Stevie Wonder is getting the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Apollo Theater Foundation. The ceremony takes place on June 13th. Last year, Aretha Franklin was the recipient. Stevie–the greatest of the greats–deserves any award he gets but this one is special. He made his debut on the Apollo stage in 1962 at the age of 12 with his first hit, “Fingerprints (Part 1).”
Nearly fifty years later, he’s still going strong–and has certainly been the inspiration for countless numbers of artists. Next week, Stevie joins Elton John, Gladys Knight, and Dionne Warwick at an amFAR anniversary event in New York to reprise their hit, “That’s What Friends Are For.” Then he heads to the MusiCares Person of the Year dinner in Los Angeles to help honor Barbra Streisand.
Meanwhile, if you’re in New York, circle February 15th at the Apollo for a classic night: Smokey Robinson is going to perform with Ashford and Simpson, and Chuck Jackson. It’s a charity event but the tickets are extremely well priced. And this is a Motown fan dream show, frankly. A once in a lifetime opportunity!