Stevie Wonder

Solo Artist

Photo: UCLA digital library · CC BY 4.0
Active 1961-present
Origin Saginaw, Michigan
Albums 24
Tracks 278
Most frequent collaborator Hank Cosby · 93 tracks
Genres R&BSoulPopFunkJazz
Songwriter
64%
Authorship

Holds writing credit on 178 of 278 tracks

Did Stevie Wonder write his own songs?

Yes, especially from the 1970s on. Overall he wrote around 64% of the songs in this catalogue, but that number hides the story: his early Motown records were written by staff writers, while from 1972's Music of My Mind onward he wrote and produced almost everything himself. Classics like 'Superstition,' 'Sir Duke,' and 'Higher Ground' are entirely his.

By the Numbers

24
Studio Albums
278
Tracks Credited
64%
Self-Written
100M+
Records Sold
65
Years Active
147
Collaborators

Authorship Breakdown 178 / 278 self-written

Who wrote the songs?

Across all 278 tracks: how many Stevie Wonder wrote alone, how many they co-wrote, and how many were written by others. The bracket marks every track they hold any writing credit on.

Stevie Wonder has a writing credit64%
40%
24%
36%
Sole author112tracks40%
Co-written66tracks24%
Outside writers100tracks36%

Role Fingerprint how they contribute

Lyricist Performer Composer Producer
Stevie Wonder's roles across the catalogue

Share of all 278 tracks where they are personally credited, by role.

Lyricist (words)63%
Composer (music)64%
Producer55%
Performer100%

Authorship Over Time writing credit per album

Stevie Wonder's writing credit per album, in release order. Hover any bar for the album.

avg 64%
22%
10%
0%
0%
0%
42%
33%
0%
33%
67%
42%
58%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
1962The Jazz Soul of Little Stevie
1962Tribute to Uncle Ray
1963With a Song in My Heart
1963Workout Stevie, Workout
1964Stevie at the Beach
1966Up-Tight (Everything's Alright)
1966Down to Earth
1967Someday at Christmas
1968I Was Made to Love Her
1968For Once in My Life
1969My Cherie Amour
1970Signed, Sealed and Delivered
1971Where I'm Coming From
1972Talking Book
1972Music of My Mind
1973Innervisions
1974Fulfillingness' First Finale
1976Songs in the Key of Life
1979Journey Through the Secret Life of Plants
1981Hotter Than July
1985In Square Circle
1987Characters
1995Conversation Peace
2005A Time to Love
Early · 14% written
Mid · 72% written
Late · 100% written

Authorship by Decade track-weighted

23%
1960s
The Jazz Soul of Little Stevie, Tribute to Uncle Ray +9 more
95%
1970s
Talking Book, Innervisions +6 more
100%
1980s
Hotter Than July, In Square Circle +1 more
100%
1990s
Conversation Peace
100%
2000s
A Time to Love

Authorship Spectrum pure performer to complete author

Where Stevie Wonder sits on the scale from a pure performer (0%, sings songs written by others) to a complete author (100%, writes everything). The bright marker is their catalogue authorship score, plotted against other artists on the site.

Stevie Wonder
Other artists on the site

Reference artists spread across the scale, closest by genre and era.

Whitney Houston5%
Aretha Franklin14%
The Jacksons24%
Michael Jackson51%
George Michael80%
David Bowie88%
Prince96%
64%Stevie Wonder
Pure Performer0%
Songwriter~50%
Complete Author100%

