That they should make it become an illusion But there’s a long middle section of the song that makes Wonder’s bigger goal explicit. As the cake is brought out at most parties folks clap along as they sing the chorus. While Wonder’s “Happy Birthday” is now a staple of celebrations most folks know the infectious hook and, maybe, the first verse. What I’ve found interesting is how many people don’t know that Wonder’s song is about King (and I’m not just talking about people in their 20s.) An informal survey of adults from 40s to 20s found that most of them did not know the song’s inspiration was in political agitation. Age and time have weakened my recall on that important detail.
Ironically I don’t recall a performance of “Happy Birthday,” the track off 1980’s ‘Hotter Than July’ that celebrated King and argued for the King holiday. Admittedly my memories of the day are a bit fuzzy: I remember standing on the Washington Mall listening to various activist speak recall the presence of both Gil Scott-Heron (who was a big supporter of the effort) and Gladys Knight can still feel my feet getting cold in the biting January air and Wonder giving a rambling speech. for the day as part of new gig at Record World magazine, a now defunct music trade publication, where I had recently started as a staff reporter covering the black music scene. King’s January 15th birthday as a national holiday, Wonder had embraced the idea and made the effort an signature part of his legacy. While Detroit Congressman John Conyers had initiated the of marking Dr. Moreover as a child of the ‘60s Civil Rights Movement, Wonder had always had a political consciousness. Albums like ‘Talking Book,’ ‘Innervisions,’ ‘Songs in the Key of Life’ and ‘Hotter Than July’ had made Wonder pop musics leading figure. In 1981 the multi-talented singer-songwriter-musician-producer was coming off one of the greatest runs of creative and commercial success in history.
Martin Luther King’s birthday to be declared a national holiday. It was forty years ago this week that Stevie Wonder, along with a group of musicians and politicians, stood on the same area of the Capitol building that was recently overrun by Trump supporters, to argue for Dr.
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