Stevie Wonder: influences, peers and legacy

Every connection with its receipt

Stevie Wonder's map runs from Detroit church pews and the Motown hit factory to the Moog laboratories that let a blind prodigy become a one-man band. These eight slots trace the gospel and Ray Charles foundations, the synthesizer eccentrics who rewired his sound in 1971, the Detroit peers he grew up beside, and the generations of players who treat his 1972-76 run as scripture.

The Kynda mix for Stevie Wonder

• Key Influence · The Genius of Ray Charles by Ray Charles (1959). Charles was the template Wonder was openly measured against from childhood: a blind Black keyboard player fusing gospel phrasing with blues, pop standards and big-band arrangement, singing and leading from the piano. Motown's early marketing of the twelve-year-old as 'Little Stevie Wonder, the 12 Year Old Genius' pointedly echoed Charles's own 'Genius' branding, and Wonder's harmonica, piano and melismatic vocal attack all descend from this lineage.
• Influencia Obscura · Zero Time by Tonto's Expanding Head Band (1971). This cult album of TONTO synthesizer pieces by Malcolm Cecil and Robert Margouleff is the single most consequential obscurity in Wonder's story. Hearing it in 1971, the newly independent twenty-one-year-old sought the pair out at their New York studio and began the sessions that produced Music of My Mind, Talking Book, Innervisions and Fulfillingness' First Finale, with their giant modular synth supplying the basslines and textures that redefined R&B.
• Local Roots · What's Going On by Marvin Gaye (1971). Gaye's battle to make a politically conscious concept album on his own terms at Motown directly preceded Wonder's own, and its commercial success gave Wonder leverage in the 1971 contract negotiation that won him unprecedented creative control. Both records lean on the same Detroit Funk Brothers rhythm section and the Hitsville studio culture, and Wonder and Gaye were label housemates for a decade.
• Beyond the Medium · The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan by Bob Dylan (1963). Wonder's 1966 reading of 'Blowin' in the Wind' was a hit and a turning point: it imported the folk protest tradition into Motown pop and emboldened him to write about race and poverty himself. Dylan's model of the singer-songwriter as author rather than interpreter underpinned Wonder's demand for publishing and production control, and the lyrical ambition of Innervisions is unthinkable without it.
• Peer · There's a Riot Goin' On by Sly and the Family Stone (1971). Sly Stone's overdubbed one-man-band method, built on rhythm boxes and layered keyboards in a private studio, ran just ahead of Wonder's own self-contained approach on Music of My Mind. Both artists turned 1971 into a pivot from optimistic pop-soul toward darker, synth-saturated interiority, and the clavinet-and-drum-machine vocabulary of Riot is the closest contemporary sibling to Wonder's early-seventies funk.
• From the Canon · Music of My Mind by Stevie Wonder (1972). The hinge of the whole career: the first album made after Wonder turned twenty-one, let his Motown contract lapse and renegotiated for creative control. Working with Cecil and Margouleff's TONTO synthesizer, he played almost everything himself, treating the album as a single continuous statement rather than a singles vehicle. Everything that follows, from the clavinet funk to the one-man-band method, is prototyped here.
• Key Collaborator · Stevie Wonder Presents: Syreeta by Syreeta Wright (1974). Syreeta Wright was a Motown secretary turned singer who married Wonder in 1970 and remained his closest writing partner after their divorce, co-authoring 'Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours' and 'If You Really Love Me.' Wonder wrote and produced this album for her, playing much of it himself, so it functions as a parallel volume to his own early-seventies work heard through another voice.
• Legacy · 1999 by Prince (1982). Prince built his career on the model Wonder established a decade earlier: a young Black multi-instrumentalist who won total production control from a major label and played nearly every instrument himself. The clavinet and synth-bass funk, the falsetto-to-growl vocal range and the refusal of genre boundaries on 1999 all descend from the Music of My Mind through Songs in the Key of Life sequence.

