Stevie Wonder: Greatest Musician of All-Time?

[L.Kizzle]

Their is no doubt in my mind (or anyone's) that Steveland Judkins, better known to the world as Stevie Wonder is the greatest musician of All-Time.



http://www.strictlysocial.com/journal/wp-content/uploads/2007/04/Stevie_Wonder.jpg



He is one the the greatest pianist of all-time, classically trained in jazz music. He plays all the keyboard instruments including organ, clavinet, rhodes piano, harpsichord and synthesizers. While he is best know for his piano playing, he started out as mostly a harmonica, drums and bongo/conga player for Motown records (signed at age 12.)


By his late teens, he had added the guitar, bass and the talk box to his repertoire and their was no stopping him.


Besides being the greatest musician, he has a hell of a voice and was probably the artist of the decade (1970's)


Stevie Wonder drum solo (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBA4vWQRBA0)

Stevie on the "talk box" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=By-cF0W2JLw)

Stevie on the "harmonica" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUAy2EYcG0I)

Stevie on the Piano (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1rqYJPl-RaI)

[Chuck Thou NBA]

Plus the fact he is blind, yes he's one of the best.

[boozehound]

its hard to argue against him, all time might be a bit much. Maybe the century (last century)? certainly other people are technically proficient, but just having innate music talent and a feel for musical aesthetics? Hard to beat. Maybe me?:cheers:

[Los Angeles]

In my opinion, Prince is the greatest musician/artist of all-time...

[Jailblazers7]

I agree with you. I love the clip of him playing the talk box that was incredible.

[L.Kizzle]

In my opinion, Prince is the greatest musician/artist of all-time...
Prince can see, Stevie can't. I'll give it to Prince Nelson as the greatest musician with sight, though.

[Los Angeles]

Prince can see, Stevie can't. I'll give it to Prince Nelson as the greatest musician with sight, though.

Prince can play at least 10 instruments, can sing, can put on the show with the best of them...if Stevie Wonder wasn't blind, who do you think would be the better artist?

Are you just giving Stevie the nod because of his disability?

[L.Kizzle]

Prince can play at least 10 instruments, can sing, can put on the show with the best of them...if Stevie Wonder wasn't blind, who do you think would be the better artist?

Are you just giving Stevie the nod because of his disability?
It was actually stated on P's first record that he plays 27 instruments, but those include basically instruments in the same family (piano, keyboard, synth, organ, clavinet, ect). Hell, Stevie can probably play close to 20+ instruments if we counted like that, (though I did include different keyboard instruments on the first ost)


Prince may put on a better show but he has the advantage of working the stage, moving around the crowd, Stevie can't do that.


Stevie is the better artist, while blind, so who would be the better artist if Stevie wasn't blind, Stevie of course. Check out the greatness of LO releasewd between 1971 and 1976. Pure genius.

[blazerfan22]

I'm a huge fan of black soul music. Currently I'm enjoying "TV on The Radio" and my favorite classics are Temptations and James Brown, but I need to listen to more Stevie Wonder. I like his music but need to purchase his albums. Thanks for the reminder. :D

[gts]

beethoven was deaf and completly deaf by the time he wrote and conducted the 9th symphony... he wrote the individual music for all intstruments in the symphonies...
he was fluent in the piano, organ and various other keyboards the violin and the fluted instruments
he is one of the greatest musicians and composers to have ever lived...

i'll put stevie wonder there along side him though his works are not as complicated as beethovens they are more varied in styles and composition

[Los Angeles]

So we should hold it against Prince because Stevie can't put on a show because of his disability? Uhm Ok.



Stevie is the better artist, while blind, so who would be the better artist if Stevie wasn't blind, Stevie of course. Check out the greatness of LO releasewd between 1971 and 1976. Pure genius.

Your opinion only, don't make it a fact...millions of people would consider Prince the better musician.

[Chalkmaze]

Plus the fact he is blind, yes he's one of the best.

You assume this is working against him, if anything it's probably an advantage... Let's just keep it out of the equation.

And Music is subjective... Top 100 muscians is just a popularity contest... Stevie is great, but there are other people that are absolutely amazing too.

[Hawker]

Being blind enhances his other sense most notably his ear for music.

[i seen hippos]

There are many people who can play mutiple instruments.

[WilliamPhiladelphiaSmith]

Sorry L. you're clearly mistaken.

My main man, Hurricane Chris tops out this list.

Second is the Pride of Queens AKA Randy Jackson and the Sexual Chocolate.
"You caaan''t taaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaake awaaay mah dignityyyyyyyy!"

"That boy good.. he good!"

*dums gnawed chicken bone in money bin*

[dawsey6]

Prince can play at least 10 instruments, can sing, can put on the show with the best of them...if Stevie Wonder wasn't blind, who do you think would be the better artist?

Are you just giving Stevie the nod because of his disability?

