Stevie Wonder performed at the Motown 25 television special in 1983.
Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever was recorded and broadcast in 1983 to celebrate the record label’s twenty-fifth anniversary. The television special brought together major Motown performers and became especially famous for Michael Jackson’s moonwalk performance of “Billie Jean.” Wonder also appeared, representing the label’s long history and its importance to Black popular music.
By 1983, Wonder had already spent more than two decades with Motown and had released the major albums that established his artistic reputation. His appearance linked the label’s early child-star era with its later period of sophisticated album-making and global influence.
The event is sometimes dated 1984 because it was broadcast in 1983 and later rebroadcast or discussed alongside other anniversary programming. The recording and original television event are generally identified with 1983. It should also not be confused with the 1983 Grammy Awards or Wonder’s later television appearances.