Singer/songwriter Stevie Wonder, the awardee of the second Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song, premieres "Sketches of a Life," a sprawling, hybrid pop-classical concerto, written between 1976 and 1994. The work was unveiled through a commission for the Library of Congress in the Coolidge Auditorium.

Speaker Biography: Born in Saginaw, Michigan in 1950, Stevie Wonder became blind shortly after birth. He learned to play the harmonica, piano and drums by age 9. By the time he was 10, his singing and other musical skills were known throughout his neighborhood, and when the family moved to Detroit, impressed adults made his talents known to the owners of Motown Records, who gave him a recording contract when he was age 12. His early hits included "Fingertips," "Uptight (Everything's All Right)" "For Once in My Life," "My Cherie Amour," "Signed, Sealed, Delivered, I'm Yours," and "If You Really Love Me." He undertook the study of classical piano, and later, music theory, and beginning in 1967, he began writing more of his own material. In the early 1970s, Wonder toured with the Rolling Stones and had major hits with the songs "Superstition" and "You are the Sunshine of My Life." In the mid-70s, his album "Songs in the Key of Life" topped the charts for 14 weeks. Over the years Stevie Wonder has garnered 25 Grammy Awards, as well as the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1996. He collected an Academy Award for the 1984 hit "I Just Called to Say I Love You" from the film The Woman in Red. In 1989, he was inducted into the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame. In 1999, Stevie became the youngest honoree of the Kennedy Center Honors. He was inducted into the Songwriters' Hall of Fame in 2002, and in 2004 he won the Johnny Mercer Award in recognition of a lifetime of outstanding creative work. In 2005, the Library of Congress added Stevie Wonder's 1976 double album "Songs in the Key of Life" to the National Recording Registry, which recognizes recordings that are "culturally, historically or aesthetically important, and/or inform or reflect life in the United States."

Rating:
  • Currently 0/5 stars.

Views: 47

Comment

You need to be a member of True Skool Network to add comments!

Join True Skool Network

Best guide to hip hop, soul, reggae concerts & events in San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles & New York City + music, videos, radio and more

Subscribe to E-Blast

WIN TICKETS

Jack Harlow
Friday, Sept 18 @ Fox Theater, Oakland

Ravi Coltrane
Saturday, Sept 19 @ UC Theatre, Berkeley

Kruder & Dorfmeister
Friday, Sept 25 @ Fox Theater, Oakland

Erykah Badu
Sunday, Sept 27 @ Greek Theatre, Berkeley

Lyrics Born
Friday, Oct 2 @ The Chapel, SF

Jungle
Wednesday, Oct 7 @ Greek Theatre, Berkeley

ScHoolboy Q
Friday, Oct 16 @ Fox Theater, Oakland

Hugel
Saturday, Nov 7 @ Greek Theatre, Berkeley

Bonobo
Saturday, Nov 14 @ Fox Theater, Oakland

Pretty Lights
Thursday-Sunday, Nov 19-21 @ Fox Theater, Oakland

Ozomatli
Saturday, Nov. 21 @ UC Theatre, Berkeley

Connect

Members

Photos

  • Add Photos
  • View All

Latest Activity

Editor's Pick updated an event
Thumbnail

Lyrics Born (WIN TICKETS) at The Chapel, SF

October 2, 2026 from 6pm to 7pm
ENTER TO WIN A PAIR OF TICKETS. WINNER WILL BE DRAWN RANDOMLY AND ANNOUNCED 2 DAYS PRIOR TO EVENT.  Friday, October 2The LB Baby TourLyrics Born  The Chapel SF (all ages) Doors: 8:00PM | Show: 9:00PMTickets & info: https://tinyurl.com/y2ubfyyb…See More
5 hours ago
Editor's Pick posted discussions
8 hours ago
Tracey updated an event
Thumbnail

Lyrics Born at The Chapel SF 10/2 at The Chapel, San Francisco

October 2, 2026 from 9pm to 11:30pm
Lyrics Born brings The LB Baby Tour to The Chapel on Friday, October 2nd. With SundaY.See More
yesterday
Editor's Pick posted videos
Thursday
Tampa Mystic posted a blog post

Joey Bandz and Tyte Celebrate Confidence on New Southern Soul Single “Wide Load”

Wellord, South Carolina artist Joey Bandz is bringing fun, confidence, and Southern flavor together on his new single “Wide Load,” featuring Tyte. Released September 21, 2026 through LonerLife Entertainment, the track blends Southern soul with rap while delivering an energetic anthem…See More
Thursday
Editor's Pick posted discussions
Wednesday
Donte Harrison is attending Editor's Pick's event
Thumbnail

ScHoolboy Q (WIN TICKETS) at Fox Theater, Oakland

October 16, 2026 from 7pm to 11pm
ENTER TO WIN A PAIR OF TICKETS. WINNER WILL BE DRAWN RANDOMLY AND ANNOUNCED 2 DAYS PRIOR TO EVENT.  Friday, October 16, 2026ScHoolboy Q10 Years of Blank Face LP@ Fox Theater, Oakland Doors: 7:00 pm | Show: 8:00 pmThis event is all ages.>> BUY…See More
Wednesday
TEAM BIGGA RANKIN posted a discussion

Stevieontay Burnz Announces Burnz and Beyond — Where Music, Cannabis Culture, and Entrepreneurship Collide

Independent artist and entrepreneur Stevieontay Burnz prepares to release Burnz and Beyond, a new project built around cannabis culture, ambition, independence, and the real-life experiences behind The Southern Maryland Experience (The Experience Dispensary) Stevieontay Burnz is bringing together two worlds that have become inseparable from his story: music and cannabis…See More
Monday
Editor's Pick posted discussions
Monday
realmuzik posted a discussion

Stevieontay Burnz Announces Burnz and Beyond — Where Music, Cannabis Culture, and Entrepreneurship Collide

Independent artist and entrepreneur Stevieontay Burnz prepares to release Burnz and Beyond, a new project built around cannabis culture, ambition, independence, and the real-life experiences behind The Southern Maryland Experience (The Experience Dispensary)Stevieontay Burnz is bringing together two worlds that have become inseparable from his story: music and cannabis…See More
Monday
TEAM BIGGA RANKIN posted a discussion

Spotlight on Artist Diamond Pynk "Handle Me"

Houston,Tx Native, Diamond Pynk grew up singing in Church and is here with new single ¨Handle Me¨. Check out the single below.Click Here to Stream / Add to Spotify Playlists Connect w/ Diamond Pynk:IG: Diamond.PynkTikTok:…See More
Sunday
Editor's Pick posted discussions
Sep 26

© 2026   Created by Ren the Vinyl Archaeologist.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service