What influenced Stevie Wonder

• Marvin Gaye (1939). States Stevie Wonder cited Gaye as an influence. (also via Innervisions, What's Going On) “Wonder performed the ballad "Lighting Up the Candles", which he wrote for the occasion.” (Wikipedia)
• What's Going On by Marvin Gaye (1971). Documents the concept-album format of What's Going On influencing Stevie Wonder's recordings. “This style of music would influence recordings by artists such as Stevie Wonder and Barry White making the concept album format a part of 1970s R&B music.” (Wikipedia)
• Zero Time by Tonto's Expanding Head Band (1971). Zero Time (Tonto's Expanding Head Band) — ghost for Stevie Wonder “Wonder became interested in synthesizers after hearing the album Zero Time by the electronic group Tonto's Expanding Head Band” (Wikipedia)
• Duke Ellington (1899). Stevie Wonder wrote a tribute song to Ellington. (also via Black, Brown and Beige) “Stevie Wonder wrote the song " Sir Duke " as a tribute to Ellington, which appeared on his album Songs in the Key of Life released in 1976.” (Wikipedia)
• Sam Cooke. The article names Stevie Wonder among the acts influenced by Cooke's vocals. (also via Night Beat) “Cooke's vocal exploits would go on to influence many acts like Otis Redding , James Brown , Rod Stewart , Johnny Nash , Tina Turner , Wilson Pickett , Mick Jagger , Al Green , Paul McCartney , Diana Ross , Marvin Gaye , Steve Perry , and…” (Wikipedia)
• The Genius of Ray Charles by Ray Charles (1959). The Genius of Ray Charles (Ray Charles) — titan for Stevie Wonder “Mainly covers of Ray Charles's songs, the album included a Wonder and Paul composition, "Sunset".” (en.wikipedia.org)
• The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan by Bob Dylan. The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan (Bob Dylan) — culture for Stevie Wonder “Dropping the "Little" from his name, Moy and Wonder worked together to create the hit "Uptight (Everything's Alright)", and Wonder went on to have a number of other hits during the mid-1960s, including "With a Child's Heart", and "Blowin…” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Night Beat by Sam Cooke (1963). Night Beat (Sam Cooke) — titan for Stevie Wonder “Cooke's vocal exploits would go on to influence many acts like Otis Redding, James Brown, Rod Stewart, Johnny Nash, Tina Turner, Wilson Pickett, Mick Jagger, Al Green, Paul McCartney, Diana Ross, Marvin Gaye, Steve Perry, and Stevie Wond…” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Going to a Go-Go by The Miracles (1965). Going to a Go-Go (The Miracles) — titan for Stevie Wonder “== Career == === 1960s: Singles as a youth === In 1961, at the age of 11, Wonder sang his own composition, "Lonely Boy", to Ronnie White of the Miracles; White then took Wonder and his mother to an audition at Motown, where CEO Berry Gor…” (en.wikipedia.org)
• I Have a Dream by Martin Luther King Jr. (1963). I Have a Dream (Martin Luther King Jr.) — culture for Stevie Wonder “In the 1980s, Wonder achieved international cultural presence, with high-profile collaborations (notably with Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson), television appearances, charity work, and political influence, including his 1980 campaign…” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Black, Brown and Beige by Duke Ellington (1943). Black, Brown and Beige (Duke Ellington) — culture for Stevie Wonder “Stevie Wonder wrote the song "Sir Duke" as a tribute to Ellington, which appeared on his album Songs in the Key of Life released in 1976.” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Surely God Is Able by Clara Ward (1958). Surely God Is Able (Clara Ward) — ghost for Stevie Wonder