Who Really Wrote the Hits signature songs

Superstition
Talking Book
Written by Stevie Wonder
Wrote it
You Are the Sunshine of My Life
Talking Book
Written by Stevie Wonder
Wrote it
Higher Ground
Innervisions
Written by Stevie Wonder
Wrote it
Living for the City
Innervisions
Written by Stevie Wonder
Wrote it
Don't You Worry 'Bout a Thing
Innervisions
Written by Stevie Wonder
Wrote it
I Wish
Songs in the Key of Life
Written by Stevie Wonder
Wrote it
Sir Duke
Songs in the Key of Life
Written by Stevie Wonder
Wrote it
Another Star
Songs in the Key of Life
Written by Stevie Wonder
Wrote it
As
Songs in the Key of Life
Written by Stevie Wonder
Wrote it
Master Blaster (Jammin')
Hotter Than July
Written by Stevie Wonder
Wrote it
I Ain't Gonna Stand for It
Hotter Than July
Written by Stevie Wonder
Wrote it
Lately
Hotter Than July
Written by Stevie Wonder
Wrote it
Happy Birthday
Hotter Than July
Written by Stevie Wonder
Wrote it
Workout Stevie, Workout
Workout Stevie, Workout
Written by Clarence Paul, Henry Cosby
Outside writers
Castles in the Sand
Stevie at the Beach
Written by Hal Davis, Marc Gordon, Mary O'Brien, Frank Wilson
Outside writers
Hey Harmonica Man
Stevie at the Beach
Written by Marty Cooper, Lou Josie
Outside writers
Uptight (Everything's Alright)
Up-Tight (Everything's Alright)
Written by Stevie Wonder, Henry Cosby, Sylvia Moy
Co-wrote
Nothing's Too Good for My Baby
Up-Tight (Everything's Alright)
Written by Henry Cosby, Sylvia Moy, William Stevenson
Outside writers
Blowin' in the Wind
Up-Tight (Everything's Alright)
Written by Bob Dylan
Outside writers
A Place in the Sun
Down to Earth
Written by Ron Miller, Bryan Wells
Outside writers
Hey Love
Down to Earth
Written by Morris Broadnax, Clarence Paul, Stevie Wonder
Co-wrote
Someday at Christmas
Someday at Christmas
Written by Ron Miller, Bryan Wells
Outside writers
I Was Made to Love Her
I Was Made to Love Her
Written by Stevie Wonder, Henry Cosby, Sylvia Moy, Lula Mae Hardaway
Co-wrote
For Once in My Life
For Once in My Life
Written by Ron Miller, Orlando Murden
Outside writers
Shoo-Be-Doo-Be-Doo-Da-Day
For Once in My Life
Written by Henry Cosby, Sylvia Moy, Stevie Wonder
Co-wrote
You Met Your Match
For Once in My Life
Written by Lula Mae Hardaway, Don Hunter, Stevie Wonder
Co-wrote
My Cherie Amour
My Cherie Amour
Written by Henry Cosby, Sylvia Moy, Stevie Wonder
Co-wrote
Yester-Me, Yester-You, Yesterday
My Cherie Amour
Written by Ron Miller, Bryan Wells
Outside writers
Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours
Signed, Sealed and Delivered
Written by Lee Garrett, Lula Mae Hardaway, Stevie Wonder, Syreeta Wright
Co-wrote
Heaven Help Us All
Signed, Sealed and Delivered
Written by Ron Miller
Outside writers
We Can Work It Out
Signed, Sealed and Delivered
Written by John Lennon, Paul McCartney
Outside writers
Never Had a Dream Come True
Signed, Sealed and Delivered
Written by Stevie Wonder, Henry Cosby, Sylvia Moy
Co-wrote
If You Really Love Me
Where I'm Coming From
Written by Stevie Wonder, Syreeta Wright
Co-wrote
Never Dreamed You'd Leave in Summer
Where I'm Coming From
Written by Stevie Wonder, Syreeta Wright
Co-wrote
Superwoman (Where Were You When I Needed You)
Music of My Mind
Written by Stevie Wonder
Wrote it
Keep On Running
Music of My Mind
Written by Stevie Wonder
Wrote it
You Haven't Done Nothin'
Fulfillingness' First Finale
Written by Stevie Wonder
Wrote it
Boogie On Reggae Woman
Fulfillingness' First Finale
Written by Stevie Wonder
Wrote it
Send One Your Love
Journey Through the Secret Life of Plants
Written by Stevie Wonder
Wrote it
Outside My Window
Journey Through the Secret Life of Plants
Written by Stevie Wonder
Wrote it
Black Orchid
Journey Through the Secret Life of Plants
Written by Yvonne Wright, Stevie Wonder
Co-wrote
Part-Time Lover
In Square Circle
Written by Stevie Wonder
Wrote it
Go Home
In Square Circle
Written by Stevie Wonder
Wrote it
Overjoyed
In Square Circle
Written by Stevie Wonder
Wrote it
Land of La La
In Square Circle
Written by Stevie Wonder
Wrote it
Skeletons
Characters
Written by Stevie Wonder
Wrote it
You Will Know
Characters
Written by Stevie Wonder
Wrote it
Get It
Characters
Written by Stevie Wonder
Wrote it
For Your Love
Conversation Peace
Written by Stevie Wonder
Wrote it
Tomorrow Robins Will Sing
Conversation Peace
Written by Stevie Wonder, Edley Shine
Co-wrote
So What the Fuss
A Time to Love
Written by Stevie Wonder
Wrote it
From the Bottom of My Heart
A Time to Love
Written by Stevie Wonder
Wrote it

