If you read my blog entry Thursday about concerts I’ve seen, well, first of all — thanks. (If you actually read the entire thing, I might have to buy you something.)
Near the end of that blog entry, I wrote about performers I should have seen in concert but haven’t yet. That list included favorite artists like Bruce Springsteen, the Eagles, Genesis and, last but not least, Stevie Wonder.
Ironically, that very night, I was watching the KCOY when Drew Sugars read a piece about Stevie Wonder embarking on his first tour in 12 years. One of the 13 shows, Drew announced, will be in Santa Barbara.
“How fortuitous!” I said. And then I thought: “I need to use the word ‘fortuitous’ more.”
But how fortuitous that I’d just written about needing to see Stevie Wonder, only to discover that very day that Stevie is coming to the Central Coast. Needless to say, as soon as tickets went on sale, I was all over it.
Even though he doesn’t know it, Stevie and I go way back. The first record I ever owned (yes, that’s record, as in 45) was Stevie’s “Sir Duke.” In fact, you can see it at my desk here at work, though frankly, I’d prefer you not.
I need my space.
But trust me — it’s there, along with a lot of other junk and, quite possibly, a few things actually related to work.
After hearing the news, I watched some classic Stevie clips on YouTube on Thursday night. YouTube is great because you can see performances on there that would otherwise be buried.
I knew Stevie played drums on many of his recordings, but I’d never actually seen him play a drum solo until I found an old clip on YouTube. I was also surprised to see a clip of a 14-year-old Stevie performing a song with Dick Dale from the Frankie and Annette surf movie “Muscle Beach Party.” You can also see Stevie performing “Superstition” on “Sesame Street” from 1972, and there’s a great clip of him performing “Living for the City” with one of his idols, Ray Charles.
There’re also some pretty bad covers of Stevie’s music on YouTube, but we won’t go there.
Stevie Wonder gained popularity as a kid in the ’60s, but Stevie, along with Marvin Gaye and Curtis Mayfield, took soul music to a higher level in the early ’70s with songs that broke the mold musically while offering socially conscious lyrics.
I could go on, but you probably get the drift: I really like Stevie Wonder. I’m pumped about the prospect of crossing him off my list of performers I admire but haven’t seen.
–Pat P.
Posted on August 6th, 2007 by Pat
Filed under: Music
Still really enjoying your writing style, Pat. Love the humorous twist to it. Funny thing about Stevie. Heard one of his songs on the radio while driving home last week and thought “Got to have it”. Stopped at WalMart and not a SINGLE Stevie Wonder CD was to be found! Guess I’ll have to go to BooBoo Records, although by now I’ve fogotten the name of the song, but will remember it when I see it. Have fun at the Bowl. Ought to be a great show.
No Stevie? Now THAT is a travesty!
Boo Boo does have some Stevie, for sure.
If you can hum the first few lines, maybe I can tell you the song.
–Pat P.