Peers and kindred spirits

• Tony Bennett (1926). Bennett recorded a duet with Stevie Wonder. (also via Stevie Wonder) “In 2006, Wonder also recorded a duet with Tony Bennett , a rendition of "For Once in My Life", which earned them a Grammy Award for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals .” (Wikipedia)
• Syreeta Wright. Wright and Wonder worked together on the album. (also via Stevie Wonder Presents: Syreeta) “Wright and Wonder worked together on the next album, Where I'm Coming From (1971), Wonder writing the music, and Wright helping with the lyrics.” (Wikipedia)
• Janelle Monáe (1985). Stevie Wonder's conversation with Monáe was used as an album interlude. (also via Innervisions, Journey Through "The Secret Life of Plants") “One musical, completed when she was around the age of 12, was inspired by the 1979 Stevie Wonder album Journey Through "The Secret Life of Plants" .” (Wikipedia)
• Prince (1958). Prince played guitar on a Stevie Wonder single. (also via 1999) “Prince played guitar, along with En Vogue singing backing vocals, on Stevie Wonder 's single " So What the Fuss "” (Wikipedia)
• Paul McCartney (1942). Wonder jammed with McCartney. “He also gained a No. 1 hit that year in collaboration with Paul McCartney in their paean to racial harmony, " Ebony and Ivory ".” (Wikipedia)
• Dizzy Gillespie (1917). Gillespie appeared on Wonder's recording of “Do I Do”. “In 1982, he was sought out by Motown musician Stevie Wonder to play his solo in Wonder's 1982 hit single " Do I Do ".” (Wikipedia)
• Barbra Streisand. Wonder played harmonica on Streisand's album. “she released Partners , a new album of duets that features a song with Elvis Presley as well as collaborations with Andrea Bocelli , Stevie Wonder , Lionel Richie, Billy Joel” (Wikipedia)
• Michael Jackson. Wonder and Jackson recorded duets for each other's albums. (also via Songs in the Key of Life) “In 1987, Wonder appeared on Michael Jackson 's Bad album, on the duet "Just Good Friends". Jackson also sang a duet with him entitled " Get It " on Wonder's 1987 album Characters .” (Wikipedia)
• Whitney Houston by Whitney Houston (1963). Wonder contributed a duet to Houston's album. “Houston recruited the production team of Antonio "L.A." Reid and Babyface , as well as Luther Vandross and Stevie Wonder for the album, while retaining previous producer Walden.” (Wikipedia)
• Andrea Bocelli. Wonder contributed vocals and harmonica to Bocelli's album. “I added another part, a melody I added that [Andrea] Bocelli sings on.” (Billboard)
• David Foster (1971). Wonder recorded material in collaboration with Foster. “So we got together New Year’s Eve, and we worked out some things. I played some things in a different way and he did some arrangements, and there’s some new stuff that I wrote that never was released.” (Rolling Stone)
• Mark Ronson. Wonder appeared on two tracks of Ronson's album. “Ronson had been trying to get his hero to play harmonica on his new album for months, and was even thinking of browsing YouTube for a Stevie impersonator. But the day before, Wonder finally cut his part in a Chicago studio” (Rolling Stone)
• Travis Scott (1991). Wonder appeared on a track of Scott's album. “Travis had to first part done and it just developed. I got a call one day that Stevie was coming to the studio and I was like I'll be right there [laughs]. I recorded his harmonica.” (Rolling Stone)
• The New Standard. The article states that The New Standard interprets songs by Wonder. “The New Standard features songs by Stevie Wonder, Prince, Sade, Nirvana and more getting creative, inspired and swinging jazz takes from Herbie and a world class band” (Verve Record Store)
• Stevie Wonder Presents: Syreeta by Syreeta Wright (1974). Stevie Wonder Presents: Syreeta (Syreeta Wright) — collaborator for Stevie Wonder “He also co-wrote and produced the 1974 Syreeta Wright album Stevie Wonder Presents: Syreeta .” (Wikipedia)
• Extension of a Man by Donny Hathaway (1973). Extension of a Man (Donny Hathaway) — peer for Stevie Wonder “"This Christmas" has been covered by numerous artists across diverse musical genres, including The Whispers, Diana Ross, Aretha Franklin, The Temptations, The Four Tops, Stevie Wonder, Alexander O'Neal, Christina Aguilera, Chicago, Harry…” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Perfect Angel by Minnie Riperton (1974). Perfect Angel (Minnie Riperton) — collaborator for Stevie Wonder “She also performed backing vocals in Stevie Wonder's live band, Wonderlove, in the early 1970s to 1974.” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Blow by Blow by Jeff Beck (1975). Blow by Blow (Jeff Beck) — collaborator for Stevie Wonder “One, "I Got to Have a Song", was the first of four Stevie Wonder compositions covered by Beck.” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Blowin' in the Wind by Bob Dylan. Wonder recorded Dylan's song with Clarence Paul. “Wonder went on to have a number of other hits during the mid-1960s, including "With a Child's Heart", and " Blowin' in the Wind ", [ 26 ] a Bob Dylan song, co-sung by his mentor, producer Clarence Paul.” (Wikipedia)
• Henry Cosby. Cosby co-wrote several early Wonder hits. “A number of Wonder's early hits, including " My Cherie Amour ", "I Was Made to Love Her", and "Uptight (Everything's Alright)", were co-written with Henry Cosby.” (Wikipedia)
• The Spinners. Wonder contributed writing and instrumentation to a Spinners hit. “Also in 1970, Wonder co-wrote (and played numerous instruments on) the hit " It's a Shame " for fellow Motown act the Spinners .” (Wikipedia)
• Robert Margouleff. Margouleff collaborated with Wonder on production and synthesizer programming. “Music of My Mind marked the beginning of a highly successful collaboration with Margouleff and Cecil as Wonder's associate producers, engineers , and synthesizer programmers” (Wikipedia)
• Malcolm Cecil. Cecil collaborated with Wonder on production and synthesizer programming. “Music of My Mind marked the beginning of a highly successful collaboration with Margouleff and Cecil as Wonder's associate producers, engineers , and synthesizer programmers” (Wikipedia)
• The Rolling Stones. Wonder supported the Rolling Stones on tour. “Wonder played as support act on The Rolling Stones 's June–July American Tour 1972 , helping his music cross over to white audiences.” (Wikipedia)
• John Lennon. Wonder jammed with Lennon. “Wonder took part in a Los Angeles jam session with ex- Beatles members John Lennon and Paul McCartney that would become known as the bootleg album A Toot and a Snore in '74 .” (Wikipedia)
• Billy Preston. Wonder played harmonica on Preston's album. “In 1975, he played harmonica on two tracks on Billy Preston 's album It's My Pleasure .” (Wikipedia)
• Let's Get Serious. Wonder wrote and produced Jackson's recording. “Wonder also wrote and produced the dance hit " Let's Get Serious ", performed by Jermaine Jackson and ranked by Billboard as the No. 1 R&B single of 1980.” (Wikipedia)
• Dionne Warwick (1940). Warwick sang a duet with Wonder. “The album also featured a guest appearance by Dionne Warwick , singing the duet "It's You" with Stevie and a few songs of her own.” (Wikipedia)
• Eurythmics. Wonder played harmonica on an Eurythmics single. “he was also featured on harmonica on Eurythmics ' single " There Must Be an Angel (Playing with My Heart) " and Elton John 's " I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues ".” (Wikipedia)
• Elton John (1962). Wonder played harmonica on an Elton John recording. “he was also featured on harmonica on Eurythmics ' single " There Must Be an Angel (Playing with My Heart) " and Elton John 's " I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues ".” (Wikipedia)
• Bruce Springsteen (1949). Wonder and Springsteen sang a duet on the charity single. “Wonder was in a featured duet with Bruce Springsteen on the all-star charity single for African famine relief, " We Are the World "” (Wikipedia)
• John Denver. Wonder played harmonica on Denver's album. “He played harmonica on the album Dreamland Express by John Denver in the song "If Ever", a song Wonder co-wrote with Stephanie Andrews” (Wikipedia)
• Stephanie Andrews. Wonder and Andrews co-wrote “If Ever”. “He played harmonica on the album Dreamland Express by John Denver in the song "If Ever", a song Wonder co-wrote with Stephanie Andrews” (Wikipedia)
• The Beach Boys. Wonder wrote a track for the Beach Boys' album. “wrote the track "I Do Love You" for the Beach Boys ' 1985 self-titled album” (Wikipedia)
• Spike Lee (1957). Wonder recorded the soundtrack album for Lee's film. “He recorded a soundtrack album for Spike Lee 's film Jungle Fever in 1991.” (Wikipedia)
• Babyface. Wonder collaborated with Babyface on the song. “collaborated in 1997 with Babyface on " How Come, How Long ", a song about domestic violence that was nominated for a Grammy Award” (Wikipedia)
• Sting. Wonder played harmonica on Sting's recording. “played harmonica on Sting 's 1999 " Brand New Day ".” (Wikipedia)
• Busta Rhymes by Busta Rhymes. Wonder guested on a Busta Rhymes track. “Wonder made a guest appearance on Busta Rhymes ' album The Big Bang , on the track "Been through the Storm".” (Wikipedia)
• India Arie. Wonder recorded the album's title-track duet with India Arie. “The album also featured a duet with India Arie on the title track "A Time to Love".” (Wikipedia)
• Stay Gold. Wonder performed the song written for The Outsiders. “Carmine Coppola wrote and edited the score, including the title song "Stay Gold", which was based on Robert Frost 's "Nothing Gold Can Stay" and performed by Stevie Wonder .” (Wikipedia)

