American singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who emerged as a Motown child prodigy and became a defining figure of soul and R&B, especially via his early-1970s masterpieces.

Blind since early infancy; rose to prominence on Motown as a child star; acclaimed 1970s albums include Talking Book, Innervisions and Songs in the Key of Life; won an Academy Award for Best Original Song ('I Just Called to Say I Love You') and numerous Grammy Awards.

DeBaser's reviews celebrate Stevie Wonder's 1970s masterpieces and long career, highlighting his blend of soul, funk and pop and his socially aware songwriting. Reviewers repeatedly single out Talking Book, Innervisions and Songs In The Key Of Life as landmarks. Later and live works are discussed with respect; a few later albums receive mixed reactions.

For:Fans of soul, Motown, 1970s-era popular music and listeners interested in socially engaged pop/soul albums.

 Nine tracks that could easily lead their own life if not for the fact that being gathered together they contribute to forming one of the happiest and deepest declarations of love known to popular music.

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 This is where Wonder, finally expanding his compositional spectrum (consisting mainly of love songs and gritty social denunciations), positions himself as the direct heir and ultimate product of black music.

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 The 'Songs in the Key of Life,' as you've understood, changed the 'tonality' of my musical existence, and I can say that from that day, black music became indispensable for me.

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