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On May 13th, 1950, Stevie Wonder was born prematurely in Saginaw, Michigan. He told Oprah Winfrey he was placed in an incubator and his doctor made a mistake. Stevie said, “I was given too much oxygen, and an area of my eyes was destroyed.” His retina detached, causing him to lose his eyesight. Despite this, he sang in the church choir, learned to play the piano at age seven, and taught himself to play the harmonica, drums, and bass. And he never had a shortage of women interested in him.
In a heartfelt interview with Oprah Winfrey, Stevie Wonder opened up about his childhood. He shared that one of his favorite songs to sing as a kid was “Then I’ll Try Something New” by Smokey Robinson and the Miracles. Stevie reminisced, “When I’d sing that song, the girls would come around, and my heart would beat fast.” Although he couldn’t see them, he felt their excitement and affection. His natural charisma continued to attract attention after he signed with Motown’s Tamla label. Now, Stevie is a father of nine children with five different women. It’s hard to believe, but his charm is undeniable!
In her memoir, “A Woman Like Me,” singer Bettye LaVette shares a fascinating story about Stevie’s teenage years. For his 16th birthday, Bettye and other singers from the Detroit music scene threw Stevie a party with a special intention: to help him transition into manhood. The party took place in Bettye’s basement apartment. Initially, Bettye was approached to lead the experience, but she suggested her friend Marie Early instead, believing Marie could make the moment unforgettable. Unfortunately, Marie didn’t show up, leaving Stevie feeling let down.
Despite his blindness, Stevie has always had a keen sense of recognizing beauty through his other senses. He once told Page Six, “I know a lady of the world when I’m around her, so I don’t need anyone to tell me she’s the one.” As his career soared, he was constantly surrounded by groupies. However, he told Jet Magazine that it became easier for him to spot the “Satin Dolls” – a term his idol Duke Ellington used to describe women who are beautiful both inside and out. Quite a talent, right?
Stevie shared that when talking to women, he judged them by their sense of humor and personality, as those were the qualities that could win him over. However, sometimes just knowing a woman had a nice body was all it took for him. One of his ex-girlfriends told the New York Post about an incident at church. She was sitting in front of Stevie when his friends commented, “Wow, she’s got a nice butt and a face to match.” That was Stevie’s signal to make his move. He tapped her on the shoulder and asked what brought her to church. “Jesus,” she replied, explaining that she attended every Sunday because she believed in God. Stevie then claimed he could give her everything God had promised. That was definitely out of line, Stevie.
Another woman shared that she also met Stevie at church. It seemed to be his go-to spot. He would stay late to impress her and eventually won her over by giving her piano lessons and turning gospel songs into love songs. She said he even changed the lyrics to include their names. Stevie really knew how to charm. He even suggested baby names and promised her the most fabulous houses.
Stevie’s mom, Lula Mae Hardaway, gave more insight into his dating habits before she passed away in 2006. Lula said that before attending events, Stevie would choose a woman to flirt with. One time, he picked his Motown label mate Diana Ross. Stevie asked someone to describe the color of Diana’s dress, then approached her and complimented her, saying, “I love that red dress.” How did he know? Stevie soon found out Diana was off-limits because she was involved with Motown founder Berry Gordy. Levi Stubbs of the Four Tops recalled, “Stevie flirted, but when it came to Diana, we had to let him know she was the boss’s woman and the boss doesn’t play.” It was time to back off, Stevie!
Stevie Wonder became friends with Sarita Wright, a receptionist at Motown’s Detroit office who also did background and demo singing. Their friendship soon turned romantic when Stevie was 18 and Sarita was 22. According to a source, Stevie was captivated by Sarita because she was “fresh.” What does that even mean? Reportedly, he could sense her attractiveness just by touching the sleeves of her blouse. Stevie once said, “A lady that wears an expensive top is not loud when she speaks and smells good. That’s how I know.” They got married but divorced after 18 months. Despite the breakup, they stayed friends and continued to work on music together. Tragically, Sarita passed away in 2004 from breast and bone cancer at the age of 58.
In a 1973 interview with Rolling Stone, Stevie hinted at a new love interest, describing her as his “lady friend.” Many believed he was talking about his secretary and bookkeeper, Yolanda Simmons. When asked about their private life, Stevie responded, “You just have to get in there and do that, you know? That stuff’s just fantastic.” Fantastic? Really? He sounds a bit cheesy.
