Stevie Wonder Pledges Not To Play In Florida Until ‘Stand Your Ground’ Law Is Abolished

[The Straight Story]

Stevie Wonder had a very strong reaction to the Zimmerman verdict.

“For those who may have lost in the battle for justice, wherever that fits in any part of the world…we can’t bring them back…

From there he goes on to pledge not to perform in Florida or any state that has a ‘Stand Your Ground’ law.

See Stevie’s emotional statement and response here. He speaks about his decision not to play Florida at the 1:16 mark.

http://tlcnaptown.com/2124384/stevie-wonder-pledges-not-to-play-in-florida-until-stand-your-ground-law-is-abolished/

[NaturalHigh]

1. That's a lot of states. Like 38?

I didn't know Stevie Wonder still performed.

[HolyMoley]

4. He has bodyguards, an entourage and handlers

to protect him.

Anyone else, not so much.

[Ed Suspicious]

6. Seems like a pretty dismissive post. I say good for him for using what he can to effect change.

Obviously it would have no impact on you, but it may give just the right person a little extra reminder that all people are not ok with their state's status quo.

[HiPointDem]

33. yeah, you and your buddy.

Wonder's first new album in ten years, A Time to Love, was released on October 18, 2005, after having been pushed back from first a May, and then a June release. The album was released electronically on September 27, 2005, exclusively on Apple's iTunes Music Store. The first single, "So What the Fuss", was released in April. A second single, "From the Bottom of My Heart" was a hit on adult-contemporary R&B radio. The album also featured a duet with India.Arie on the title track "A Time to Love".

Wonder performed at the pre-game show for Super Bowl XL in Detroit in early 2006, singing various hit singles (with his four-year-old son on drums) and accompanying Aretha Franklin during "The Star Spangled Banner".
Stevie Wonder at a conference in Salvador, Brazil, in July 2006

In March 2006, Wonder received new national exposure on the top-rated American Idol television program. Wonder performed "My Love Is on Fire" (from A Time To Love) live on the show itself. In June 2006, Stevie Wonder made a guest appearance on Busta Rhymes' new album, The Big Bang on the track "Been through the Storm". He sings the refrain and plays the piano on the Dr. Dre and Sha Money XL produced track. He appeared again on the last track of Snoop Dogg's new album Tha Blue Carpet Treatment, "Conversations". The song is a remake of "Have a Talk with God" from Songs in the Key of Life.

In 2006, Wonder staged a duet with Andrea Bocelli on the latter's album Amore, offering harmonica and additional vocals on "Canzoni Stonate". Stevie Wonder also performed at Washington, D.C.'s 2006 "A Capitol Fourth" celebration.

On August 2, 2007, Stevie Wonder announced the A Wonder Summer's Night 13 concert tour—his first U.S. tour in over ten years. This tour was inspired by the recent passing of his mother, as he stated at the conclusion of the tour on December 9 at the Jobing.com Arena in Glendale, Arizona.
Wonder performs during the final day of the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado.

On August 28, 2008, Wonder performed at the Democratic National Convention at Invesco Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado. Songs included a previously unreleased song, "Fear Can't Put Dreams to Sleep," and "Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours".[42]

On September 8, 2008, Wonder started the European leg of his Wonder Summer's Night Tour, the first time he had toured Europe in over a decade. His opening show was at the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham. During the tour, Wonder played eight UK gigs; four at The O2 Arena in London, two in Birmingham and two at the M.E.N. Arena in Manchester. Stevie Wonder's other stops in the tour's European leg also found him performing in Holland (Rotterdam), Sweden (Stockholm), Germany (Cologne, Mannheim and Munich), Norway (Hamar), France (Paris), Italy (Milan) and Denmark (Aalborg). Wonder also toured Australia (Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane) and New Zealand (Christchurch, Auckland and New Plymouth) in October and November.[43]

By June 2008, Wonder was working on two projects simultaneously: a new album titled The Gospel Inspired By Lula which will deal with the various spiritual and cultural crises facing the world, and Through The Eyes Of Wonder, an album which Wonder has described as a performance piece that will reflect his experience as a blind man. Wonder was also keeping the door open for a collaboration with Tony Bennett and Quincy Jones concerning a rumored jazz album.[44] If Wonder was to join forces with Bennett, it would not be for the first time; Their rendition of "For Once in My Life" earned them a Grammy for best pop collaboration with vocals in 2006.[18] Wonder's harmonica playing can be heard on the 2009 Grammy-nominated "Never Give You Up" featuring CJ Hilton and Raphael Saadiq.[45]
Wonder is presented the Gershwin Award for Lifetime Achievement by United States president Barack Obama.