Discography 24 albums

This page covers Stevie Wonder's complete studio discography, 13 early Motown albums (1962-1971) and 11 albums from Music of My Mind (1972) through A Time to Love (2005).

Collaborator Network who they worked with most

Stevie Wonder278 tracks
HC93Hank Cosby, 93 tracks CP78Clarence Paul, 78 tracks HC26Henry Cosby, 26 tracks SM21Sylvia Moy, 21 tracks RM18Robert Margouleff, 18 tracks 18Malcolm Cecil, 18 tracks SW15Syreeta Wright, 15 tracks RM12Ron Miller, 12 tracks BG11Berry Gordy, 11 tracks LM9Lula Mae Hardaway, 9 tracks DH8Don Hunter, 8 tracks RC6Ray Charles, 6 tracks YW5Yvonne Wright, 5 tracks BH5Brian Holland, 5 tracks LD5Lamont Dozier, 5 tracks BW5Bryan Wells, 5 tracks FW4Frank Wilson, 4 tracks PR4Paul Riser, 4 tracks GB3Gary Byrd, 3 tracks MB3Morris Broadnax, 3 tracks OM3Orlando Murden, 3 tracks HD3Hal Davis, 3 tracks EH3Eddie Holland, 3 tracks BG2Berry Gordy Jr., 2 tracks RR2Richard Rodgers, 2 tracks JS2Jule Styne, 2 tracks JM2Johnny Mercer, 2 tracks JB2Janie Bradford, 2 tracks MG2Marc Gordon, 2 tracks MO2Mary O'Brien, 2 tracks BD2Bob Dylan, 2 tracks AS2Allen Story, 2 tracks PS2Pam Sawyer, 2 tracks SA2Stephanie Andrews, 2 tracks CH1Calvin Hardaway, 1 track MG1Marvin Gaye, 1 track HM1Herbert Magidson, 1 track AW1Allie Wrubel, 1 track HG1Henry Glover, 1 track LH1Lorenz Hart, 1 track NW1Ned Washington, 1 track LH1Leigh Harline, 1 track CC1Charlie Chaplin, 1 track GP1Geoffrey Parsons, 1 track JT1John Turner, 1 track BC1Betty Comden, 1 track AG1Adolph Green, 1 track LA1Lee Adams, 1 track CS1Charles Strouse, 1 track DF1Dorothy Fields, 1 track JM1Jimmy McHugh, 1 track TK1Ted Koehler, 1 track HA1Harold Arlen, 1 track KO1Kenneth O'Neil, 1 track EE1Edward Eliscu, 1 track BR1Billy Rose, 1 track VY1Vincent Youmans, 1 track DL1Dedette Lee Hill, 1 track WR1Willard Robison, 1 track LB1Lew Brown, 1 track BD1Buddy DeSylva, 1 track RH1Ray Henderson, 1 track KW1Kurt Weill, 1 track MB1Marc Blitzstein, 1 track HW1Hank Williams, 1 track SR1Sid Robin, 1 track CS1Charlie Shavers, 1 track DE1Duke Ellington, 1 track BS1Billy Strayhorn, 1 track RM1Robert Maxwell, 1 track CS1Carl Sigman, 1 track DB1Dorsey Burnette, 1 track GN1Gerald Nelson, 1 track HW1Hugh Williams, 1 track JK1Jimmy Kennedy, 1 track AW1Arthur Wright, 1 track GE1George Everette Hermic, 1 track MC1Marty Cooper, 1 track LJ1Lou Josie, 1 track CT1Charles Trenet, 1 track JL1Jack Lawrence, 1 track BB1Beth Beatty, 1 track ES1Ernie Shelby, 1 track WS1William Stevenson, 1 track SC1Sammy Cahn, 1 track GD1Gene de Paul, 1 track CG1Cornelius Grant, 1 track EK1Eddie Kendricks, 1 track on The Temptations's page NW1Norman Whitfield, 1 track MV1Michael Valvano, 1 track TH1Ted Hull, 1 track VB1Victoria Basemore, 1 track SB1Sonny Bono, 1 track AV1Avery Vanderberg, 1 track GA1Gene Austin, 1 track NS1Nat Shilkret, 1 track MT1Merle Travis, 1 track JL1Jay Livingston, 1 track RE1Ray Evans, 1 track FS1Franz Schubert, 1 track KK1Katherine K. Davis, 1 track HO1Henry Onorati, 1 track HS1Harry Simeone, 1 track DW1Deborah Wells, 1 track MT1Mel Tormé, 1 track RW1Robert Wells, 1 track SS1Sol Selegna, 1 track WO1William O'Malley, 1 track AG1Anna Gordy, 1 track GG1George Gordy, 1 track LP1Lloyd Price, 1 track JM1John Marascalco, 1 track OR1Otis Redding, 1 track SR1Smokey Robinson, 1 track RW1Ronald White, 1 track DM1Deadric Malone, 1 track JB1James Brown, 1 track JT1Johnny Terry, 1 track CG1Cameron Grant, 1 track BH1Bobby Hebb, 1 track AH1Arthur Herzog Jr., 1 track BH1Billie Holiday, 1 track LB1Lawrence Brown, 1 track OH1Oscar Hammerstein II, 1 track MG1Mack Gordon, 1 track HW1Harry Warren, 1 track JD1John Densmore, 1 track RK1Robby Krieger, 1 track RM1Ray Manzarek, 1 track JM1Jim Morrison, 1 track PF1Paul Francis Webster, 1 track JM1Johnny Mandel, 1 track BV1Beatrice Verdi, 1 track DR1Deke Richards, 1 track RM1Richard Morris, 1 track JL1John Lennon, 1 track on The Beatles's page PM1Paul McCartney, 1 track on The Beatles's page LG1Lee Garrett, 1 track LC1Leonard Caston Jr., 1 track JH1Joe Hinton, 1 track DB1Duke Browner, 1 track TJ1The Jackson 5, 1 track MS1Michael Sembello, 1 track MJ1Michael Jackson, 1 track ES1Edley Shine, 1 track AB1Akosua Busia, 1 track IA1India Arie, 1 track

Bubble size = tracks worked on together. HC Hank Cosby · CP Clarence Paul · HC Henry Cosby · SM Sylvia Moy · RM Robert Margouleff

Photo credits

Portraits in the web and the rail come from Wikimedia Commons. The artist's own photo carries its credit under the picture.

The Authorship Story

Data Insight

Stevie Wonder plays most instruments, writes virtually all his own lyrics and music, and self-produces, a complete artist who controls every element of his recordings. His 'classic period' albums (Talking Book through Songs in the Key of Life) are nearly entirely self-authored, with only occasional co-writes credited to collaborators like Syreeta Wright or Gary Byrd, making him one of the most statistically complete artists in this database.