Later, Rolling Stone reported that Yolanda gave birth to their daughter, Aisha Morris, in February 1975. Stevie told Oprah that the sound of Aisha splashing in the bathtub one night almost brought him to tears, calling it a moment of pure emotion that could never be taken away. This heartfelt experience inspired him to write one of his most iconic songs, “Isn’t She Lovely.” He said, “Isn’t she wonderful?” And honestly, it does sound wonderful. I get it, Stevie!
In the sleeve notes of his 1976 album “Songs in the Key of Life,” fans found one of Stevie Wonder’s many messages that read, “My mind’s heart must be polygamous, and my spirit is married to many, and my love belongs to all.” The note was followed by a list of women’s first names. Wow! Mike Sello, the guitarist in Stevie’s band Wonderland, told biographer Mark Ribowsky, “Stevie loved Yolanda, but Stevie loved many women.” Mike added, “I assume Stevie woke up one day and realized you can only have one love during your lifetime, and the love of his life was his ex-wife Sarita.” Wait, what? Mike continued, “That was the thorn in his side. He is petrified of loneliness, so he decided he’d be happy being happy with Yolanda.” Now, you can’t just settle for me!
Given all this, it’s no surprise he and Yolanda never got married. However, she did give birth to their son, Keita Morris, in 1977. Stevie seemed to give some insight into their relationship in his 1980 ballad “Lately.” In the heartfelt lyrics, Stevie sings:
“Just the other night while you were sleeping,
I vaguely heard you whisper someone’s name.
But when I ask you of the thoughts you’re keeping,
You just say nothing’s changed.”
Well, actions have consequences. According to GQ, Stevie and Yolanda eventually split up in 1982, with rumors suggesting his reluctance to give up other women led to the breakup. Stevie kept busy in the ’80s, fathering a son named Mumtaz with Melody McCully and a son named Kwame with a woman named Cheryl. Sources also report he had a daughter named Sophia with an unidentified woman.
Despite his many romantic entanglements, Stevie’s heart was reportedly dedicated to Angela McAfee. According to the LA Times, he pursued Angela persistently since 1986, but it wasn’t until 1996 that their relationship deepened. Stevie persuaded Angela to quit her job as a wardrobe consultant and move into his Los Angeles estate. They made a verbal agreement: Stevie would be the sole breadwinner while Angela managed the home. Angela claimed that Stevie asked her to help resolve his medical, personal, and family issues. She reportedly redesigned his home with Braille inscriptions for his independence, prepared a diet and exercise program to reduce his blood pressure, and assisted him with various health issues, including a fungus infection and hemorrhoids.
However, despite living with Angela, Stevie met freelance art director Kai Millard in 1999 at a New York nightclub. The Telegraph reported that although Kai initially declined his advances due to work, they ended up talking until 5 a.m. Six months later, they were engaged, raising a red flag. In September 2001, Stevie and Kai got married. But what about Angela? A month after the wedding, Angela filed a $30 million lawsuit, claiming she contracted herpes from Stevie the previous year and that he concealed the disease from her. Stevie responded with his own lawsuit, alleging Angela took $160,000 worth of furniture, stereos, exercise, and musical equipment after their breakup. Stevie denied the STD allegation, and the case went to mediation, with the outcome kept confidential.
Stevie and Kai welcomed their son Kailand in 2001. In May 2005, Kai gave birth to Stevie’s seventh child, a boy named Mandela, a name suggested by Nelson Mandela himself. In a 2010 interview with the Telegraph, Stevie revealed he wanted two more children, preferably twins. However, two years later, he filed for divorce after 11 years of marriage, citing irreconcilable differences. Interestingly, he signed the divorce papers with two fingerprints instead of a signature. He requested joint custody of their two sons and agreed to pay $25,000 per month in child support.
Before their divorce was finalized in October 2015, Stevie had already moved on with Tomeeka Robyn Bracy. It seemed like he moved on pretty quickly—Stevie the Flash, anyone? According to a source from Page Six, they met at a gathering, and Stevie was captivated by Tomeeka’s perfume. He said he could tell she was light on her feet, which to him, meant she was a true beauty. Their relationship blossomed, and Tomeeka quietly gave birth to two children. In July 2017, Stevie, then 67, and Tomeeka, 42, got married at the Hotel Bel-Air.
Sources have mentioned that Stevie wasn’t always around for his children, who now range in age from their late 40s to about 8 years old. However, as he got older, he developed closer bonds with all of them. Nowadays, the father of nine and his third wife, Tomeeka, are living happily in Los Angeles. Reflecting on his life, Stevie shared with Oprah Winfrey, “I am a work in progress, but if I know in my heart that I’m doing my best, that my heart’s in the right place, that I have unconditional love, I feel okay.” Good for you, Stevie!