Legend and overall immaculate man Stevie Wonder has broken his silence on the madness still taking place on Ferguson, Missouri's streets. Speaking with Billboard, one of the handful of true soul architects spoke to the Mayor's ignorance in claiming that there was no racial divide in his city. Wonder explained:
"I don't know if the mayor has blinders on, but to say that he didn't know that there was a racial or cultural problem in the city is unfortunate."
While Wonder's words have typically been few in times civil unrest, his music has always been bountiful and provided an outlet for both his own frustrations and those of the activists on the ground. Whether it be in Ferguson or Viet Nam, on police brutality or environmental crimes, Mr. Wonderlove has always managed to spread the implicit virtues f his name (wonder and love, of course) through his brilliant display of musicianship and a voice that should be cryogenically frozen so that future generations can bear witness to its clarity and tenderness.
It isn't difficult to look at your TV screen and immediately recall the sentiments of tracks like "Love's In Need Of Love Today," the opening plea of his monumental '76 double album Songs In The Key Of Life. Acting as a sort of litmus test for societal angst and unrest, Wonder has announced that he'll be letting his love-light shine, touring that foundational piece across 11 different cities in the US, which will feature old and new tunes alike, as he's been working out the kinks of a new album Though The Eyes Of Wonder, which is slated for a February release. Read an excerpt on what's been inspiring the outpouring of new material and peep the dates for his upcoming tour below. Tickets go on sale September 22nd via Live Nation, so get that wallet ready for a night with the great.
"Obviously the good, the bad and the ugly, I've seen it all. I check out all of it," he said. "I am always challenged (by) anything that's negative to write something like ... how can we take it from that wrong place to getting it back to the right place?" Unfortunately we're living in a time of disposable love and we've got to get it from that place to really valuing life, valuing love and valuing each other."
SONGS IN THE KEY OF LIFE PERFORMANCE TOUR DATES:
Nov. 6 - New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden
Nov. 9 - Washington, DC @ Verizon Center
Nov. 11 - Boston, MA @ TD Garden
Nov. 14 - Chicago, IL @ United Center
Nov. 16 - Philadelphia, PA @ Wells Fargo Center
Nov. 20 - Auburn Hills, MI @ The Palace of Auburn Hills
Nov. 22 - Atlanta, GA @ Philips Arena
Nov. 25 - Toronto, ON @ Air Canada Centre
Nov. 29 - Las Vegas, NV @ MGM Grand Garden Arena
Dec. 3 - Seattle, WA Key @ Arena
Dec. 5 - Oakland, CA @ Oracle Arena
