Stevie Wonder Songs in The Key of Life

Songs in the Key of Life was Stevie Wonder's longest, most ambitious collection of songs, a two-LP (plus accompanying EP) set that – just as the title promised – touched on nearly every issue under the sun, and did it all with ambitious (even for him), wide-ranging arrangements and some of the best performances of Wonder's career…

Taking more than two years from conception to release, Stevie Wonder’s classic 1976 double-album Songs In The Key Of Life is now generally accepted as his finest creative hour in an enduring recording career spanning over four decades. Released on October 9th 1976 Songs In The Key Of Life was a worldwide best seller. It entered the U.S. Billboard album chart at number 1 and remained there for 14 weeks, as well as securing a 44-week chart residency in the Top 40.

For most of his life, Trevor Exter has been a professional singer and cellist with his own approach to all aspects of composing, songwriting, producing, performing and touring. He has a couple of bands where he gets to make a spectacle of himself, and some producers like to use him as a secret weapon.

Four-time SESAC Award-winning and Grammy nominee Pianist/Arranger Bob Baldwin continues his flow of music, and follows up with his tributes to Michael Jackson and Songwriter extraordinaire Thom Bell with his MelloWonder/Songs In the Key of Stevie CD. MelloWonder… takes some of his favorite songs from the catalog of Stevie Wonder, and particularly a huge chunk between 1969-1974, when Baldwin believes this was the beginning of an era where Wonder turned the keyboard into a “one-man orchestra.” The project is a dream project, which took two years to complete.

Throughout his career, saxophonist Najee has generally performed crossover music that mixes R&B, jazz, and pop. This particular date is one of his strongest and most jazz-oriented, a well-conceived tribute to Stevie Wonder. Najee (heard on soprano, flute, alto, and tenor) plays instrumental versions of the music from Wonder's famous Songs From the Key of Life album, plus several other notable Wonder songs. Assisted by such players as keyboardists George Duke, Ronnie Foster, and Herbie Hancock; guitarist Phil Upchurch; and a top-notch horn section, Najee creates fresh renditions of 21 Stevie Wonder tunes.

Possibly the most influential artist of all time, Wonder has sold over 100 million albums and continues to produce music today.
This release will take you back to the Motown days and bring you up to the present, through the best live performance footage and the most knowledgeable of critics. Including: Interview with Lloyd Bradley, journalist and author; one of the most prominent and respected authorities from the black music scene. Bradley began contributing to NME in the 80's and has written for countless other since. Interviews with Geoff Brown and Phil Sutcliffe, veteran journalists with a combined portfolio including MOJO, Black Music Magazine, The Face, Q and Smash Hits.