Happy Birthday Stevie Wonder | Looking Back At Little Stevie
By Andy Kahn May 13, 2015 • 2:25 pm PDT
Stevie Wonder was born in Saginaw, Michigan on May 13, 1950, making today his 65th birthday. The blind musician has fostered a wildly successful and influential recording career that began when he was just 11 years old. Originally billed as “Little Stevie Wonder,” the youngster showed of his talent on many instruments including harmonica, drums and keyboards, matched with a compelling voice. While he would go on to produce some the most important R&B albums as he grew out of the “Little” moniker, today on his birthday we’re taking a look back at some of his earliest appearances.
Wonder joined The Motortown Revue at age 12 in 1963 alongside other Motown and its subsidiary labels’ stars. Watch Wonder play his first hit, “Fingertips” while showing off his skills on a few instruments:
At age 13 Wonder made his film debut in the 1964 surfer film Muscle Beach Party. Watch him perform “Happy Street”:
Stevie was on the British pop music program Ready Steady Go in 1965. Watch as he performs “Kiss Me Baby” for his fellow teenaged fans:
By 1966 Wonder had dropped the “Little” modifier from his name, appearing as Stevie Wonder on The Mike Douglas Show. Watch him perform both “Uptight!” and “A Place In the Sun”:
Wonder joined The Motortown Revue at age 12 in 1963 alongside other Motown and its subsidiary labels’ stars. Watch Wonder play his first hit, “Fingertips” while showing off his skills on a few instruments:
At age 13 Wonder made his film debut in the 1964 surfer film Muscle Beach Party. Watch him perform “Happy Street”:
Stevie was on the British pop music program Ready Steady Go in 1965. Watch as he performs “Kiss Me Baby” for his fellow teenaged fans:
By 1966 Wonder had dropped the “Little” modifier from his name, appearing as Stevie Wonder on The Mike Douglas Show. Watch him perform both “Uptight!” and “A Place In the Sun”:
