Stevie Wonder

[Zzzptm]

The scene is 1975, I'm only 7 years old. Sesame Street is on, and I'm watching because this is in the way-cool old school pre-Elmo days... and then this funk starts to bubble and cook on my screen...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ul7X5js1vE

My veins went ice cold with excitement as my mind got opened up to that swampy, sparky, chunky-style sound. Every time that bit got repeated, I was rooted to my spot, mesmerized by those tight horns, thumping bass notes, and the man swaying away at the keyboard.

There was no lesson about a letter or a number or manners or anything like that. It was just some straight-up FUNK FOR YO' ASS, KIDS! Plenty of servings for everyone to have seconds... and even thirds, with that extended jam at the end.

This represents my favorite period of Stevie Wonder and funk in general, that golden age from 1969 to 1979... good times, y'all...