June 22, 2009 @ 3:59 pm

VIBE 365: June 22, 1963, Stevie Wonder Makes His Mark

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Remembering yesterday, one day at a time

At the mere age of 12-years-old and with a harmonica in hand, Little Stevie Wonder owned the stage. With the early success of his live performances, on June 22, 1963, the blind musical prodigy made his debut on the Billboard Pop Singles chart with his infectious single “Fingertips Pt. 2.” Recorded at Chicago’s landmark Regal Theater, the song was released as a seven-minute live track, which was split into two parts—“Fingertips Pt. 1” and “Fingertips Pt. 2.” It was the first live record to reach No. 1 on the charts and was the first time any artist, let alone a kid, topped the charts with both a single and an album (The 12 Year Old Genius, Motown, 1963). The legend of Stevie Wonder was born.

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