A Wonder to behold

Last year, Stevie Wonder joined the pantheon of A-list stars with something to promote, debuting his first new music in 10 years on “The Oprah Winfrey Show.” For her part, Oprah pulled out all the stops, dedicating the entire show to the music legend. Video segments included a peek at Wonder’s private life, including the blind musician’s driving skills behind the wheel of his new Rolls Royce. Wonder goofed with the host, sang with his daughter as well as his “biggest fan,” (Oprah) and performed a medley of his many hits.

Oprah asked her trademark meaning-of-life questions. And as expected, Wonder responded thoughtfully, though with little revelation or surprise. Example: How does Stevie Wonder, 55, define himself as a musician? “I am a lover of music and I am a person who will continue to be constantly curious about the sounds I hear,” Wonder responded in part. Gazing at the musician with rapt attention, Oprah casually mentioned how he performed at her party — transmitting her considerable consumer endorsement of his new LP to her ever-obedient audience.

Of course, that was when “A Time To Love” was scheduled for release in May. Several abandoned release dates later, the new LP finally hits stores on October 18, long after Oprah’s original thumbs up. Wonder’s strategic booking didn’t take into account the musician’s perfectionism that helped make this Wonder’s first new release in a decade. As he told “Billboard,” it was just a matter of “getting it right.”

Despite the long stretch between LPs, Wonder has never been far from the public eye. In the last few years, he performed at Johnnie Cochran’s memorial service and the Live 8 concerts, publicly scolded Eminem for picking on Michael Jackson in Em’s “Just Lose It’ video, and was allegedly waved at by George W. Bush at a presidential gala. But extended absence from the music charts makes fans forget. And the kids who think of Wonder as that other blind piano player, the one who wasn’t played by Jamie Foxx in that movie, don’t know why he’s so important to the music they listen to today.

Wonder’s influence extends beyond the sample of his song “Do I Do” in the Ja Rule tune, “Livin’ It Up,” or “Pastime Paradise” used in the Coolio hit, “Gansta’s Paradise.” Both Usher and Justin Timberlake have built careers on pretty good Wonder vocal impressions. And to be sure, programmed radio overflows with Wonder hits. From “Uptight (Everything’s Alright),” “Signed, Sealed, Delivered, I’m Yours” and “Superstition,” on oldies stations, to the sentimental love songs “My Cherie Amour,” “That’s What Friends Are For,” and “I Just Called to Say I Love You,” on the easy listening channels, Wonder is engrained in our universal consciousness. It’s almost too easy to take him for granted. But there’s more to Wonder than just the hits.

Melding R&B, pop, jazz, reggae, African music, and show tunes, Wonder’s fusion of sound heralded the R&B album of the ‘70s. Along with Marvin Gaye and Issac Hayes, Wonder created LPs that worked as full concepts, not just a couple of sure-fire hits and some filler. The gifted singer, songwriter, and producer who can play a multitude of instruments made synthesizers the norm in modern R&B music. And while some of Wonder’s weaker lyrics can be faulted as overly sentimental, the music is always immaculate.

Print this Email this Blog this  IM this

MORE FROM R&B-SOUL

R. Kelly writes new song about Virginia Tech

R. Kelly writes new song about Virginia Tech Joss Stone ‘Introducing’ her true self Beyonce's ‘B’Day’ on DVD   Add R&B-Soul headlines to your news reader: