Though Wonder was the main attraction, the audience was also wowed as he collaborated with a cast of friends and admirers including Tony Bennett, Chick Corea, Paul Shaffer and Doug E. Fresh.

“It’s a moment to cherish and remember, relishing in the memories of times that I’ve been at the Apollo, as well as this night, the great people that came out to support me being here,” Wonder said in an interview. “It’s a great thing to be one of those people in the Hall of Fame for the Apollo.”

Bennett presented the honor to Wonder, who in turn lauded the legendary crooner for his commitment to the Apollo and to civil-rights causes.

“As much as I may never see the color of his skin, I’m able to feel the color of his spirit,” Wonder told the audience. “When it was not fashionable to hang out with the brothers and sisters, you did.”

He then recalled Bennett singing one of Wonder’s signature songs “For Once in My Life.” As Wonder began to sing the tune, Bennett joined in for an impromptu performance that ended with a standing ovation. It was one of several during a concert that featured Raphael Saadiq, gospel singers Yolanda Adams and Kim Burrell, Melanie Fiona, ?uestlove, Corea and others.

Beatboxer Fresh joined Wonder on an unusual and riveting performance of Wonder’s classic “All I Do,” while Wonder played the harmonica as Corea led on piano during a rendition of Wonder’s “Pastime Paradise.” Wonder also sang some of his other classics as well as a Barbra Streisand cover, “People.”

Wonder, 61, has been making hits for five decades, getting his start as a child prodigy and then evolving into one of the most lauded and respected artists in music.

He’s also an activist, leading fights against racism and other social problems. He was one of the integral figures in getting Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday recognized as a national holiday.

Wonder didn’t forget his political side during his acceptance speech, calling for better health care and criticizing those who fail to help others.

When asked about his comments, he later joked: “I just did it, I wasn’t even thinking about it. It was on my mind. I kind of did the Kanye (West) and expressed myself.”

But he lamented the divisiveness in much of the country and was critical of the media for focusing on things that he considered trivial, and distracting from larger issues.

“This is happening too frequently, too much, things that have nothing to do with the real issue. As opposed to talking about global warming and what’s happening to our oceans and what’s happening to the changes in the weather, they want to talk about what’s happening under somebody’s clothes, and to me it’s just silly,” he said. “I just think that people need to focus on what is really important to the people.”

The Apollo spring gala raised over $1.2 million. The funds will be used for its educational programs and to preserve the historic theater’s legacy, organizers said.

Today is the birthday of not just an African-American musical treasure, but a world treasure.

We celebrate the birthday of legendary musician Stevie Wonder who is now turning 61. You thought he was older right? Well, at least I did so.

But in honor of his birthday, we wanted to ask you all to leave your comments talking about how his music has affected you and what are some of your favorite songs.

Enjoy the fitting song below:

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Stevie Wonder will be inducted into the Apollo Hall of Fame

The theater announced Wednesday that the songwriter of hits like “I Just Called to Say I Love You” and “Isn’t She Lovely?” will be inducted into the Apollo Legends Hall of Fame on June 13.

Past inductees have included Michael Jackson, Ella Fitzgerald and Aretha Franklin.

Wonder got his start at the Apollo in Harlem in 1962 when he was 12. He was known as “Little Stevie Wonder.” A multi-instrumentalist, he also was called a “wonder child.”

The June gala will include a concert and awards ceremony.

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Holder, Wonder, Sharpton And Malcolm X’s Daughter Honor Percy Sutton At Funeral

NEW YORK – Thousands of mourners filled Riverside Church on Wednesday for the funeral of Percy Sutton, a former Tuskegee Airman, a media mogul, power broker and pioneering civil rights attorney who represented Malcolm X.

Among the dignitaries gathered at the church were Attorney General Eric Holder, Gov. David Paterson, Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Sen. Charles Schumer. Two of Malcolm X’s daughters also attended.

Speaking to the people gathered in the church’s pews, Holder called Sutton “one of the nation’s true heroes.”

“I admired, respected and worked for him,” he continued. “The opportunities given to my generation were paid for by his.”

The Revs. Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton were among a group that escorted Sutton’s relatives into the church. In a chapel near the main sanctuary, Sutton lay in a coffin, dressed in a Navy blue suit, white shirt and a tie.

“The tallest tree in our forest has fallen,” Jackson said of Sutton, who died on Dec. 26. He was 89. “You’ve paved the way, Mr. Chairman. Be at rest,” Jackson concluded.

Bloomberg said that city buildings lowered flags in honor of Sutton, and that a building that houses three Manhattan public schools would be renamed the Percy Ellis Sutton Educational Complex.

