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This Day In Black History: June 22, 1963

On June 22, 1963, “Fingertips, Part 2,” became Stevie Wonder’s first of 65 pop chart records through 2002.

Stevie Wonder’s harmonica freestyle at the Regal Theatre in Chicago, “Fingertips, Part 2,” was the first live recording to ever reach No. 1. On June 22, 1963, the song became the 13-year-old's first of 65 pop chart records through 2002.

Wonder recorded several hit songs over the next decade including “Living in the City,” "Boogie on a Reggae Woman" and "Isn't She Lovely." Then in 1980 Wonder recorded "I Just Called to Say I Love You" and "Ebony and Ivory."

Wonder displayed his musical talents at an early age despite going blind as a premature baby from receiving too much oxygen in the incubator. At 4, the child prodigy sang with his church choir in Detroit. He taught himself how to play a number of instruments including the harmonica, piano and drums — all before age 10.

Throughout Wonder’s musical career, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989 and has won 25 Grammy Awards. In 2005, Wonder’s 1976 album, Songs in the Key of Life, was added to the National Recording Registry, recognizing his album as culturally reflective and significant to life in the United States.

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(Photo: Dave Hogan/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

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