Stevland Hardaway Morris, popularly known as Stevie Wonder, is an American musician who has become one of the most creative and influential musical figures of his time.
Along with massive success in the music industry, the singer has found a lot of joy in his personal life, which has seen him become a father nine times. His hit song "Isn't She Lovely" was dedicated to one of his children.
Wonder was born the third of five of his mother, songwriter Lula Mae Hardaway's children. He was born six weeks premature on May 13, 1950, which contributed to complications with his eyes and ultimately led to his blindness just after birth.
Stevie Wonder and Aisha Morris during The G&P Foundation for Cancer Research Fourth Annual Angel Ball - Inside at Marriott Marquis in New York City, New York, on November 14, 2005 | Source: Getty Images
Stevie Wonder's Family
Stevie Wonder has a pretty large family. He has walked down the alter three times in his life. His first marriage was to singer-songwriter Syreeta Wright from 1970 to 1972.
It took almost three more decades for Wonder to marry his second wife, fashion designer Kai Millard in 2001. They divorced in 2012 after welcoming two sons together. Five years after the end of his second marriage, Stevie Wonder married Tomeeka Bracy, who is his current wife. They have had two children so far.
The R&B hitmaker has only been married three times but has nine children from five women. The children include five sons and four daughters. The age difference between his children is astonishing. His youngest was born 39 years after he welcomed his first.
Keita Morris, Chad Millard, Kwame Morris, Sophia Morris, Stevie Wonder, Kai Milla-Morris, Aisha Morris, Mumtaz Morris, Mandala Morris, Miles Morris, Kailand Morris and Stevie Wonder at Mesa Grillat The Cove Atlantis Resort on Paradise Island on May 10, 2007 | Source: Getty Images
Aisha and Keita Morris
Stevie Wonder's first two children were born outside of wedlock. In 1975, he met Yolanda Simmons, who would give birth to Wonder's oldest child Aisha Morris on February 2, 1975.
Aisha's birth was a great blessing to Wonder, who penned one of his more famous songs, "Isn't She Lovely," in 1976 as a dedication to his first daughter. The lovely lady has grown up to follow in her father's footsteps by becoming a singer. She has been part of her father's touring company on several occasions.
Wonder and Simmons had another child in 1977, just before they went their separate ways. This time, they had a son they named Keita. Like his older sister, Keita is involved in the music industry as a musician and professional DJ. He was once detained by the police on domestic violence charges in Los Angeles in 2009.
Mumtaz, Sophia and Kwame Morris
Stevie Wonder's third child, Mumtaz Morris, was born in 1983. His mother's name is Melody McCulley. He is also into music and gave a brilliant rendition of "Ribbon in the Sky" with his father on stage.
Next up for the legendary R&B singer was daughter Sophia and son Kwame. The name of their mother has been kept away from the public. Still, Sophia has grown up under her father's wing to be a generous giver. She has dreams of establishing a successful charity for visually impaired children.
Kwame Morris was born in 1988. Like many of his father's children, he is a musician. However, he has found more success in his modeling career, where he has been featured in commercials for big brands such as Pepsi and Heineken.
Stevie Wonder and sons Kwame and Chad during The United Negro College Fund Hosts An Evening of Stars Tribute to Quincy Jones in Hollywood, California, on September 11, 2004 | Source: Getty Images
Kailand and Mandla Morris
Kailand and Mandla were born during Wonder's marriage to his second wife, Kai Millard. Children of a fashion designer, the two boys, have primarily followed their mother's path into the fashion industry.
20-year-old Kailand has been successful in his modeling career so far. He has modeled for world-famous fashion companies such as Fendi, Louis Vuitton, Dior, and several others. He also displayed his entrepreneurial skills by creating a T-shirt line dedicated to the BLM Movement.
His younger brother, Mandla, was born on May 13, 2005. He shares his birthday with his iconic father, who was born exactly 55 years before. Another talented performer in the Morris household, he finished fifth in "Dancing With The Stars: Juniors" when he was just 13 years old. He is also into fashion, like his mother.
Stevie Wonder, Kailand Morris, Mandla Morris, and Kai Millard at the 4th Annual Kailand Obasi Hoop-Life Fundraiser at USC Galen Center in Los Angeles, California on August 28, 2016 | Source: Getty Images
Zaiah and Nia Morris
There is a bit of a mystery about who the youngest of Stevie Wonder's children is. Who came first between Nia Morris and Zaiah Morris is not publicly known.
What is known about Wonder's eighth and ninth children is that their mother is Tomeeka Bracy. Bracy and Wonder married in 2017, meaning their two children were born before they married.
Although Zaiah's date of birth remains a mystery, Nia was reportedly born in 2014. The little ones are kept under wraps. However, in 2021, Nia was spotted on an outing with her father.
Wonder's Life
Wonder became blind at a very young age. Still, by age 11, his talent as a future entertainer was apparent, and he got and got him an audition at Motown Records. In an interview with Oprah, Wonder said he taught himself to play the piano on a neighbor's out-of-tune piano.
According to him, at age 10, he had already mastered the harmonica, piano, organ, and drums. Stevie Wonder learned to play all these instruments without professional assistance or classes.
Stevie Wonder performs with The Roots on "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" on January 11, 2017 | Source: Getty Images
Wonder's Achievements
He was born blind and lived in a bad neighborhood, but he never let his circumstances define him. In an interview with Oprah, Wonder said:
"I've had some incredibly triumphal things happen in my life."
Stevie Wonder performs onstage at the Microsoft Theatre in Los Angeles, California on September 25, 2018 | Source: Getty Images
The things he referred to were his accomplishments. After writing many hit singles, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989. He is the father of 9 children, and in 1973, he miraculously recovered from an almost-fatal car accident.
Despite all the challenges thrown at the singer, he continues to inspire and produce fantastic music. In a career that spans 54 years, he has won 22 Grammy awards, and the singer shows no sign of slowing down.
ncG1vNJzZmimlazAb63MqKSapZFjsLC5jmtpbW1mbXq0wMSvoJ5lp6S7pbHRZp2arJiav7R5mGaaoaGcmb%2BmuoxuZJ2hlpuyb7TTpqM%3D