After Ellington died in 1974, Wonder wanted to write a song acknowledging musicians he felt were important. He later said, "I knew the title from the beginning but wanted it to be about the musicians who did something for us. So soon they are forgotten. I wanted to show my appreciation."
Later tributes included "Master Blaster" in 1980 (dedicated to Bob Marley) and "Happy Birthday", which pleaded for commemoration of Martin Luther King, Jr. on his birthday.
Wonder pays tribute to "some of music's pioneers" in the song: "There's Basie, Miller, Satchmo, and the king of all, Sir Duke / And with a voice like Ella's ringing out / There's no way the band can lose".
@capnhollis@Avante My mom got my this album in high school even though she said I would get tired of it soon and that my love for stevie would soon pass...instead years later her love for stevie ignited...she was still listening to only neil diamond at the time she got this for me...i think she started liking stevie after he was on SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE and he was so funny...especially in his commercial spoof for canon ae-1 cameras...'it's so easy, even a blind man can use it'
6 Comments (since 8 Dec 2014)
Shaka
After Ellington died in 1974, Wonder wanted to write a song acknowledging musicians he felt were important. He later said, "I knew the title from the beginning but wanted it to be about the musicians who did something for us. So soon they are forgotten. I wanted to show my appreciation."
Shaka
Later tributes included "Master Blaster" in 1980 (dedicated to Bob Marley) and "Happy Birthday", which pleaded for commemoration of Martin Luther King, Jr. on his birthday.
Shaka
Wonder pays tribute to "some of music's pioneers" in the song: "There's Basie, Miller, Satchmo, and the king of all, Sir Duke / And with a voice like Ella's ringing out / There's no way the band can lose".
Avante
Fantastic... love Stevie. :D
capnhollis
Still have one of my Stevie Wonder LPs (vinyl), Songs In the Key of Life...nice jam bruddah!
Shaka
@capnhollis @Avante My mom got my this album in high school even though she said I would get tired of it soon and that my love for stevie would soon pass...instead years later her love for stevie ignited...she was still listening to only neil diamond at the time she got this for me...i think she started liking stevie after he was on SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE and he was so funny...especially in his commercial spoof for canon ae-1 cameras...'it's so easy, even a blind man can use it'