Sunday, February 8, 2009

When Stevie Wonder ruled the Grammys

My whole adult life, I’ve ignored the Grammy Awards. (Because I’ve pretty much ignored pop music.)

The “Best New Artist” award emblemizes why I don’t give a crap about the Grammys. I’m not just talking about Milli Vanilli either. Do you know who beat out Alanis Morissette for Best New Artist in 1996?

Hootie & the Blowfish.

Somebody named Marc Cohn won Best New Artist over Seal. Christopher Cross won it over the Pretenders. Elvis Costello lost to A Taste of Honey.

Anyhoo... when I think of the Grammys in a good way, I remember how Stevie Wonder freakin’ dominated in the 1970s. He earned 12 Grammy Awards between 1973 and 1976 – including three for Album of the Year. (He has since added another 10 Grammys to the heap. No solo artist has won more of ’em.)

Stevie will perform at tonight’s Grammy ceremony.

On my Vox blog, I’m streaming a 1½-minute excerpt from a 1988 radio special in which Stevie Wonder talks about the single that got him his first trophy for Best Male Pop Vocalist. Click here to listen.
at

6 comments:

  1. bklyn6February 8, 2009 at 8:34 AM

    He earned 12 Grammy Awards between 1973 and 1976 – including three for Album of the Year.

    Can't remember if that album was "Songs in the Key of Life" but I LOVED it SO much!

    I just don't get down with the Grammy Awards (or any awards shows) these days. I'm not exactly sure why.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Undercover Black ManFebruary 8, 2009 at 8:37 AM

    ^ The Oscars always get me fired up.

    ReplyDelete
  3. blackinkFebruary 8, 2009 at 9:15 AM

    I'm no big fan of the Grammys either but I wonder if that's because I came along in the post-Stevie era.

    I sincerely hope he sings something from the 70s tonight. If so, consider me in. Definitely if the song is "Superwoman."

    ReplyDelete
  4. dubbleuFebruary 8, 2009 at 6:23 PM

    I dont know why I am even watching the Grammy's now (more an Oscars girl myself), but I'm glad I did.

    Nothing like seeing Stevie Wonder preform with the Jonas Brothers. Oh Lord, I'm sure its on Youtube.

    ReplyDelete
  5. AnonymousFebruary 10, 2009 at 10:12 AM

    Growing-up, I didn'tknow much about Stevie or his music. I remember being around 10 years old when I saw him winning a bunch of awards on the Grammys. I asked my mom, "Are they giving him all those awards because he's blind." Dumb kid...

    ReplyDelete
  6. Rusty Eagle, Hollywood, USAFebruary 10, 2009 at 1:50 PM

    UBM! Music is dead... not just hip hop... every now and then you will have that cream rise to the top but I believe that is because music sucks so bad, if you're half decent, you look like a genius. The synthesizer did a drive by on soul music

    ReplyDelete