Stevie Wonder: Influences

Stevie Wonder's ambitious start as a Motown-signed child star was informed by soul upstarts, pop prodigies, and jazz giants alike. After he had reinterpreted another groundbreaking singer/pianist, Ray Charles, his instrumentals looked to the roller-coaster keys of Duke Ellington and Art Tatum. Little Walter and Junior Wells then lent him some vital blues grit, while Aretha Franklin taught him how to keep his spirituality close at hand.