Guildford Charity’s Tribute To The Great Stevie Wonder

Published on: 9 Jul, 2025
Updated on: 9 Jul, 2025

Stevie Wonder – now aged 75, and revered as the greatest R&B artist of all time. Wikipedia

By David Reading

The influential Billboard magazine in the USA has just declared Stevie Wonder to be the greatest R&B artist of all time.

Which is timely for the Guildford children’s charity Challengers. Their big jazz event in Wood Street Village on July 20 is set to feature “The Wonder of Stevie”, a tribute to the artist featuring a star line-up of world-class musicians.

Stevie Wonder was just 11 years old when he signed with Tamla Records. In 1963, at the age of 13, the child prodigy notched his first hit with “Fingertips – Pt. 2” and from then the hits started to pile up.

Having recently celebrated his 75th birthday, Stevie Wonder is now a revered pioneer with a multitude of skills — singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, producer and arranger.

The tribute performance at Wood Street will take the audience on a journey through Stevie Wonder’s music with featured musicians including Noel McCalla on vocals, the award-winning saxophonist Derek Nash (of Jools Holland’s R&B Orchestra) and their band.

Also taking to the stage will be Jazz Samba, a vibrant celebration of Brazilian jazz inspired by Stan Getz and Charlie Byrd’s iconic 1962 album.

Now in its 11th year, the Wood Street Jazz Festival has become a permanent fixture of Guildford’s summer events calendar and is organised in partnership with Guildford Jazz.

All proceeds from the festival will go toward supporting Challengers, who are dedicated to transforming the lives of disabled children through the power of play.

Tickets for Wood Street Jazz Festival 2025 are available now. Visit www.disabilitychallengers.org/events/jazz-festival-2025