~~~~~Outside The Comfort zone~~~~~

IDEAS

• Stevie Wonder- because although he is blind he continue to pursue his musical career
• Billie Eilish- because she’s only 16 and has such a massive personality and has such an insane character
• Tyler the creator- because he’s so different and so well known and influential to young teens 
• Bob Marley- because he’s super influential to the whole reggae/ rasta culture
• Michael Jackson- because he had so many dreams and plans in his life that he accomplished
• Lauryn Hill- because

• moving~ each side
• gestures
• glance
• articulation
• volume
• flow
• pause/ breath
• colour what’s important

STEVIE WONDER-

INTRO~

For most people, a fear of theirs is standing in front of an audience and speaking, or standing in front of an audience and singing or performing. Imagine if you were unable to write and prepare for your speech or song, you had to memorise every word with no cue cards or lyrics to back you up. How much more nervous would you be? Imagine if you couldn’t even see how big your audience was, you could only hear the loud, frightening, obnoxious sounds coming from them. Imagine being blind. For some people this is their reality.

STEVIE WONDER~

We all have ability. The difference is how we use it. Stevland Hardaway Judkins AKA Stevie Wonder uses his ability in an extraordinary way. He was born six weeks early with retinopathy of prematurity, which is an eye disorder that leads to blindness.This disorder primarily affects premature infants that are born before 31 weeks of gestation (A full-term pregnancy is 38–42 weeks). The smaller a baby is at birth, the more likely that baby is to develop this disorder. This condition—which usually develops in both eyes—is one of the most common causes of visual loss in childhood and can lead to lifelong vision impairment and completeblindness. He was left with his dis-ability after he received too much oxygen in an incubator after birth, however, he didn’t allow this to prevent him from stepping outside of his comfort zone and becoming a child prodigy by the age of 11. The quote we all have ability. The difference is how we use it – by Stevie Wonder, relates to his life well as he ignores his innabilities, that may take control over his life, and uses his abilities to sing and create music. I’d like to start off my speech with a bit of background knowledge about his childhood and his first accomplishments in life.

EARLY LIFE~

On May the 13th, 1950, in Saginaw, Michigan, this child genius was brought into the world. Born third into a family of seven kids in total, Wonder found himself adopting an early gift for music. When Stevie had turned four, him and his family moved to Detroit, Michigan, where he joined a church choir, that was when his musical journey had begun. He later discovered a new range of musical instruments such as the harmonica, piano and drums, all of which he taught himself before the age of 10, despite having a seeing disability, he would not let this get in his way of his dreams. At an early age young Stevie and his friend John formed a singing partnership. The duo played on street corners, and at occasional parties and dances, calling themselves Stevie and John. His early accomplishments started at the age of 11, when Wonder sang one of his first originals called “Lonely Boy” to musician Ronnie White, who is co-founder of the musical group, ‘The Miracles’. Not long after he signed a contract with Motown label, and was renamed ‘Little Stevie Wonder’. He made his recording debut at the age of 12.

PERSONAL LIFE (KIDS)

Throughout his life, Wonder has had three wives. In 1970 Stevie married his first wife Syreeta Wright, the Motown singer/ songwriter. After having 4 kids, this marriage had some complications and two years later, the couple divorced. 
In 1975 Stevie had 1 other child, after his first wife, with Yolanda Simmons who applied for the post of his secretary for his publishing company. They named their child Aisha, and with this birth came the song “Isn’t She Lovely.” as a celebration to Aisha, and the album “Songs In The Key Of Life.”
In 2001 Stevie Wonder re-married to Kai Millard Morris, a fashion designer. The couple had 2 kids and separated in 2009 and Wonder filed for divorce in 2015. 
Later on Wonder had an affair with Tomeeka Robyn Bracy. In 2014 Bracy gave birth to the couple’s second child Nia, who is the ninth child of Stevie Wonder. (2 kids) The couple married in 2017 and are currently still together.

OUTRO~

Stevie Wonder was born determined and still is determined, passionate and extremely talented with his musical ability, and empowering personality. Stevie Wonder is recognized as a musical icon. He was the youngest solo artist ever welcomed into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, to receive the Kennedy Center Honor, to sell more than 100 million albums, to win the billboard Century Award, 25 Grammys as well as the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and many other honours. Stevie Wonder is a wonderful idol to anyone with or without disabilities. He proves that anything is possible if you work hard enough, believe in yourself and most importantly step outside your comfort zone.

In 1962, the popular song “I Call It Pretty Music, But the Old People Call It the Blues” was released as his début single. The following year, his album ‘Recorded Live: The 12 Year Old Genius’ was released which included the single “Fingertips” that went on to become a major hit.

In mid-1960s, Wonder went on to have a number of other hits such as “With a Child’s Heart” and “Blowin’ in the Wind”. Between 1968 and 1970, he managed to score several hits including “I Was Made to Love Her”, “For Once in My Life” and “Signed, Sealed, Delivered I’m Yours”.

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Throughout his career, Wonder has recorded many critically acclaimed albums and hit singles. He has 25 Grammy Awards to his name —the most ever won by a solo artist—and is considered to be among the best selling artists of all time

His first stage name was Little Stevie Wonder. Wonder is one of six children. His siblings use the last name Hardaway. According to his mother’s authorized biography, Wonder’s surname was legally changed to Morris, “an old family name,” when he signed with Motown, and Berry Gordy gave him the stage name Wonder.

(any damage to the retina of the eyes, which may cause vision impairment)

Born in 1950 in Michigan, singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Stevie Wonder made his recording debut at age 11, becoming a 1960s force to be reckoned with via chart hits like “Fingertips, Pt. 2,” “I Was Made to Love Her” and “My Cherie Amour.”

POINTS:

1~ Stevie Wonder was born six weeks early with retinopathy of prematurity, an eye disorder which was exacerbated when he received too much oxygen in an incubator, leading to blindness.

2~ A child prodigy, he is considered to be. One of the most critically and commercially successful musical performers of the late 20th century. Wonder signed with Motown’s Tamla label at the age of 11, and he continued performing and recording for them into the 2010s. In 1963, Little Stevie Wonder -as he was then known- had his first number one hit with a song called “Fingertips.” at 12 years old.

3~ His first stage name was Little Stevie Wonder. Wonder is one of six children. His siblings use the last name Hardaway. According to his mother’s authorized biography, Wonder’s surname was legally changed to Morris, “an old family name,” when he signed with Motown, and Berry Gordy gave him the stage name Wonder.

4~ Stevie Wonder was influenced by a million big names: he worked directly with Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson, the Miracles, and many others at Motown before he was even 18. He was also influenced by Sam Cooke, Ray Charles, and Johnny Ace.

QUOTES:

1. Mama was my greatest teacher, a teacher of compassion, love and fearlessness. If love is sweet as a flower, then my mother is that sweet flower of love.
2. Just because a man lacks the use of his eyes doesn’t mean he lacks vision.
3. You can’t base your life on other people’s expectations.
4. We all have ability. The difference is how we use it.
5. Ya gots to work with what you gots to work with.
6. Do you know, it’s funny, but I never thought of being blind as a disadvantage, and I never thought of being black as a disadvantage.