Rock of the 1970’s Folk, Disco, Guitar Rock and everything in between

Stevie Wonder  Birth name was Stevland Hardaway Judkins.  Blind from shortly after birth  Signed with Motown at the age of 11

Stevie Wonder  Mother and Father divorced – Mom moved family to Detroit  A member of the Miracles heard Stevie play and sing  Introduced him to Berry Gordy  Signed him and named him “Little Stevie Wonder”

Stevie Wonder  Had some success in the 1960’s, but real success came in the early 1970’s  1972 – Released album Talking Book  - single Superstition  You are the Sunshine of My Life  Toured with the Rolling Stones

Stevie Wonder  In a serious car accident in 1974  Was in a coma for 4 days  Recovered but lost partial sense smell  Was able to continue to record and tour

Stevie Wonder  Very successful through the 80’s as well.  Signed with Motown at the age of 11  Had more than 30 top ten U.S. hits  Won 22 Grammy awards

Stevie Wonder  Songs to Know:  Superstition - com/watch?v=wDZFf 0pm0SE com/watch?v=wDZFf 0pm0SE  Isn’t She Lovely - com/watch?v=b2Wzo cbSd2w&feature=rela ted com/watch?v=b2Wzo cbSd2w&feature=rela ted

Elton John  Born Reginald Kenneth Dwight  Started playing piano at the age of 3  Parents were very strict  father tried to steer him away from music  Says that his outrageous stage costumes are a reaction to strict up-bringing

Elton John  Won a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music  Had a photographic memory for music  Started his career as piano player at a local pub  Answered an ad for a lead singer and was given some lyrics written by Bernie Taupin to put music to. They’ve worked together ever since.

Elton John   Released Honky Chateau  First number one U.S. album  Two other albums in quick succession  – Don’t Shoot Me, I’m Just the Piano Player  Goodbye Yellow Brick Road

Elton John  Very popular in the United States and England  – Between , seven consecutive albums reached #1 in the United States  Sold over 250 million records worldwide  56 Top Forty singles; 9 number ones

Elton John  Recorded Candle in the Wind after the death of Princess Diana – biggest selling single of all time  Made a knight of the realm in 1998

Elton John  Songs to Know:  Rocket Man - m/watch?v=- LX7WrHCaUA m/watch?v=- LX7WrHCaUA  Goodbye Yellow Brick Road - m/watch?v=zK0gXuifSA A m/watch?v=zK0gXuifSA A  Candle in the Wind - m/watch?v=V0PKcKbjlK g m/watch?v=V0PKcKbjlK g

Rod Stewart  Introduced to rock and roll with Chuck Berry and Bill Haley and Comets  A part of two groups – The Jeff Beck Group and Faces before going solo  Signed with Mercury Records in 1969  For a time he released albums with the Faces and solo projects

Rod Stewart  British singer / song- writer  Born and raised in London, England  Nothing extraordinary in his family life. Very average and middle class

Rod Stewart  Moved to United States and applied for citizenship in 1975  sold over 195 million records worldwide  At one point he had six consecutive number one albums  had 16 top ten singles in the U.S, with four of these reaching number one

Rod Stewart  Songs to Know:  Maggie May - m/watch?v=F01aLeErvo U m/watch?v=F01aLeErvo U  Forever Young - m/watch?v=yGEe_zpdd NI m/watch?v=yGEe_zpdd NI