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: 44

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

Marcos Valle
Tuesday, July 28 @ UC Theatre, Berkeley

Moonchild
Wednesday, July 29 @ UC Theater, Berkeley

DMC USA Finals 2026
Saturday, Aug 8 @ The Midway, SF

Thee Sacred Souls
Saturday, Aug 15 @ Greek Theatre, Berkeley

Erykah Badu
Sunday, Sept 27 @ Greek Theatre, Berkeley

Jungle
Wednesday, Oct 7 @ Greek Theatre, Berkeley

Hugel
Saturday, Nov 7 @ Greek Theatre, Berkeley

Connect

Members

Photos

  • Add Photos
  • View All

Latest Activity

Editor's Pick posted discussions
23 hours ago
K C is attending Editor's Pick's event
Thumbnail

ERYKAH BADU (WIN TICKETS) at Hearst Greek Theatre, Berkeley CA

September 27, 2026 from 7pm to 11:30pm
ENTER TO WIN A PAIR OF TICKETS. WINNER WILL BE DRAWN RANDOMLY AND ANNOUNCED 2 DAYS PRIOR TO EVENT. SUNDAY, SEPT 27ERYKAH BADUHearst Greek Theatre, 2001 Gayley Rd, Berkeley, CADoors: 5:30pm | Show: 7:00pm>> BUY…See More
Friday
Editor's Pick posted videos
Thursday
Editor's Pick posted discussions
Thursday
Editor's Pick posted discussions
Tuesday
Editor's Pick posted a discussion
Monday
Editor's Pick posted discussions
Jul 25
realmuzik posted a discussion

Brady Kent: Turning Words into Music Through Creative Collaboration

Creativity thrives when artists collaborate, and few demonstrate this better than Brady Kent® (BK). A London-based lyricist, poet, and songwriter, Kent has transformed a lifelong passion for writing into a diverse creative portfolio that continues to inspire audiences around the world. After a successful career in business, he embraced a new chapter focused on producing…See More
Jul 24
Tampa Mystic posted a blog post

YSTG RETURNS WITH THE VISUAL FOR HIS HIT SINGLE “TAKE IT OFF”

YSTG is back on the scene with a brand-new visual for his club anthem, “Take It Off.”Built for the nightlife, “Take It Off” is guaranteed to turn the club up and make the dancers hit the floor. YSTG delivers a unique, unpredictable flow—slowing it down, speeding it up, and switching his cadence throughout the record to keep listeners locked in from beginning to end.With an…See More
Jul 24
Editor's Pick posted discussions
Jul 24
Editor's Pick posted videos
Jul 24
Editor's Pick posted discussions
Jul 23

© 2026   Created by Ren the Vinyl Archaeologist.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service