshine of My Life”
1973	Innervisions	“Higher Ground,” “Living for the City”
1976	Songs in the Key of Life	“Isn’t She Lovely,” “Sir Duke,” “I Wish”
1984	The Woman in Red	“I Just Called to Say I Love You”

Filmography

• “Stevie Wonder’s Journey Through the Secret Life of Plants” (1979, soundtrack)
• “The Woman in Red” (1984, contributed soundtrack)
• “Sing Your Song” (2011, documentary appearance)

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Documentaries & Performances

Documentaries

• “Stevie Wonder: Musiquarium” (1982)
• “Classic Albums: Songs in the Key of Life” (2012)
• “BBC’s Stevie Wonder at the BBC” (2008)

Must-Watch Performances

1. Superstition (Live, 1973) – Raw funk energy.
2. Isn’t She Lovely (Harmonica Solo) – Emotional depth.
3. Sir Duke (Live at Glastonbury) – Crowd-commanding brilliance.

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Stevie Wonder’s boundless creativity, technical mastery, and emotional depth make him a once-in-a-generation artist. From Motown child star to visionary auteur, his work continues to inspire musicians across genres.

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Stevie Wonder – Living for the City

Lyrics:

A boy is born in hard time Mississippi
Surrounded by four walls that ain’t so pretty
His parents give him love and affection
To keep him strong, moving in the right direction
Living just enough, just enough for the city

His father works some days for fourteen hours
And you can bet, he barely makes a dollar
His mother goes to scrub the floors for many
And you’d best believe, she hardly gets a penny
Living just enough, just enough for the city

His sister’s black, but she is sho’nuff pretty
Her skirt is short, but Lord her legs are sturdy
To walk to school, she’s got to get up early
Her clothes are old, but never are they dirty
Living just enough, just enough for the city

Her brother’s smart, he’s got more sense than many
His patience’s long, but soon he won’t have any
To find a job is like a haystack needle
‘Cause where he lives they don’t use colored people
Living just enough, just enough for the city, yeah

Everybody, city, yeah
(Living just enough for the city, whoa) Ain’t nothin’ but the city
(Living just enough for the city, whoa) Everybody, city, yeah
(Living just enough for the city, whoa) Ain’t nothin’ but the city
(Living just enough for the city, whoa) Living for the city, yeah
(Living just enough, for the city, whoa) The funky, cryin’ city
(Living just enough, for the city, whoa) Living for the city

Ain’t nothin’ but the city
(Living just enough, for the city, whoa) Everybody clap you hand together now
(Living just enough, for the city, whoa) For the city
(Living just enough, for the city, whoa) For the city, yeah, yeah
(Living just enough, for the city, whoa)
(Living just enough, for the city, whoa)

The bus for New York City!
Hey bus driver, I’m getting on that, hold it
Thanks a lot
Wow, New York, just like I pictured it
Skyscrapers and everything

Psst, hey, hey brother, hey come here slick
Hey you look, you look hip man
Hey, you wanna make yourself five bucks, man?
Yeah, brother
Look here, run this across the street for me right quick
Okay, run this across the street for me

What? (Up against that goddamn car!) Huh? (Let’s go)
I didn’t know, what?
Gimme your hands up, you punk
I’m just going across the street
Put that leg up, shut your mouth
Hell no, what did I do?
Okay, turn around, turn around
Put your hands behind your back, let’s go, lets go

A jury of your peers having found you guilty, ten years
What?
Come on, come on, get in that cell, nigger
God, Lord

His hair is long, his feet are hard and gritty
He spends the life walking the streets of New York City
He’s almost dead from breathing in air pollution
He tried and fought, but to him there’s no solution
Living just enough, just enough for the city (yeah, yeah, yeah)

I hope you hear inside my voice of sorrow
And that it motivates you to make a better tomorrow
This place is cruel, nowhere could be much colder
If we don’t change, the world will soon be over
Living just enough, stop giving just enough for the city.

Harmonic Breakdown: Stevie Wonder’s “Living for the City”

Stevie Wonder’s “Living for the City” (from Innervisions, 1973) is a masterclass in storytelling through harmony, rhythm, and production. A socially charged funk-soul epic, the song blends minor-key grit, chromatic tension, and dramatic modulations to reflect urban struggle. Below, we dissect its chord progressions, bass movement, and harmonic innovations.

