stevie wonder | Blackfire Research

Throwback Thursday: Little Stevie Wonder

On this day in 1963, a 13-year old Stevie Wonder (then known as Little Stevie Wonder) made his US singles chart debut with “Fingertips Parts One and Two.” Born blind, Wonder was a musical prodigy, mastering the harmonica, the drums, and piano by the age of eight. A Detroit native, Wonder was signed to Motown Records in 1961 at the age of eleven. “Fingertips Parts One and Two” was recorded during a live Motor Town Revue performance and features a young Marvin Gaye on drums. It was the first live, non-studio recording to reach Number 1 on the singles chart in the US since 1952.

Throwback Thursday: “USA for Africa”

On this day in 1985, supergroup “USA for Africa” hit Number 1 on the US singles chart with their charity song, “We Are the World.” Written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie (who also lent their vocals to the track), and produced by Quincy Jones, the single was arranged to raise money for African famine relief efforts. The recording of “We Are the World” brought together some of the most famous recording artists of the time, including: Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross, Bob Dylan, Cyndi Lauper, Paul Simon, Bruce Springsteen, and Ray Charles. Sales of the benefit single – which exceeded over 20 million copies – combined with merchandise sales, raised over $63 million for the famine relief fund, which corresponds to $138 million today. “We Are the World” enjoyed critical success as well, receiving three Grammy Awards, including one for “Song of the Year.” A remake of the original song, “We Are the World 25 for Haiti,” was produced and recorded in 2010 after a 7.0 magnitude earthquake hit Haiti, causing massive devastation for the country. Watch the original and the remake below.