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: 40

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

Nas
Wednesday, Nov 5 @ Bill Graham Civic Auditorium, SF

Raekown & Mobb Deep
Saturday, Nov 15 @ UC Theatre, Berkeley

How the Grouch Stole Christmas
Friday, Dec 5 @ UC Theatre, Berkeley

Atmosphere
Friday, Feb 13 @ Fox Theater, Oakland

Connect

Members

Photos

  • Add Photos
  • View All

Latest Activity

Editor's Pick posted discussions
10 hours ago
Tampa Mystic posted blog posts
Sunday
Editor's Pick posted discussions
Saturday
Just1Tyme posted an event

Lipstick Nation Radio Station at Dallas Texas

December 27, 2025 from 6pm to 7pm
Saturday
Editor's Pick posted discussions
Friday
realmuzik posted discussions
Friday
realmuzik posted a discussion

HariRoc Drops The Curtain: Debut Artist Album ‘Nvr Dropping’ Hits December 26, 2025

Atlanta-based producer HariRoc steps forward as a solo artist with debut album Nvr Dropping.ATLANTA, GA – HariRoc, a name Atlanta’s music scene knows well, is finally stepping out from behind the boards and into the spotlight with his debut artist album, ‘NVR Dropping.’ For years, HariRoc’s been the secret sauce behind some of the city’s hottest tracks, but this project…See More
Dec 24
Editor's Pick posted discussions
Dec 24
Editor's Pick posted videos
Dec 24
Editor's Pick updated an event
Thumbnail

LALAH HATHAWAY at YOSHI'S, OAKLAND

January 9, 2026 at 7:30pm to January 11, 2026 at 11:30pm
FRIDAY-SUNDAY, JAN 9-11 LALAH HATHAWAYYoshi's 510 Embarcadero West,Oakland, CA 94607>> BUY TICKETSSee More
Dec 24
Profile IconJust1Tyme and Lucie Detant joined True Skool Network
Dec 24
Tampa Mystic posted a blog post

IKON PRESENTS CONTINUES TO SHINE IN THE ENTERTAINMENT CAPITAL OF THE WORLD

When it comes to concerts in Las Vegas, IKON PRESENTS has continued leading the charge in growing the Urban market.It’s no secret that Las Vegas has become the Entertainment Capital of the world. Home of some of the events in the world.There has been a void with large hip hop concerts for years  in Vegas, and outside of the clubs on the strip, no one has done hip hop concerts the right way in Vegas in some time. Insert the brand iKon Presents that has been…See More
Dec 23

© 2025   Created by Ren the Vinyl Archaeologist.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service