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Song Structure & Overview

• Key: D minor (primary tonality)
• Form: Verse-Chorus-Bridge with spoken interlude & key shifts
• Time Signature: 4/4 (with syncopated 16th-note grooves)
• Harmonic Themes:
• Blues-inflected minor funk (verse)
• Uplifting major-key contrast (chorus)
• Dramatic chromatic descent (bridge)

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Verse: D Minor Blues with a Funky Twist

The verse establishes a D minor groove with pentatonic riffs and bluesy extensions.

Chord Progression (Simplified):

| D-7   | D-7   | C7    | F7    |  
| Bb7   | A7    | D-7   | D-7   |  

Analysis:

1. D-7 (i7) – Rooted in D Dorian (D-E-F-G-A-B-C), giving a soulful minor vibe.
2. C7 (bVII7) → F7 (III7) – Borrowed from D harmonic minor, adding blues tension.
3. Bb7 (VI7) → A7 (V7) – A chromatic walkdown (Bb → A) intensifying the return to D-7.

Bassline & Syncopation:

The bass outlines the chords with syncopated 16th-note grooves, locking with the clavinet:

D (root) → C (b7) → Bb (6) → A (5)  

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Chorus: Major-Key Liberation

The chorus shifts to F major, offering hope amid struggle.

Chord Progression:

| F     | C/E   | D-7   | Bb    |  
| F     | C/E   | D-7   | A7    |  

Analysis:

1. F (IV in D minor, I in F major) – A modal interchange pivot, brightening the mood.
2. C/E (V with bass motion) – Smooth voice-leading (E → F in the bass).
3. D-7 (vi) → Bb (IV) – A plagal cadence feel, gospel-inspired.
4. A7 (V7/ii) – Leads back to D minor, reinforcing the song’s tonal center.

Why It Works:

• The shift to F major mirrors the lyrics’ theme of aspiration.
• Voice-leading: The top melody notes (A → G → F) create a sighing resolution.

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Bridge: Chromatic Descent & Drama

The bridge (“His hair is long…”) uses descending chromatic harmony to heighten tension.

Chord Progression:

| G7    | F#7   | F7    | E7    |  
| A7    | D-7   | (Repeat) |  

Analysis:

1. G7 → F#7 → F7 → E7 – A chromatic line cliché (G → F# → F → E in the bass).

• Each chord acts as a secondary dominant (e.g., G7 = V/vi, F#7 = V/V, etc.).

1. A7 (V7) → D-7 (i) – A strong cadence back to the verse.

Emotional Impact:

• The half-step motion mirrors the protagonist’s downward spiral.
• The E7 (borrowed from D harmonic minor) adds a dark, unresolved tension.

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Key Modulation: The Interlude

After the spoken interlude, the song modulates up a half-step to D# minor for the final chorus.

Why D# Minor?

• Intensifies the climax (higher pitch = heightened emotion).
• Reharmonizes the chorus in a darker, more urgent tonality.

Chord Progression (Transposed):

| F#    | C#/F  | D#-7  | B     |  
| F#    | C#/F  | D#-7  | A#7   |  

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Signature Licks & Techniques

1. Clavinet Riff (Verse)

D-7: [D-F-A-C] → [C-E-G-Bb] (syncopated 16ths)  

• Syncopation: Accents on upbeats for funk energy.

2. Vocal Harmonies (Chorus)

• Triadic stacks (F major: F-A-C) with added 6ths (D) for warmth.

3. Bass Chromaticism (Bridge)

G → F# → F → E → (A → D)  

• A James Brown-inspired funk walkdown.

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Legacy & Influence

• D’Angelo’s “Spanish Joint” – Borrows the chromatic bridge concept.
• Prince’s “Sign o’ the Times” – Similar social themes + harmonic daring.
• Modern Neo-Soul – Artists like Erykah Badu cite this track’s groove and harmony.

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Recommended Listening

1. Original Studio Version (1973)
2. Live at Kennedy Center (2015) – Extended jam.
3. Harmony Cover by Jacob Collier – Reinvents the chords.

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“Living for the City” is a harmonic masterpiece, blending:

• Dorian minor verses
• Major-key chorus relief
• Chromatic bridge drama
• Daring modulation

Stevie’s fusion of jazz, funk, and soul harmony makes this a must-study for musicians.