Arts & Entertainment

Songs of Stevie Wonder

Tribute to the "master blaster" in an evening of high energy at the DHPAC.

The Dix Hills Center for the Performing Arts will present  “A Tribute to the Music of Stevie Wonder,” a Higher Ground Tribute to the music of the iconic recording artist, March 2 at 7:30 p.m.

Stevie Wonder burst on the musical scene in 1962, with an album called “The Jazz of Little Stevie,” as he was then known. The album, much of which he wrote at age 13, included his first hit song “Fingertips, Part 2,” which was recorded live on the Motown Revue. The song --featuring Wonder on vocals, bongo drums and harmonica -- also featured Marvin Gaye on drums, and hit number one on the Billboard Hot100, making him the youngest artist ever to top the charts. The album also included “My Cheri Amour,” with an astounding chord structure.

Stevie has, to date, released 23 albums, including many now considered among the classics.

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The Higher Ground tribute band will recreate the high-energy, excitement and soulful introspection for which Stevie, one of the most prominent figures in the history of pop music, is so beloved.

The band Higher Ground is comprised of some of New York’s top musicians who all share a love and respect for Stevie’s music. The band is led by world-class vocalists Kevin Keys and Eddie Garcia. Also included in the all-star line-up will be acclaimed guitarist Steve Briody, saxophonist Marty Kersich, and drummer Jim Mansfield.

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Stevie Wonder, born Stevland Hardaway Judkins (and later Morris), recorded more than 30 top-ten hits, according to Billboard Magazine, and won an astounding 22 Grammy awards, the most ever won by a solo male musician.

Born May 13, 1950 in Saginaw, Michigan, he is a singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who has been blind for his entire life, yet was signed to Motown Records at age eleven. He continues to record and perform for the same label.

While known for writing and producing catchy tunes, Wonder has lived up to his name in terms of his use of advanced chords with extensions such as “flatted ninths” and difficult keys such as E-flat minor. His early use of the synthesizer and digital piano were trend-setting, as is his use of piano and other melodic instruments as rhythmic exponents.

Higher Ground will perform Wonder classics such as: “Higher Ground,” “Superstition,” “Sir Duke,” “For Once in My Life,” “Isn’t She Lovely,” “Ribbon in the Sky,” and many others. 

“DHPAC is thrilled to welcome Higher Ground to its stage this year,” says Sandy Hinden, Director of the Center. “Higher Ground will wow our audience with their incredible renditions of Stevie Wonders’ songs. You really have to see this show to appreciate their talent. We know this will be one of the Center’s most memorable shows and look forward to the audience’s reaction,” he said.

Tickets are $35 and $30 online or at the box office.


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