African Celebrities: Stevie Wonder

Sunday 6 October 2013

Stevie Wonder

Stevland Hardaway Morris known by his stage name Stevie Wonder is an American musician, singer and songwriter. He was born on May 13, 1950, in Saginaw, Michigan to Calvin Judkins and Lula Mae Hardaway. He is the third of six children. Owing to his being born six weeks premature, the blood vessels at the back of his eyes had not yet reached the front and their aborted growth caused the retinas to detach.

When Stevie Wonder was four, his mother left his father and moved to Detroit with her children. She changed her name back to Lula Hardaway and later changed her son's surname to Morris, partly because of relatives. Morris has remained Stevie Wonder's legal surname ever since.

Stevie Wonder began playing instruments at an early age, including Piano, harmonica, drums and bass. During childhood he was active in his church choir.

Stevie Wonder has been married twice; to Motown Singer/Songwriter and frequent collaborator Syreeta Wright from 1970 until their amicable divorce in 1972; and to a fashion designer Kai Millard Morris in 2001. Stevie Wonder and Kai Millard Morris had been separated since October 2009. In August 2012, it was revealed that Stevie Wonder had filed for divorce from Kai Millard, and agreeing to pay her for spousal support as well as child support for their two children, asking for joint custody.

Stevie Wonder has 7 children from his second marriage and several relationships.