Singer Ray Charles became his role model. Young Steveland sang in his church's choir, and by the time he was nine years old, he had mastered piano, drums and harmonica. When his mother later remarried, he changed his name to Steveland Morris. He teamed with Gladys Knight and Dionne Warwick, and Elton John (1988) to produce 'That's What Friends Are For' to support AIDS charities.īlind from infancy, Steveland Hardaway Judkins moved with his family to Detroit Michigan when he was four years old. Wonder joined a number of musicians and entertainers, including Quincy Jones, Lionel Ritchie, and Michael Jackson to produce the song 'We are the World' (1985) to raise funds for humanitarian aid in Africa. Wonder's song echoed as the anthem of the holiday.

On Monday, January 20, 1986, in cities and towns across the country people celebrated the first official Martin Luther King Day, the only federal holiday commemorating an African-American. The song became a hit and a rallying cry for the King Holiday. In support of making Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday a national holiday, Wonder released 'Happy Birthday' (1980), a song celebrating Dr. In addition to being an award winning musical innovator, Stevie Wonder is a humanitarian who has used his music to support a number of social causes.

Birthday song by stevie wonder