A marketing-savvy producer dubbed the 11-year-old musician Little Stevie Wonder. What a prophetic decision, because Stevie turned out to be one of the most revered music makers of our time, with catchy, creative songs about relationships and social issues. He's performed for presidents, kings and queens; recorded with some of music's biggest names; visited the top of the charts many times, and won rooms full of awards. What he hasn't done is perform live very often. It's been 27 years since his last Twin Cities performance, at the old St. Paul Civic Center. So in honor of Sunday's show at Target Center, we offer 27 fun facts about Stevie Wonder.
1 In his 53-year career, he has recorded for only one record label: Tamla, one of the Motown imprints.
2 When he plays keyboards, he doesn't use his right thumb.
3 He and Bob Dylan both released their debut albums in 1962. Dylan was 21, Wonder 12.
4 In 1966, his version of Dylan's "Blowin' in the Wind" reached No. 9 on the pop chart and No. 1 on the R&B chart.
5 Stevland Morris (his legal name) graduated from the Michigan School for the Blind in Lansing.
6 At age 13, he became the youngest person to top Billboard's Hot 100, with "Fingertips" in 1963, recorded live in concert.
7 He has won 25 Grammys. Only three people have more: conductor Georg Solti (31), producer Quincy Jones and bluegrass queen Alison Krauss (27 each).