Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder came on the rock and roll scene as a curiosity, an anomaly. A black, blind boy who could sing R and B really good and played the harmonica.
But this odd boy grew into a musical genius, made a place for himself despite his blindness, and not only succeeded in music but used his music to influence other walks of life.
When Michael was a little boy we’d be driving around here and there and we’d play the album called “Stevie Wonder’s Musicquarium 1.” Every song on that album is just plain GOOD. Some are love songs, sweet and melodic; others were pointed statements directed at the white establishment. Actually, we listened to Musiquarium and another album called “Definitives” I think, which was his best collection.
Anyway, Michael with his off-the-charts IQ and his rapidly developing social conscience was like a little sponge, soaking in Stevie’s lyrics. He liked ‘Front Line” which is about the deplorable practice of putting black soldiers in the front lines so that they would be killed first. Also, my favorite, “Higher Ground” where Stevie sings: “Sleepers…just stop sleeping” and “Learners…don’t stop learning.” Believe me, Michael absorbed this also.
Our favorite, though, was “You Ain’t Done Nothin'” which warns white people that they are making stupid decisions unrelated to people of color and not asking for opinions. Michael and I agreed that this song made us feel uncomfortable because it was true but we forced ourselves to listen, anyway. Why was it our favorite? Were we masochists? We liked the music, the energy, and the way Stevie sang it. I think it quickly became absorbed into Michael’s growing sense of responsibility to humanity. He’s working for the Congressional Black Caucus once a week…
Much later, I was still listening to these lovely songs and I found “Ribbon In The Sky.” Very smooth, melodic, just Stevie with his voice like honey, singing and playing the piano. It has since become “my” song for Peter and me:
“For so long for this night I’ve prayed/that a star would send you my way/and to give us this special day/with a ribbon in the sky for our love.”
lgmwriting 