Prince called Stevie Wonder his ultimate musical inspiration

Collider reports that Prince said Stevie Wonder was his ultimate idol, telling an interviewer, "I use Stevie Wonder as an inspiration...whom I look up to a great deal just for the way that he crafted music and his connection to the spirit." The piece notes Prince specifically admired Wonder's exceptional piano playing.

The article recalls Prince's wide-ranging achievements — including seven Grammys and 37 nominations, five No. 1 singles, five No. 1 albums, films such as "Purple Rain" and "Under the Cherry Moon," and induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame — and that he also named artists like Joni Mitchell, Santana and James Brown as influences.

It adds that the two legends collaborated on the song "So What The Fuss" and performed on stage together, and quotes Stevie Wonder after Prince's death saying, "Prince's music was so picturesque that even I could see it...Prince’s songs were that vivid, the images were that strong...Prince was so inspired, and so inspiring.

Key Topics

Culture, Prince, Stevie Wonder, Purple Rain, Joni Mitchell, James Brown