On this day in music history: August 16, 1962 - I Call It Pretty Music, But...(The Old People Call It The Blues) Pts 1 & 2, the debut single by Little Stevie Wonder is released. Written by Berry Gordy, Jr. and Clarence Paul, the young singer and musician (born Stevland Hardaway Judkins) will be brought to Motown founder and chairman Berry Gordys attention by Miracles member Ronnie White after his brother Gerald sees Stevie perform at a friends house. White will be so impressed, that he arranges for the then eleven year old to audition for Gordy. Motown will quickly sign Stevie and pair him with Motown staff producer and songwriter Clarence Paul who will give the singer his professional surname after hearding some exclaim, that boy is a wonder! Paul and Gordy will co-write Wonders debut release, which features another newly signed Motown artist named Marvin Gaye playing drums on the song. Motown will initially market the twelve year old singer as a young Ray Charles. The two sides of the single will stand in stark contrast from each other, with part one having a straight ahead uptempo R&B sound, while part two is slower and has a more traditional blues feel. Initial pressings of the 45 will be issued in a picture sleeve showing Wonder singing into a microphone. Though I Call It Pretty Music, But...(The Old People Call It The Blues) Pts 1 & 2 will bubble under the Billboard Hot 100 peaking at #101, and does not chart on the R&B singles chart, it will mark the beginning of Stevie Wonders over fifty year association with Motown Records.
Posted on: Sat, 16 Aug 2014 21:00:12 +0000
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