Stevie Wonder – Tribute To Uncle Ray (Turquoise Vinyl)

LP – 180 Gram Vinyl

‘Tribute to Uncle Ray’, the second studio album by *Little Stevie Wonder*, was released by Motown in October 1962, though it had been recorded first when he was only 11 years old. Born *Stevland Hardaway Morris* and blind since infancy, Stevie Wonder signed with Motown’s Tamla label as a young prodigy and adopted the stage name *Little Stevie Wonder*. Berry Gordy and Motown used this album as a way to highlight Wonder’s remarkable talent, strategically associating him with Ray Charles, the celebrated blind African-American musician whose soulful R&B style had a huge influence on audiences nationwide. This early album was pivotal in presenting Wonder’s exceptional musicality, revealing the early foundations of his prodigious skill and style. Wonder would go on to become one of the 20th century’s most acclaimed musicians, pioneering the use of synthesizers and electronic instruments in R&B during the 1970s and reshaping the genre with complex, socially conscious compositions. This album, echoing the spirit of Ray Charles, marked the beginning of his journey toward redefining modern music across genres like pop, soul, gospel, funk, and jazz, while establishing himself as a one-man band and musical innovator.

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