Songs in the Key of Life at 50
About this Event
Admission
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Description
Released in September 1976, Stevie Wonder’s Songs in the Key of Life remains one of the defining achievements in popular music. 50 years later, we celebrate this landmark album with a rare gathering of artists and collaborators who bring firsthand perspectives on its creation, Wonder’s extraordinary process, and the musical world that surrounded it.
The evening will bring together an extraordinary group of musicians, singers, songwriters, producers, engineers, and DJ's whose connections to Wonder and the world of Songs in the Key of Life span the stage, studio, and generations.
Among the participants are:
> Greg Phillinganes, who joined Wonder’s Wonderlove band in 1976 and began a decades-long musical relationship with him
> Herbie Hancock, legendary pianist, composer, and longtime collaborator who performed on Songs in the Key of Life
> Nathan Watts, bassist and longtime Wonder musical director who performed on Songs in the Key of Life
> Angela Winbush, acclaimed singer, songwriter, musician, and producer who was a member of Wonderlove and part of Wonder’s musical circle
> Deniece Williams, celebrated singer and songwriter who was a member of Wonderlove before launching her acclaimed solo career
> Susaye Greene, distinguished singer and songwriter who contributed vocals to Songs in the Key of Life and later co-wrote “I Can’t Help It” with Wonder for Michael Jackson’s Off the Wall
> Raymond Pounds, drummer and key member of Wonder’s musical circle whose work included performances on Songs in the Key of Life
> Gary Adante, engineer who worked closely with Wonder throughout the recording of Songs in the Key of Life
> DJ Spinna, acclaimed DJ, producer, and lifelong Stevie Wonder devotee whose celebrated WONDER-Full events have introduced and re-introduced Wonder's music to audiences around the world
and additional special guests to be announced.
Moderated by USC Thornton Dean Jason King, this conversation will offer an intimate look inside the creative world of Songs in the Key of Life—from the collaborative spirit and experimentation that shaped the recording to Wonder’s singular approach to songwriting, musicianship, and the studio—and consider why the album continues to resonate across genres and generations 50 years later.
Click here to learn more.
Presented by USC Visions and Voices. Organized by the USC Thornton School of Music. Co-sponsored by the Recording Academy’s Black Music Collective.
Photographer: Norman L. Hunter
Description: Stevie Wonder performs.
Citation: Stevie Wonder by Norman L. Hunter. Johnson Publishing Company Archive. Courtesy J. Paul Getty Trust and Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture.
Made possible by the Ford Foundation, J. Paul Getty Trust, John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, and Smithsonian Institution.
Where is it happening?
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
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