Wonder took up piano at age seven, and had mastered it by age nine. During his early childhood he was active in his church choir. He also taught himself to play the harmonica and the drums, and had mastered both by age ten. Wonder also learned to play the bass during his early years.
In 1961, at the age of eleven, Wonder was discovered singing outside a street corner by a relative of The Miracles' Ronnie White. White brought Wonder and his mother to Motown Records. Impressed by the young musician, Motown signed Wonder with the name "Little Stevie Wonder". Before signing, producer Mickey Stevenson gave Wonder his trademark name after remarking about him "that boy's a wonder". He then recorded the minor hit "I Call It Pretty Music, But the Old People Call It the Blues", which was released in late 1961.
I'm vexed by a lot of things, but Stevie ain't one of 'em:
All sorts of great things seem to come out of Michigan eh, maybe its something in the water....
