Post by Emerald City on Jan 6, 2005 19:01:09 GMT -5
Here is an interview I found with Stevie that was conducted when his 'Songs In The Key Of Life' album was just released 
Rock Around the World
Newspaper Articles - Issue 16
RATW talks to Stevie Wonder at the peak of his musical powers. His most recent album, "Songs in the Key of Life, " went platinum before it was released. "Looking Back, " a three record collection of Stevie Wonder tunes before "Key of Life, " will be released this month. Still a young man, he shows no signs of slowing down his musical march to excellence, and although his name becomes repetitive at award banquets, the ever increasing creativity of his musical life is certainly something to celebrate. We decided to ask Stevie to select a few favorites from among his best songs and weigh them as keys to a life fulfilled with superlative music.
*We're all interested in the story of Stevie Wonder, but when did your musical life begin?*
In 1971 I moved to New York, but in between Saginaw, Michigan, where I was born on May 13, 1950, and New York is when the musical life of Stevie Wonder began. Through a very close friend of mine, whom I grew up with, I had the pleasure of meeting Ronnie White of the Miracles. My friend, John Glover, was a cousin of Ronnie White. Ronnie asked if I sang. I said yes. John and I had formed a group called "Steve and John." I would play bongos and John played guitar. I'd sing and John would play and do some of the harmonies with me.
*What kind of things were you singing then?*
We did a lot of the songs of the fifties and sixties. We did "Once Upon A Time" and "Why Do Fools Fall In Love?" This was before Stevie Wonder ' . . . This was Stephen Morris, which is my real name. We sang around Detroit. We did "Stairway To Heaven." We used to do "She's Not A Bad Girl," a Smokey Robinson and the Miracles song. And we did another Smokey song, "My Momma Told Me to Leave Those Girls Alone."
I used to love to do the imitations of Jackie Wilson, and it was crazy because when I became aware of how Jackie Wilson performed, heard he was a very exciting performer--you know--I used to do all kinds of flips and stuff. I was about nine or ten years old then. And I remember the first Marvin Gaye song I heard was called "Mister Sandman." I used to do "Mr. Sandman," mocking Marvin and I was so excited meeting him and auditioning for Motown and meeting some of the very fine talents that I had been able to hear through records.
*These were real influences?*
Yes, the Staple Singers -- I used to listen to a lot of the gospel music they did. I listened to as much and as many different kinds of music as possible. The radio was one of the best friends.
*Tell me, of all the Stevie Wonder songs, are there some that you listen to and say, "Hey, that one was really exceptional?"*
I couldn't believe, for instance, that Ray Charles received an award from a song I wrote, "Living for the City." I still can't believe it. That song was all right but, I mean, he deserves something even better than that. I feel that there will never ever be an award great enough to give Ray Charles. He's opened the door, so many hearts . . . I really feel that .
On the album, "Songs in the Key of Life, " a song called "Kikulaela" in Zulu ... Zulu's a language in the southern part of Africa. And it says, "Kikulaela," which is, "I am singing." "Kikulaela ... egufsasa kea kula ungo tando . . . kea kula iling e langa utando lia busa tika lae le quile shaba wa tu," which says, "I am singing of tomorrow, I am singing of love. I am singing that some day love will reign throughout this world of ours. I am singing of love from my heart."
Rock Around the World
Newspaper Articles - Issue 16
RATW talks to Stevie Wonder at the peak of his musical powers. His most recent album, "Songs in the Key of Life, " went platinum before it was released. "Looking Back, " a three record collection of Stevie Wonder tunes before "Key of Life, " will be released this month. Still a young man, he shows no signs of slowing down his musical march to excellence, and although his name becomes repetitive at award banquets, the ever increasing creativity of his musical life is certainly something to celebrate. We decided to ask Stevie to select a few favorites from among his best songs and weigh them as keys to a life fulfilled with superlative music.
*We're all interested in the story of Stevie Wonder, but when did your musical life begin?*
In 1971 I moved to New York, but in between Saginaw, Michigan, where I was born on May 13, 1950, and New York is when the musical life of Stevie Wonder began. Through a very close friend of mine, whom I grew up with, I had the pleasure of meeting Ronnie White of the Miracles. My friend, John Glover, was a cousin of Ronnie White. Ronnie asked if I sang. I said yes. John and I had formed a group called "Steve and John." I would play bongos and John played guitar. I'd sing and John would play and do some of the harmonies with me.
*What kind of things were you singing then?*
We did a lot of the songs of the fifties and sixties. We did "Once Upon A Time" and "Why Do Fools Fall In Love?" This was before Stevie Wonder ' . . . This was Stephen Morris, which is my real name. We sang around Detroit. We did "Stairway To Heaven." We used to do "She's Not A Bad Girl," a Smokey Robinson and the Miracles song. And we did another Smokey song, "My Momma Told Me to Leave Those Girls Alone."
I used to love to do the imitations of Jackie Wilson, and it was crazy because when I became aware of how Jackie Wilson performed, heard he was a very exciting performer--you know--I used to do all kinds of flips and stuff. I was about nine or ten years old then. And I remember the first Marvin Gaye song I heard was called "Mister Sandman." I used to do "Mr. Sandman," mocking Marvin and I was so excited meeting him and auditioning for Motown and meeting some of the very fine talents that I had been able to hear through records.
*These were real influences?*
Yes, the Staple Singers -- I used to listen to a lot of the gospel music they did. I listened to as much and as many different kinds of music as possible. The radio was one of the best friends.
*Tell me, of all the Stevie Wonder songs, are there some that you listen to and say, "Hey, that one was really exceptional?"*
I couldn't believe, for instance, that Ray Charles received an award from a song I wrote, "Living for the City." I still can't believe it. That song was all right but, I mean, he deserves something even better than that. I feel that there will never ever be an award great enough to give Ray Charles. He's opened the door, so many hearts . . . I really feel that .
On the album, "Songs in the Key of Life, " a song called "Kikulaela" in Zulu ... Zulu's a language in the southern part of Africa. And it says, "Kikulaela," which is, "I am singing." "Kikulaela ... egufsasa kea kula ungo tando . . . kea kula iling e langa utando lia busa tika lae le quile shaba wa tu," which says, "I am singing of tomorrow, I am singing of love. I am singing that some day love will reign throughout this world of ours. I am singing of love from my heart."