As Hawker mentioned, the fact that he's blind enchances his ear, so actually has the advantage over Prince as a musician. Also, being great performer and being a great musician are to different criteria. Mick Jagger is a better performer than Stevie, but isn't even in the same stratosphere as a musician.

Stevie Wonder between 1971-1976 was a better than anyone at their respective peak.

[RainierBeachPoet]

stevie would have a claim

longevity is a major factor--- starting making hits at 12 and is still going

songs in the key of life is one of the most underrated albums of all time

[Randy]

http://z.about.com/d/classicalmusic/1/5/8/mozart_portrait.jpg

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

[ForceOfNature]

He's certainly one of the greatest of all time, I don't know about THE greatest.

[L.Kizzle]

So we should hold it against Prince because Stevie can't put on a show because of his disability? Uhm Ok.



Your opinion only, don't make it a fact...millions of people would consider Prince the better musician.
Actually, as an artist, I think most people would pick Stevie, but as a musician it would be very very close, a toss up even.


-Stevie is the better pianist
-Stevie is a slightly better drummer
-Prince is the better guitar player
-Prince, the better bass player
-Stevie better harmonica player
-Stevie better percussionist

[Hawker]

Actually, as an artist, I think most people would pick Stevie, but as a musician it would be very very close, a toss up even.


-Stevie is the better pianist
-Stevie is a slightly better drummer
-Prince is the better guitar player
-Prince, the better bass player
-Stevie better harmonica player
-Stevie better percussionist

Just curious but how much does he use the harmonica?

[L.Kizzle]

Just curious but how much does he use the harmonica?
A lot but not as much as he used too. In his early days in the 60's when he was a teen, most of his songs had harmonica solo in them. Harmonica was his main (performing instrument) til he turned about 18 or so, and then it was the piano.


Here is a clip from 1962 of his first number one record when he was only 12!
Stevie Wonder sings Fingertips (http://youtube.com/watch?v=a_g9KfrjZ60)

[SoCalMike]

We go from GOAT to GMAT... ha

Actually, I think measuring a musician is more difficult than a basketball player. Personally, I love Stevie Wonder's music and think very highly of him. But, there are so many artists that I feel the same way about, so its difficult to pick a greatest.... The list of my "top" would be pages and pages long and represent different categories of music.



:pimp:

[Fuhqueue]

Stevie uses the harmonica a lot. His breakout song was wholly-harmonica.

I'm a bigger Prince fan than most, but this guy gets it:


Stevie Wonder between 1971-1976 was a better than anyone at their respective peak.
Music of My Mind, Talking Book, Innervisions, Fulfillingness, Songs

Every head must bow. Every tongue must confess. Stevie = GOAT :bowdown:

[Fuhqueue]

Here is a clip from 1962 of his first number one record when he was only 12!
Stevie Wonder sings Fingertips (http://youtube.com/watch?v=a_g9KfrjZ60)
:rockon:

[Randy]

Stevie uses the harmonica a lot. His breakout song was wholly-harmonica.

I'm a bigger Prince fan than most, but this guy gets it:


Music of My Mind, Talking Book, Innervisions, Fulfillingness, Songs

Every head must bow. Every tongue must confess. Stevie = GOAT :bowdown:

Nope.

Mozart and Bach are far superior.

[Selenium]

Their is no doubt in my mind (or anyone's) that Steveland Judkins, better known to the world as Stevie Wonder is the greatest musician of All-Time.

That's quite the assumption you're making there.

Is it just me or is it silly to say someone's a better artist than someone else because of a physical disability? If you compare two artists' musical catalogs objectively are you going to say "well, this guy's music is better because he was a mute"? No. Will said disability cause you to respect an artist more as a person and the music they created? Sure.

If a person's physical disabilities factor in to their greatness as a musician, artist, and composer, then I cast my vote for Ludwig van Beethoven, who freaking went deaf and still composed brilliantly beautiful pieces that have stood the test of time for ~200 years now.

[boozehound]

And Music is subjective... Top 100 muscians is just a popularity contest... Stevie is great, but there are other people that are absolutely amazing too.
True, but its still fun to talk about. Prince cant hold stevies jock















He just doesnt swing that way:D

[Selenium]

Anyone agree or disagree with my post? Thoughts? Counterpoints?

[blazerfan22]

Nope.

Mozart and Bach are far superior.

Bach is my favorite composer. I can't remember the title, but the song I like most by him is from the movie Se7en. The library scene.

[gts]

Bach is my favorite composer. I can't remember the title, but the song I like most by him is from the movie Se7en. The library scene.i can't remeber the piece, is it the same one used in the begining of the original rollerball?
if so it's tecata and fugue in d minor

[lovethetriangle]

Q: Why can't stevie wonder read?
















A: Because he's black.

P.S. I almost agree with you, superstition rules all.

[LootOP]

I remembered this thread, L.Kizzle.

Not sure if you've ever seen this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hkhAu1sLkw