♫The 12 Year Old Genius♫

Some of our most awesome bands and musicians began their musical career at early ages. Many accompany their talented parents and/or siblings or have proteges that guide them along the way. Today's spotlight shines on a child prodigy blinded as a result of receiving too much oxygen in the incubator as a premature baby. Raised in inner-city Detroit, he was a skilled musician by the age of 8 years old. His first instrument was a harmonica given to him by his uncle, he would later be given a set of toy drums. Have you seen him play the drums? Amazing, absolutely amazing! Then, he mastered the piano! He was just 11 years old when he was discovered by Ronnie White of the Motown band the Miracles.

Welcome into the Spotlight...

Stevie Wonder Photo Gallery

"Little" Stevie Wonder Born Steveland Hardaway Judkins on May 13, 1950, in Saginaw, Michigan, he was newly name "Little Stevie Wonder" in 1962. Stevie Wonder's early gift for music shone first with a church choir in Detroit, Michigan, where he and his family had settled when he was 4 years old. As mentioned in the beginning, he amazed everyone with a bevy of instruments, including the harmonica, drums, and piano, all of which he taught himself before age 10.

Working with a Motown songwriter, Wonder's debut album, Little Stevie Wonder the 12 Year Old Genius was released that same year. 

After dropping "Little" from his stage name in 1964, he churned out the successful single "Uptight (Everything's Alright)."

Today in music history takes us back to the year...

1963 13 year-old Little Stevie Wonder first entered the US singles chart as Little Stevie Wonder with 'Fingertips Parts One and Two'. 'Fingertips' which featured a young Marvin Gaye on drums was the first live, non-studio recording to reach No.1 on the Billboard Pop Singles chart in the United States since Johnny Standley's 1952 comic monologue 'It's in the Book'.

Yes, it actually happened...

 

1956   Elvis Presley started a three-day run playing 10 shows at the Paramount Theater in Atlanta, Georgia. The stage manager was told; "Pull all white lights. Presley works all in color, Presley act has no encore. When he leaves the stage, immediately close curtains."

Spotlight On: The King vs. The Father of Rock 'n' Roll

  

And the music goes on beating to the rhythm of the changing times...