Stevie Wonder’s vision in writing “Happy Birthday”, his sacrifice and determination helped to make Dr. Celebrities performed at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC, Radio City Music Hall in New York, and the Civic Center in Atlanta, Georgia to celebrate this tremendous achievement! That evening Stevie Wonder produced three simultaneous performances. However, it wouldn’t take effect until January 20th 1986, the country’s first official MLK Day. Stevie and Coretta Scott-King attended the signing. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday a US national holiday. ![]() On November 2nd 1983, President Ronald Reagan signed the bill making Dr. King presented a petition to the Speaker of the House with six million signatures in support of making Dr. On January 15th 1981, Stevie Wonder along with Diana Ross and Jesse Jackson at the National Mall in Washington DC spoke to over 50,000 people in support of the King Holiday. He did a four-month tour across America with Bob Marley and Gil Scott-Heron to campaign for the cause. Stevie Wonder sacrificed three years of his music career to rally and campaign to make Dr. His song would play a major role in the creation of MLK Day. The song was simply titled “Happy Birthday” from his 1980 album “Hotter Than July”. King’s birthday and to make it a federal holiday. King’s widow Coretta Scott-King and told her a dream he had about writing a song in honor of Dr. with his song “Happy Birthday ” which helped to make Dr. Stevie Wonder did just that and more when he did his tribute to Dr. For many years Black musicians mirror what’s going on through their music. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday, Perry Thompson shares how Stevie Wonder worked tirelessly with others to ensure that Dr, King’s legacy would be observed with MLK Day as a US federal holiday on the third Monday of each January with Wonder’s timeless “Happy Birthday” now a global anthem…īlack music has not only entertained the masses, it has also served to document history. ![]() Holland-Dozier-Holland indie rock Jackson 5 Jam bands James Brown Jay-Z jazz Jimi Hendrix Joel Francis Joe Strummer John Coltrane John Lennon Johnny Cash Kansas City Kanye West Louis Armstrong Marvin Gaye Michael Jackson Miles Davis Motown music Neil Young Norman Whitfield Paul McCartney Peter Gabriel Pink Floyd Prince Public Enemy punk punk music R.E.M.In celebration of Dr. Search for: Archives Archives Tags: alt-country Americana Back To Rockville Beatles Berry Gordy blues music Bob Dylan Bob Marley Brian Eno Bruce Springsteen country music David Ruffin Diana Ross Elvis Costello Elvis Presley Flaming Lips folk music Four Tops Funk Brothers George Clinton George Harrison Gladys Knight hip hop Hitsville U.S.A. Then again, more people are probably familiar with “Higher Ground.” And Stevie Wonder never met my dad. In a day rife with symbolism and historic importance, the significance of performing “Happy Birthday” would have been amazing. It was a touch disappointing to watch Wonder elect to perform “Higher Ground” at the “We Are One” concert that took place on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. Wonder also understands that birthdays are about parties, so his homage to King is as much a celebration of life as a remembrance. The synthesizers and drums may be dated, but the lyrics and sentiment capture the hope and love as well as U2’s more famous tribute. The grim photos – which include depictions white police officers attacking black protesters – stand in contrast to the buoyant melody of the song. Wonder’s essay is accompanied by photos of King and the Civil Rights movement. We in the United States must not forget either his supreme sacrifice or that dream.” We still have a long road to travel until we reach the world that was his dream. He showed us, non-violently, a better way of life, a way of mutual respect, helping us to avoid much bitter confrontation and inevitable bloodshed. ![]() Martin Luther King was a man who had that strength. For nearly two thousand years now we have been striving to have the strength to follow that example. Jesus Christ by his own example showed us that there is no greater love. “It is believed that for a man to lay down his life for the love of others is the supreme sacrifice. Wonder performed the song at the Rally For Peace press conference in 1981, and wrote an essay about King that appeared on the album liner sleeve. The song was a rallying point in the fight to establish King’s birthday as a holiday. King’s birthday was not a national holiday when Wonder penned this tribute. Stevie Wonder’s “Happy Birthday” is the perfect salute to these days, but it means even more this year, on the eve of Barack Obama’s inauguration. Most of the time, the extra day off works means we celebrate a bit longer. Every few years, the calendar aligns so that my dad’s birthday lands on Martin Luther King Day.
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