By Gino Sorcinelli • Mar 5, 2017

In April of 1974, Stevie Wonder stunned the music world by announcing that he was moving to Ghana at a press conference in Los Angeles. Wonder, who had developed a growing interest in charity work, also pledged to donate the profits from an upcoming nationwide tour to the Minisink Townhouse non-profit and their work with children in Africa. It seems he was embarking on a period of deep self-reflection and questioning what he could offer the world beyond his music. “I believe that you have to give unselfishly. You can sing about things and talk about things, but if your actions don’t speak louder than your words, you’re nothing,” Wonder told Jet magazine in a 1974 interview.

Motown president Ewart Abner and famed board chairman Berry Gordy realized immediate action was needed to keep Wonder — who had been signed to Motown since age 11 — with the record label. Keeping Wonder on board was imperative to the famous label’s survival, as changing music preferences and a financial recession had hurt their bottom line.

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