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Take A Look Back at Stevie Wonder’s Life and Career

Photo of Stevie WONDER
A portrait of Stevie Wonder taken in 1974Charlie Gillett—Redferns/Getty Images
By TIME Photo
Photo of Stevie Wonder
Steveland Hardaway Judkins was born on May 13, 1950, in Saginaw, Michigan. A child music prodigy, he was discovered at the age of 11 by Ronnie White of the Miracles and was signed shortly thereafter by the Motown record label under the name Little Stevie Wonder.Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
Photo of Stevie WONDER
He recorded his first hit single "Fingertips" in 1963 which made it to number one on the Billboard Hot 100. In 1964, he dropped "Little" from his name to go only by Stevie Wonder.Echoes/Redferns/Getty Images
The Ed Sullivan Show
Stevie Wonder during rehearsals for The Ed Sullivan Show in 1964.CBS/Getty Images
Stevie Wonder, Alice Cooper
Wonder would win the first four of his 25 Grammys in 1974.AP
Photo of Stevie WONDER
Stevie Wonder performs at Wembley Arena in London in 1980.David Redfern—Redferns/Getty Images
L-R: STEVIE WONDER;GREGORY HINES
Stevie Wonder received an Academy Award for Best Song for "I Just Called to Say I Love You" from the movie The Woman in Red in 1985.ABC/Getty Images
Stevie Wonder 1989
Stevie Wonder holds on to his trophy after he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on Jan. 19, 1989 in New York. With Wonder are his children Aisha Morris, second from right, Keita Morris, left.Susan Ragan—AP
Kennedy Center Honors
President Clinton congratulates Stevie Wonder at the Kennedy Center Honors reception after the musician received the award on Dec. 5, 1999 in Washington.Robert Trippett—Pool/Getty Images
Live 8 Philadelphia - Show
Adam Levine of Maroon 5 and Stevie Wonder perform on stage at "Live 8 Philadelphia" at the Philadelphia Museum of Art on July 2, 2005 in Philadelphia.William Thomas Cain—Getty Images
MICHAEL JACKSON FUNERAL
Stevie Wonder performs at the Michael Jackson public memorial service held at Staples Center on July 7, 2009 in Los Angeles.Kevork Djansezian—Getty Images
56th GRAMMY Awards - Show
From left: Daft Punk; Nile Rodgers, Stevie Wonder and Pharrell Williams perform onstage during the Grammy Awards at Staples Center on Jan. 26, 2014 in Los Angeles.Kevin Winter—WireImage/Getty Images
Obama Awards 19 Americans With Presidential Medal Of Freedom
President Barack Obama presents the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Stevie Wonder during an East Room ceremony at the White House on Nov. 24, 2014 in Washington.Alex Wong—Getty Images

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