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Stevie Wonder recorded "Happy Birthday" from his 1980 Hotter Than July album as the theme song for the campaign to make Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday on January 15 a national holiday. President Ronald Reagan signed a bill on November 2, 1983 creating the holiday which was first observed in 1986.
Stevie Wonder joined Dionne Warwick, Elton John, and Gladys Knight in recording the AIDS charity song "That's What Friends Are For" in 1985. It raised millions of dollars for AIDS research and won Grammy Awards for Song of the Year and Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal.
The title song of Stevie Wonder's 1967 album I Was Made to Love Her became his fourth number one single. It spent four weeks at the top of the Billboard RandB chart.
The title song of Stevie Wonder's 1966 album Up-Tight became his second number one hit. it remained at the top of the Billboard RandB chart for five weeks. "Uptight" was the first song that credited Wonder as a composer.
Stevie Wonder received a Grammy Award for Best Rhythm and Blues Song for "Living for the City" from his 1973 Innervisions album. The song tells the story of a young African American man from the South arriving in New York City, being duped into carrying drugs, arrested, convicted and sentenced to ten years in prison.
Stevie Wonder hit number one in 1966 with a cover version of Bob Dylan's 1962 hit "Blowin' in in the Wind"Â from his Up-Tight album.
Syreeta Wright and Stevie Wonder were married from 1970-1972, and during that time they co-wrote "If You Really Love Me" for his 1971 Where I'm Coming From album.
"As" from Stevie Wonder's 1986 Songs in the Key of Life album only reached number 36 on the Billboard charts, yet it is one of his greatest songs. It has been covered many times, including as a duet by George Michael and Mary J. Blige in 1999. Anthony Hamilton and Marsha Ambrosius performed it in the 2013 film, The Best Man Holiday.
Like the song "As," "Another Star" is another classic from Stevie Wonder's Songs in the Key of Life album despite the fact it did not reach the top ten of the Billboard charts. The song features George Benson on guitar and vocals. Wonder performed "Another Star" at the 2014 Grammy Awards in a medley with Pharrell Williams, Nile Rodgers of Chic, and Daft Punk.
Stevie Wonder injected a Latin flavor to "Don't You Worry 'bout a Thing" from his 1973 Innervisions album. It reached number two on the Billboard Rand B chart and has been covered by several artists, including John Legend.
11. 1981 - "Happy Birthday"
Stevie Wonder recorded "Happy Birthday" from his 1980 Hotter Than July album as the theme song for the campaign to make Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday on January 15 a national holiday. President Ronald Reagan signed a bill on November 2, 1983 creating the holiday which was first observed in 1986.
12. 1985 - "That's What Friends Are For"
Stevie Wonder joined Dionne Warwick, Elton John, and Gladys Knight in recording the AIDS charity song "That's What Friends Are For" in 1985. It raised millions of dollars for AIDS research and won Grammy Awards for Song of the Year and Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal.
13. 1967 - "I Was Made to Love Her"
The title song of Stevie Wonder's 1967 album I Was Made to Love Her became his fourth number one single. It spent four weeks at the top of the Billboard RandB chart.
14. 1965 - "Uptight (Everything's Alright)"
The title song of Stevie Wonder's 1966 album Up-Tight became his second number one hit. it remained at the top of the Billboard RandB chart for five weeks. "Uptight" was the first song that credited Wonder as a composer.
15. 1973 - "Living for the City"
Stevie Wonder received a Grammy Award for Best Rhythm and Blues Song for "Living for the City" from his 1973 Innervisions album. The song tells the story of a young African American man from the South arriving in New York City, being duped into carrying drugs, arrested, convicted and sentenced to ten years in prison.
16. 1966 - "Blowin' in the Wind"
Stevie Wonder hit number one in 1966 with a cover version of Bob Dylan's 1962 hit "Blowin' in in the Wind"Â from his Up-Tight album.
17. 1971 - "If You Really Love Me"
Syreeta Wright and Stevie Wonder were married from 1970-1972, and during that time they co-wrote "If You Really Love Me" for his 1971 Where I'm Coming From album.
18. 1977 - "As"
"As" from Stevie Wonder's 1986 Songs in the Key of Life album only reached number 36 on the Billboard charts, yet it is one of his greatest songs. It has been covered many times, including as a duet by George Michael and Mary J. Blige in 1999. Anthony Hamilton and Marsha Ambrosius performed it in the 2013 film, The Best Man Holiday.
19. 1977 - "Another Star"
Like the song "As," "Another Star" is another classic from Stevie Wonder's Songs in the Key of Life album despite the fact it did not reach the top ten of the Billboard charts. The song features George Benson on guitar and vocals. Wonder performed "Another Star" at the 2014 Grammy Awards in a medley with Pharrell Williams, Nile Rodgers of Chic, and Daft Punk.
20. 1974 - "Don't You Worry 'bout a Thing"
Stevie Wonder injected a Latin flavor to "Don't You Worry 'bout a Thing" from his 1973 Innervisions album. It reached number two on the Billboard Rand B chart and has been covered by several artists, including John Legend.