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Stevie Wonder was born as Steveland Morris in Saginaw, Michigan. He was the third of six children born into a low-income family. Born about a month premature there were some serious complications. While he was in the incubator; too much oxygen in caused a dislocated nerve in one eye and had created a cataract in the other. The cataract was worsened by an eye condition called retrolental fibroplasias; this eventually caused permanent loss of sight. (Posner, 78)
Stevies mother was always protective of her blind son and this only increased when the family moved from Saginaw to Detroit. For a long time after the move his mother kept him inside the apartment. She told him that it was because she wanted him to learn the new surroundings and furniture layout of the apartment, but it was because she fears the strange new people and streets of Detroit. That apartment is when the musical career of Steveland Morris began, because of his boredom he began to pound out rhythmically on pans, tabletops and whatever else he could find. Once his family realized that his banging was not just noise but his own music, they encouraged him in any way that they could. His mother bought him his first instrument, a harmonica and it wasnt long until he had created his own songs complete with music and lyrics. His mother also had him join the Detroit Whitestone Baptist Church Choir. Stevies distinct voice and personality was a welcome addition to the choir. During his time with the choir Stevie had gotten and learned how to play the drums, piano, and bongos. All of these instruments were gifts from family friend and neighbors who saw his talent and wanted to