Attalah Shabazz, one of Malcolm X’s daughters, said Sutton was not merely her father’s attorney. She said the two were “brethren.”
“Even when things weren’t on his side, he was always on yours. Am I right?” she said to applause from the sanctuary, which was filled to capacity.

U.S. Rep. Charles Rangel and former New York Mayor David Dinkins also attended. And Stevie Wonder sang his hit, “I’ll Be Loving You Always.”
Sutton, who was born in Texas, served with the famed Tuskegee Airmen, an all-black unit, in World War II before coming to Harlem, where he launched a trailblazing career in civil rights, politics and broadcasting. He served in the New York State Assembly and was Manhattan borough president.

Through his Harlem law firm, which he founded in 1953, he represented civil rights activists including Malcolm X and the slain activist’s relatives — even in their darkest times.

Sutton, along with Dinkins, served as attorneys for Malcolm Shabazz, the grandchild of the activist who was 12 when he set the 1997 fire that killed his grandmother, Betty Shabazz, Malcolm X’s widow, in her Yonkers apartment.

Sutton turned his attention to broadcasting by 1971, becoming, along with his brother, Oliver, pioneer black owners of a radio station in New York City.

His Inner City Broadcasting Corp. eventually picked up WBLS-FM, which reigned for years as New York’s top-rated radio station, before buying stations in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Detroit and San Antonio.

Through the company, Sutton bought the Apollo Theater in 1981, rescuing the Harlem landmark from impending demise.

Jackie Robinson’s widow, Rachel, arrived early at the packed church and appeared shaken. She said her family loved and admired Sutton, who was her son’s godfather.

Marc Morial, the president of the National Urban League, called Sutton a “great man.”

“He was part of a generation that transformed the nation. He was a renaissance man.” Morial said, referring to Sutton’s involvement in law, politics, business and civil rights.

Referring to the throngs of people who lined up outside the church before services waiting to get inside, Morial said, “It is a testament to his incredible contribution, not only to Harlem and New York, but to the nation.”

Morial said young people would do well to study Sutton’s life, particularly his “stick-to-it-ness” and the barriers he overcame.

Dinkins said history would speak of Sutton as one of the most “dynamic, determined and dedicated men who ever walked these streets.”

“Percy Ellis Sutton departed us paid in full,” Dinkins said. “Let him not look down and find any of us in arrears.”

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UNITED NATIONS – The U.N. chief is naming blind pop star Stevie Wonder a United Nations Messenger of Peace to focus on helping people with disabilities.

U.N. deputy spokeswoman Marie Okabe said his designation as a U.N. peace envoy will be officially announced on Thursday by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

She said the singer-songwriter, who has won 25 Grammy awards, is being recognized for his philanthropic work with the U.S. President’s Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities, the Children’s Diabetes Foundation and Junior Blind of America.

Wonder will be the 11th U.N. Messenger of Peace, joining a list of notable figures including Nobel Peace Prize winner Elie Wiesel, actor Michael Douglas, primate expert Jane Goodall and conductor Daniel Barenboim.

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Alicia, Wyclef And Stevie Honor Mandela

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A bunch of friends of mine got into a big online argument about which singer’s death, if any, would be as big a worldwide phenomenon as the passing of Michael Jackson. While, for the most part, we all agreed that Mike’s death will probably be the biggest we’ll see for a while (if we ever see another one this big again), one point that I found particularly interesting was when my man John Simons suggested that the age at the time of death and circumstances of the death would play the determining factor on how big a phenomenon the celebrity’s death became.

I just did what I usually do which was make a list. Here’s how I figured it would go as far as global importance. If I’m wrong, tell me.

• 1. Paul McCartney-if you front on the Beatles, you can’t front on Wings. If you front the Beatles and Wings, you don’t know music.

• 2. Prince-He rivaled MJ in life and he’ll probably come close to rivaling him in death. Though “Purple Rain” never reached the summit that “Thriller” did, it came close enough. Also, Prince made more good albums than MJ and stayed much more active.

• 3. Madonna-We’ve long passed the point where it was cool not to like her. Now if you diss her, you just look like you’ve got bad taste. She’s made too many hits, mothered too many styles and in her own way, inspired as many biters (Britney, Xtina, Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, etc) as MJ.

• 4. Stevie Wonder/Diana Ross-Theirs will be the final death knell to the Motown powerhouse. Our parents (and in some cases, grandparents) got their hair hot-combed and picked to this stuff. Get ready to listen to a lot of long, sad stories by the rocking chair.