Quick Facts

  • GrammysWon 25 Grammy Awards, plus a Lifetime Achievement Award in 1996
  • Child prodigySigned to Motown at age 11 as 'Little Stevie Wonder'
  • Creative controlWon full creative autonomy at 21, launching his classic 1972-1976 period
  • Songs in the Key of LifeHis 1976 double album is ranked among the greatest ever made
  • Number ones'Superstition' and 'Sir Duke' both topped the Billboard Hot 100

Creative Fingerprint

A prodigy who became an author: Stevie Wonder sang Motown staff songs as a child, then from 1972 on wrote and produced his own material almost entirely alone, making his classic-period albums some of the purest self-authored work in soul.

The Story

Stevie Wonder signed with Motown's Tamla label at age 11 and became one of the best-selling musicians of all time, blind since shortly after birth and gifted with an extraordinary ear for melody, rhythm, and arrangement. Beginning with Talking Book in 1972, he negotiated complete creative control over his recordings and embarked on a decade-long run of artistically defining albums, Innervisions, Fulfillingness' First Finale, Songs in the Key of Life, that are widely regarded as among the greatest in popular music history. Over more than six decades and 23+ studio albums, he has written, produced, and performed virtually all of his own material, playing keyboards, harmonica, drums, bass, and dozens of other instruments himself.

Awards & Recognition

Sold more than 100 million records worldwide, one of the best-selling music artists of all time
Won 25 Grammy Awards, plus the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1996
Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Songs in the Key of Life (1976) is ranked among the greatest albums of all time
'Superstition' and 'Sir Duke' were number-one singles on the Billboard Hot 100

Frequently Asked Questions Stevie Wonder

Did Stevie Wonder write his own songs?
Yes, especially from the 1970s on. Overall he wrote around 64% of the songs in this catalogue, but that number hides the story: his early Motown records were written by staff writers, while from 1972's Music of My Mind onward he wrote and produced almost everything himself. Classics like 'Superstition,' 'Sir Duke,' and 'Higher Ground' are entirely his.
Who wrote 'Superstition'?
'Superstition' (1972) was written entirely by Stevie Wonder, who also played most of the instruments, including the famous clavinet riff. It became a number-one hit and one of his signature songs.
Did Stevie Wonder write his early Motown songs?
Mostly no. As a child performer, 'Little Stevie Wonder' sang songs written by Motown's staff writers, like Henry Cosby, Sylvia Moy, and Clarence Paul. He co-wrote some, such as 'Uptight (Everything's Alright),' but did not gain full creative control until 1971.
Who wrote 'Isn't She Lovely'?
'Isn't She Lovely' (1976) was written by Stevie Wonder for his daughter Aisha. It appears on Songs in the Key of Life, an album he wrote and produced almost entirely himself.
What is Stevie Wonder's classic period?
It refers to the run of albums from 1972 to 1976, Music of My Mind, Talking Book, Innervisions, Fulfillingness' First Finale, and Songs in the Key of Life, made after he won creative control from Motown. These are widely seen as some of the greatest albums ever recorded.
How many albums has Stevie Wonder released?
This catalogue covers 24 of his studio albums, from his early-1960s Motown records to A Time to Love (2005).
How many records has Stevie Wonder sold?
More than 100 million worldwide, making him one of the best-selling music artists of all time.
How many Grammys has Stevie Wonder won?
25 Grammy Awards, plus a Lifetime Achievement Award, one of the most decorated artists in Grammy history.
When did Stevie Wonder sign to Motown?
He signed to Motown's Tamla label at age 11, in the early 1960s, performing as 'Little Stevie Wonder.' His contract was renegotiated at 21, giving him the creative freedom that defined his classic albums.
What genre is Stevie Wonder?
He is a soul and R&B legend who also drew on funk, pop, and jazz. He was an early pioneer of synthesizers in soul music, shaping the sound of 1970s R&B.

Sources

Wikipedia: Stevie Wonder Wikipedia: Talking Book Wikipedia: Innervisions Wikipedia: Songs in the Key of Life Wikipedia: Hotter Than July