…and 9 more on the map above.

Who Stevie Wonder influenced

• Frank Ocean. Pareles hears echoes of Stevie Wonder in Ocean’s songwriting. (also via Songs in the Key of Life) “And in 2013, Frank told MTV News that his debut LP, channel ORANGE , was influenced by “a lot of Stevie Wonder.”” (Genius)
• Lucky Daye (1985). Wikipedia states Lucky Daye cites Stevie Wonder as a primary influence. (also via Songs in the Key of Life) “He cites Stevie Wonder , Prince , and D'Angelo as some of his primary influences.” (Wikipedia)
• Mariah Carey. The article reports that Carey named Wonder among her influences. (also via Songs in the Key of Life) “Carey has said that from childhood she has been influenced by Billie Holiday , Sarah Vaughan as well as R&B and soul musicians including Al Green , Stevie Wonder, Gladys Knight , Aretha Franklin, and George Michael .” (Wikipedia)
• Lauryn Hill (1975). The article names Wonder among the musicians Hill listened to growing up. (also via The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill) “While growing up, Hill frequently listened to Curtis Mayfield , Stevie Wonder , Aretha Franklin , and Gladys Knight ; [ 16 ] years later she recalled playing Marvin Gaye 's What's Going On repeatedly until she fell asleep to it.” (Wikipedia)
• Roger Linn (1955). Linn says demoing his prototype to Stevie Wonder shaped his design decisions for the drum machine interface. ““Watching Stevie, a sightless man, it occurred to me that a screen grid was not as intuitive for musicians,” Linn told Dazed and Confused” (5 Magazine)
• James Mercer (1970). Mercer cites Stevie Wonder as an influence. “I really loved Stevie Wonders stuff.” (Equality 365 Entertainment News)
• Miguel (1985). Miguel expresses admiration for Stevie Wonder. “in addition to expressing his admiration for Stevie Wonder , John Lennon and Diane Warren” (Wikipedia)
• 1999 by Prince (1982). 1999 (Prince) — legacy for Stevie Wonder “He was also featured in Chaka Khan's cover of Prince's "I Feel For You", alongside Melle Mel, playing his signature harmonica.” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Voodoo by D'Angelo (2000). Voodoo (D'Angelo) — legacy for Stevie Wonder “Stevie Wonder, the Soultronics, and the Vanguard performed musical tributes during the celebration of life service.” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Usher. The article lists Stevie Wonder among Usher's musical influences. “Other musical influences are Marvin Gaye , Stevie Wonder , Luther Vandross , Janet Jackson , Maze featuring Frankie Beverly , Al Green , and Boyz II Men .” (Wikipedia)
• 8701. The article identifies Stevie Wonder as an influence on 8701. “Usher's third album 8701 would be inspired by love and heartache, containing influences from Donny Hathaway , Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye and Michael Jackson.” (Wikipedia)
• Here I Stand. The album's title track is compared to Stevie Wonder. “the title track 's usage of jazz notably drew comparisons to Stevie Wonder .” (Wikipedia)
• The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill by Lauryn Hill (1998). Songs in the Key of Life (Stevie Wonder) — titan for The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill (via Songs in the Key of Life) “"Every Ghetto, Every City" is a funk track redolent of Stevie Wonder's "Living for the City", and replays elements of David Axelrod's "Tony Poem" and Steve "Silk" Hurley's "Jack Your Body".” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Every Ghetto, Every City. 'Every Ghetto, Every City' is redolent of Stevie Wonder's 'Living for the City'. (via Living for the City) “"Every Ghetto, Every City" is a funk track redolent of Stevie Wonder 's " Living for the City "” (Wikipedia)
• Pharrell Williams. Innervisions (Stevie Wonder) — titan for Pharrell Williams (via Innervisions) “== Artistry == === Influences === In the past, Williams has stated that he does not have any direct musical influences, but he has expressed his admiration for several musicians, including Michael Jackson, J Dilla, Stevie Wonder, Donny H…” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Ms. Lauryn Hill. Songs in the Key of Life (Stevie Wonder) — titan for Ms. Lauryn Hill (via Songs in the Key of Life) “While growing up, Hill frequently listened to Curtis Mayfield, Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, and Gladys Knight; years later she recalled playing Marvin Gaye's What's Going On repeatedly until she fell asleep to it.” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Get Lifted by John Legend (2004). Get Lifted (John Legend) — legacy for Stevie Wonder (musicbrainz.org)
• Tyler, the Creator (1991). Journey Through the Secret Life of Plants (Stevie Wonder) — ghost for Tyler, The Creator (via Journey Through the Secret Life of Plants)