• 5. Jay-Z-The only rapper to “rewrite history without a pen” might not even make this list at the rate he’s going. Still, he is the greatest to ever do it and real rap fans would be devastated by his loss.

Stevie Wonder, Mariah Carey, Kobe Bryant and Brooke Shields are slated to be part of the all-star tribute at Michael Jackson’s memorial.

The representatives for Jackson’s family released a list of participants Monday. Also on the list are Motown founder Berry Gordy, Lionel Richie, John Mayer, Usher, Jennifer Hudson and Martin Luther King III and his sister Bernice.

The memorial is set for Tuesday at the Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles.

An attorney for Jackson’s ex-wife Debbie Rowe will not be there, saying her attendance would be “an unnecessary distraction.”

From EURWEB

Stevie Wonder, Alicia Keys, Queen Latifah, TLC, Aretha Franklin and Wyclef Jean are among the artists scheduled to perform at the July 18th “Mandela Day” concert to honor former South African President Nelson Mandela’s 91st birthday at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

Read The Whole Story

From EURweb.com:

Stevie Wonder’s son Keita Morris was arrested by Los Angeles police early Monday on charges of felony domestic violence.

According to TMZ.com, a 911 call was made by an unidentified woman claiming a verbal argument she was having with Morris had gotten violent.

“We’re told when cops arrived they noticed marks on the woman and took Morris into custody,” the Web site reported.

Morris, Wonder’s son from former girlfriend Yolanda Simmons, was held on $50,000 bond, which he posted later Monday morning.

Click here for full story.

The Obamas honored Stevie Wonder last night in a celebration at the White House last night. Wonder had won the Gershwin Prize for Popular Song. Obama remarked that if he wasn’t a Stevie Wonder fan, Michelle wouldn’t have dated him.

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The White House is planning a concert this month to honor Stevie Wonder, whose music provided part of President Barack Obama’s campaign soundtrack.

The White House says the president and first lady Michelle Obama will present Wonder a Library of Congress award on Feb. 25. The concert will be broadcast the next day on PBS as part of its “Performance at the White House” series.

The award-winning and chart-topping Wonder performed at the Democratic National Convention in Denver on the night Obama accepted his party’s nomination. He also performed at a concert during the week of Obama’s inauguration.

His song “Signed, Sealed, Delivered, I’m Yours” became a theme song during the campaign. Obama also used “Higher Ground” during campaign stops.

50 years ago today Motown was founded by Berry Gordy. Gordy was a Korean war vet who came to Detroit during the great migration. After unsuccessfully starting a record store, Gordy began writing songs for Jackie Wilson.

Gordy invested his songwriting earnings into producing and would start Motown with an $800 loan from his family and later bought the legendary Hitsville USA studios. One the first artists signed to Motown was Smokey Robinson and his group, The Miracles. Robinson would serve as vice president of the company as well as songwriter and producer.

Gordy had an extremely talented roster of artists including, The Temptations, The Supremes, Marvin Gaye and The 4 Tops. He also had an extremely talented team of songwriters, including Brian & Eddie Holland and colleague Lamont Dozier otherwise known as Holland-Dozier-Holland, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder and Gordy himself. Motown also utilized the legendary Funk Brothers as a back up band.

The combination of these artists, songs, producers and musicians created the Motown sound. Together they would produce 47 Number 1billboard hits. Motown would continue it success in the seventies and eighties with The Jackson 5, Lionel Richie and The Commodores, Rick James, Teena Marie and DeBarge. In nineties, Motown would put out records by Boyz II Men and Erykah Badu. Berry and Motown also produced several movies, including Lady Sings the Blues, Mahogany and The Last Dragon.

Motown’s legacy has been also seen on the big screen in movies such as the 5 Heartbeats and Dreamgirls which were based on the stories of The Tempatations and The Supremes.

The popularity of Motown is credited with helping integration, as white people began to see clean cut polished African Americans, listened to their songs and idolized their artists. Many credit Berry and Motown with helping to lead the social integration of African Americans and African American culture that lead to the election of Barack Obama.

1. My Girl-The Temptations

2. Marvin Gaye-What’s Going On

3. The Supremes-Where Did Our Love Go

4. The Jackson 5-I Want You Back

5. Smokey Robinson and The Miracles-Cruisin

6. Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell-Ain’t Nothin Like The Real Thing

7. Stevie Wonder-Signed, Sealed Delivered

8. Boyz II Men-It’s So Hard To Say Goodbye To Yesterday

9. Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell-You’re All I Need to Get By

10. The Supremes-Stop in the Name of Love