Holding the record as one of the most awarded male solo artists in history, with 25 Grammy Awards to his name, Stevie Wonder is an undeniably influential figure in the world of music. He has pioneered musical innovations across a range of genres and has remained a significant presence in the industry for decades. Having started his career at a remarkably young age, earning him the name “Little Stevie Wonder,” the music legend — now 75 — has truly stood the test of time. His body of work remains an inspiration for generations of artists and listeners alike. However, with his advancing years and a career unmistakably filled with groundbreaking hits, many are left to…well, wonder if he’ll ever step away from music. However, as long as he remains physically able, the iconic singer will continue to do what he loves most.
Stevie Wonder Isn’t Going Anywhere
In an interview with the BBC’s Sidetracked podcast with Annie Mac, Wonder shared that he has no plans to retire anytime soon. “For as long as you breathe, for as long as your heart beats, there’s more for you to do,” said Wonder. “I love playing music, that’s like my mantra. I think I can do all the stuff I want to do, still have fun, and do what I need to do, but I’m not going to stop the gift that keeps pouring through my body.” The singer wasn’t called “Little Stevie Wonder” for nothing. He released his first single at just 11 years old and has kept the music coming ever since, having achieved his first Billboard Hot 100 hit at the age of 13 with the song “Fingertips.” He added: “I love doing what I’m doing. An artist doesn’t stop drawing; you keep on. So as long as you can imagine, as long as you are going to be creative, and as long as you let your mind work, you don’t have to retire.”
Known for timeless hits like “Superstition,” “Living for the City,” “Isn’t She Lovely,” and “I Just Called to Say I Love You,” the award-winning musician has no problem performing his classics time and time again. As he put it, “Songs are like children, they’re with you forever.” He added, “They are statements from the spirit within you, and singing those songs is like me taking another breath — a new day.” When asked if he still plans to make music, Wonder swiftly responded, “Yes,” adding that he’s “excited” about a project he’s working on called Through the Eyes of Wonder. He continued, “I have a lot of songs that I haven’t released yet. Yeah. But I’m not going to say to you that I’m just going to let it just be there.”
Throughout his career, Wonder has released more than 20 studio albums, including critically acclaimed masterpieces like Songs in the Key of Life, Innervisions, Talking Book, Fulfillingness’ First Finale, and Music of My Mind, among others. His last album so far, A Time to Love, was released in 2005.
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Stevie Wonder Debunks Long-Standing Rumors That He’s Not Really Blind
Apart from his music, Wonder is also widely recognized as a singer who forged a remarkable path despite his vision impairment. However, rumors about his eyesight have long suggested that the icon may not have been blind all along. In a 2012 profile for The Guardian, the singer said, “I never thought of being blind as a disadvantage, and I never thought of being black as a disadvantage. I am what I am. I love me! And I don’t mean that egotistically – I love that God has allowed me to take whatever it was that I had and to make something out of it.” Recently, at the Blackweir music concert series in Cardiff, Wales, the singer publicly addressed the persistent speculation surrounding his vision.
“You know there have been rumors about me seeing and all that? But seriously, you know the truth,” said Wonder (via Billboard). “Truth is, shortly after my birth, I became blind. Now, that was a blessing because it’s allowed me to see the world in the vision of truth, of sight. See people in the spirit of them, not how they look. Not what color they are, but what color is their spirit.”
