Stevie Wonders’ Musicathalon
Today we thought we’d focus on an olympiad other than Michael Phelps. A musical decathlete. Stevie Wonder.
His 10 events:
1. Singing- His range, tremolo, emotion, character and vocal power are legendary.
2. Song Writing – You are the Sunshine of My Life, Higher Ground, Superstition, My Cherie Amor, Sir Duke, I Wish, I Just Called To Say I Love You. Need we say more?
3. Keyboard Playing – Just listen
4. Harmonica Playing – Ibid
5. Grammy Winning – 19 on the mantle. Top that Phelps.
6. Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame Inductee – Inducted in 1989, the same year as the Rolling Stones.
7. Technological Pioneering – One of the first artists to use the the synthesizer and use it tastefully.
8. Humanitarianism – Championed the effort to make Martin Luther King’s birthday a national holiday. A driving force behind 1985′s USA For Africa campaign. President Clinton remarked: “In so many ways (Wonder) has helped to compose the remaining passages of Dr. King’s legacy.”
9. Sampling – One of the most sampled artists in Hip Hop music. From Coolio’s, “Gangstas Paradise,” to Jay Z and PE there have been many DJ’s nibbling at the Stevie Wonder sandwich.
BUT THE BEST FOR LAST…
10. DRUMMING – Stevie wails on the skins. If you’ve never seen him at work watch Stevie Wonder Kicking Ass On The Drums [www.youtube.com] and see him getting things DONE!
Stevie for all you do, this gold musical decathlete medal is for you.
Peace.
