American Legends: The Life of Stevie Wonder
- ISBN-10
- 1986505774
- ISBN-13
- 9781986505772
- Series
- American Legends
- Pages
- 70
- Language
- English
- Published
- 2018-03-14
- Publisher
- Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
- Author
- Charles River Charles River Editors
Description
*Includes pictures *Includes Stevie Wonder's quotes about his own life and career *Includes a bibliography for further reading "Just because a man lacks the use of his eyes doesn't mean he lacks vision." - Stevie Wonder A lot of ink has been spilled covering the lives of history's most influential figures, but how much of the forest is lost for the trees? In Charles River Editors' American Legends series, readers can get caught up to speed on the lives of America's most important men and women in the time it takes to finish a commute, while learning interesting facts long forgotten or never known. Among the most innovative and independent artists to come out of Motown in the latter half of the twentieth century, along with colleagues Marvin Gaye, Isaac Hayes, and Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder was said by many to possess three distinct obstacles to fulfillment in the music industry. First, he was poor, and worse, he was black and blind. Wonder, however, refused to shrink from or acknowledge any of these realities as barriers, asserting that he had not been in any way disadvantaged or limited in his path toward success. Through a long and prodigious career at Motown, and a vast experience of collaborations with great musicians of the era, Stevie Wonder has gone on to prove that his optimistic view toward life and work was correct from the very beginning, in a lengthy and extraordinarily productive career. From childhood appearances and record releases to a non-stop regimen of over half a century, he has produced an almost unparalleled catalogue of hits, a long list of exceptional tunes written for fellow musicians, many working within Motown, and a touring legacy that has taken him to locations around the globe where no Motown artist has previously gone. Winning virtually every award and accolade that the music industry has to offer, his humanitarian efforts on behalf of particularly challenged groups in society have been vast in scope, and steadfastly loyal. As an experimental musician, Wonder gained at least competence, and usually a high degree of fluency, on so many instruments at a young age that he could, in many cases, man the recording studio single-handedly. Further, he was one of the pioneers in the modern studio, incorporating the Moog and other early synthesizers, along with a vast array of additional modern electronic instruments and effects, into his daily studio regimen. Never satisfied with merely passable skills in taking on any part of the creative process, he studied classical piano at the Michigan School for the Blind to improve his keyboard "chops" in every genre that he touched, despite never intending to appear on stage with Beethoven Sonatas or Chopin Etudes, more usual goals for such studies. By taking on this added level of skill, he developed not only the expected requirement of "covering" the correct notes, but took on a sensitive palette of touches, pedaling, and a fine-tuned sense for texture and quasi-vocal lines on keyboard instruments. Likewise, he studied traditionally classical and twentieth century music theory at the University of Southern California, one of the nation's premier classical music schools, to expand his harmonic and rhythmic language in the composition process. As a result, Wonder possessed both the historical harmonic language of non-classical songwriting, and the advanced classical intricacies with which to create truly sophisticated, innovative examples, far beyond the normal keys, rhythms and harmonic progressions. American Legends: The Life of Stevie Wonder looks at the life and career of one of America's most famous musicians. Along with pictures of important people, places, and events, you will learn about Stevie Wonder like never before, in no time at all.
Get the book
Other editions
-
- 2018-03-15
- 70 pages
- Paperback
- Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
-
- 2018-03-14
- 66 pages
- Paperback
- Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
-
- 2018-03-14
- 64 pages
- Paperback
- Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
-
- 2018-03-14
- 62 pages
- Paperback
- Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
Similar books
-
American Legends and Tall Tales
By Steven James PetruccioJourney into the nation's past with this gallery of 30 figures of history and folklore — Paul Bunyan, Pecos Bill, Annie Oakley, Johnny Appleseed, Casey Jones, Betsy Ross, and other characters.
-
Native American Legends of the Southeast: Tales from the Natchez, Caddo, Biloxi, Chickasaw, and Other Nations
By George E. LankfordDraws on the oral traditions of several southeastern Native American peoples to provide intriguing stories that lend insight into these unique cultures. Reprint.
-
African American Legends for Little Learners
By Heritage Illustrated, Marlena NkeneIllustrations are bright, colorful and fun to keep children engaged while they interact with this book. Parents, we encourage you to read with your child, or assist them with any complex words if they are already independent readers.
-
Voices of the Winds: Native American Legends
By Margot Edmonds, Ella ClarkVoices of the Winds gathers more than 130 Native American legends, many told to the authors by elder storytellers and tribal historians.
-
American Myths, Legends, and Tall Tales: An Encyclopedia of American Folklore [3 volumes]: An Encyclopedia of American Folklore (3 Volumes)
By Christopher R. Fee, Jeffrey B. Webb... journey of life seemed about to end. While in this condition, a lady, Mrs. Bryant, with whom she was boarding, asked her:“Why don't you try a medium? ... Biography of Mrs. J. H. Conant, the World's Medium of the Nineteenth Century.
-
Native American Myths and Legends
By Richard Erdoes, Alfonso OrtizFrom across the continent comes tales of creation and love; heroes and war; animals, tricksters, and the end of the world.
-
American Indian Myths and Legends
By Richard Erdoes, Alfonso Ortiz... the yearly stommish, or “warrior,” ceremony which includes canoe racing, dancing, and a salmon steak barbecue. Some 700 Lumnis and related Nooksacks now live on the 7,ooo-acre Reservation with headquarters at Bellingham, Washington.
-
Early American Legends and Folktales
By Joanne RandolphThis book explains the traditions of storytelling that are uniquely American and describes how historical events shaped the stories we still tell in modern day.
-
Native American Myths
By Jake JacksonThe retold tales collected for this new book celebrate the diverse tribal vision of a rich and powerful land that still resonates today.
-
American Legends
By Mike MuellerAmerica's legendary automobiles will forever be remembered for their style and performance. The stunning color photographs and extensively researched text in this book belongs on any classic car lover's bookshelf.