What medical condition caused Stevie Wonder’s blindness shortly after birth?

Retinopathy of prematurity caused Stevie Wonder’s blindness shortly after birth.

Wonder was born prematurely in 1950, and the condition affected the blood vessels developing in his eyes. He became blind shortly after birth, although some popular accounts incorrectly attribute his blindness to a general childhood eye disease or to an accident.

Despite being blind, Wonder developed extraordinary musical skills from an early age. He learned piano, harmonica, and drums, and his ability to perform and improvise helped attract the attention of Ronnie White of the Miracles. White introduced the young musician to Berry Gordy, leading to his Motown career.

Wonder’s blindness is part of his biography, but it does not define the breadth of his musicianship. He became a composer, producer, multi-instrumentalist, and advocate whose work crossed soul, pop, funk, jazz, and gospel.