There is a Moraine connection between famous singer, composer, and record producer Stevie Wonder. Born Stevland Judkins in 1950 in Michigan, he has been blind since shortly after birth. Judkins was a child prodigy who signed with Motown’s Tamia label at age 11 and was given the name Little Stevie Wonder. At age 13, Wonder’s single “Fingertips” was a Billboard No. 1 hit in 1963.
Regarded as one of the most influential musicians of the 20th Century, Wonder is one of the best-selling music artists of all time with sales of over 100 million records worldwide. He has won 25 Grammy Awards and one Academy Award.
So, what was Stevie Wonder doing in Moraine on Friday, October 25, 1974? His fall 1974 Tour included a stop in Dayton. Wonder performed a concert at the somewhat new University of Dayton Arena built in 1969. The arena was packed full of people and his keyboard played hits like “Superstition”, “You Are the Sunshine of my Life”, and many more. Performing before Wonder was the band “Rufus” featuring future star Chaka Khan as the lead singer. An advertisement in the Dayton Daily News shows concert ticket prices at $5, $6 and $7 dollars.
Before and after the concert, Wonder stayed at the Holiday Inn on Dryden Road in Moraine less than 2 miles from the arena. In the photos, Moraine Police Officers Wendell Wax and Joe Lawrence posed with Wonder after he exited his tour bus. Moraine PD provided outside security during Stevie Wonders stay at the hotel.
The following day Stevie Wonder said goodbye to Moraine and headed east for a October 26th gig in Charlotte, North Carolina and then on October 27th at the Spectrum in Philadelphia leaving behind Moraine Police and Holiday Inn employees, many memories and stories of his stayover in Moraine.