Wonder performed on January 18, 2009 at the We Are One: The Obama Inaugural Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial. On Inauguration Day, January 20, 2009, Wonder performed the song "Brand New Day" with musician Sting. He performed his new song "All About the Love Again" and, with other musical artists, "Signed, Sealed & Delivered". On February 23, 2009, Wonder became the second recipient of the Library of Congress's Gershwin Prize for pop music, honored by president Barack Obama at the White House.[46]

On July 7, 2009, Wonder performed "Never Dreamed You'd Leave in Summer" and "They Won't Go When I Go" at the Staples Center for Michael Jackson's memorial service.[47] On October 29, 2009, Wonder performed at the 25th anniversary concert for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Among songs with B.B. King, Wonder performed Michael Jackson's 'The Way You Make Me Feel', during which he became distraught and was unable to continue until he regained his composure.
Wonder at the October 16, 2011 Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial dedication concert

On January 22, 2010, Wonder performed Bridge Over Troubled Water for the Hope for Haiti Now: A Global Benefit for Earthquake Relief event to help victims of the earthquake in Port-au-Prince on January 12, 2010.

On March 6, 2010, Wonder was appointed a Commander of the Order of Arts and Letters by French Culture Minister Frédéric Mitterrand. Wonder had been due to be invested with this honor in 1981, but scheduling problems prevented this from happening. A lifetime achievement award was also given to Wonder on the same day, at France's biggest music awards.[48]

His 2010 tour included a two-hour set at the Bonnaroo Music Festival in Manchester, Tennessee,[49] a stop at London's "Hard Rock Calling" in Hyde Park, and appearances at England's Glastonbury Festival, Rotterdam's North Sea Jazz Festival, and a concert in Bergen, Norway and a concert in Dublin, Ireland at the O2 Arena on June 24.

In February 2011, the Apollo Theater announced that Stevie Wonder will be the next in line for the Apollo Legends Hall of Fame. The theater said that the singer will be inducted into the New York City institution's Hall of Fame in five months.[50]

On June 25, 2011, Wonder performed at the opening ceremony of the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Athens, Greece.[51] On January 28, 2012, Wonder and Christina Aguilera gave a musical tribute at Etta James' funeral. Wonder played "Shelter in the Rain" and The Lord's Prayer while Aguilera sang "At Last."[52]

Wonder performed at the February 19, 2012 memorial service for Whitney Houston at the New Hope Baptist Church in Newark, New Jersey. He changed some of the lyrics of his song Ribbon in the Sky in dedication to Ms. Houston.[53]

On June 4, 2012, Wonder performed at the Jubilee Concert for HM Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee celebrations at a mass open air concert outside Buckingham Palace, London.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stevie_Wonder#Current_career:_2002.E2.80.93present

[MrSlayer]

2. I.....I.....I, I, I ain't gonna play the Sunshine state.

http://m.

Time to update the song.

[JustAnotherGen]

3. Good for him!

"Heaven help the man - that gave the boy a gun."

Heaven help us all is one hell of a protest song.

[WestStar]

5. I'm not sure that the Hispanic community is his target demographic anyway

So who is he depriving with this silliness?

[WhollyHeretic]

13. I'm pretty sure you took a wrong turn. I took a quick look through your posting history and I'm sure

your pizza will be coming soon.

[WestStar]

17. Well, I was going to look through some of your posting history

but you've already bored me to tears with your cute little pizza deal.

BTW, I grew up in the bars of Wisconsin when that stuff used to be decent.

Now?

Tastes like wax on cardboard.

[WhollyHeretic]

20. You're a Zimmerman defender and climate change denier

[Ed Suspicious]

44. Why do you have to out yourself as being from my fair state? Walker supporters typically don't post

on this site.

[Katashi_itto]

23. Enjoy your stay

[Pretzel_Warrior]

27. Buh-bye

[HiPointDem]

35. pizza delivery

[malaise]

47. Huh?

[sweetloukillbot]

7. Stevie refused to play Arizona after the governor rescinded MLK Day

He was true to his word and his first concert in AZ after we reinstated the holiday was on MLK day.

[LisaL]

8. Then I guess he will never play in FL.

[Baclava]

9. a lot of other states too

[WhollyHeretic]

12. That graphic is not correct. CT is not a SYG and a lot of other states are wrong as well.

[Baclava]

16. some have limited SYG laws - here's the distinctiion

?1370359667

[WhollyHeretic]

18. CT does not have a SYG law. It has a castle doctorine that applies to home and work but outside of

those there is a duty to retreat.

[ReRe]

25. 31 states?

I thought it was 25 states.

[Jenoch]

10. I don't recall the SYG law

being involved in the Zimmerman case. I think Wonder is playing to his base.

[Tarheel_Dem]

21. "playing to his base"?

I just can't believe DU these days.

[Jenoch]

22. Yes,

Ahe seems to be making this decision based on the trial. I don't recall hearing anything from Wonder orior the yhe verdict. He is basing the decision on the emotions of this case AFTER the verdict. Where was he before the trial? I think hexwished to get in on the publicity. I didn't even know he was still alive. (My favorite song of his is Sir Duke.)

[Ecumenist]

30. Hey, you do understand that the reason he's not playing there's because of Me & folks who look like

Last edited Tue Jul 16, 2013, 05:42 AM - Edit history (1)

Trayvon, HE'S BLACK and has this thing about tacitly okaying the way we're treated by people like Zimmerman and his ilk. Just sayin'.

[Tarheel_Dem]

48. Are you typing on a phone? Spellcheck is your friend. Who is "his base"? You don't know much....

about Stevie Wonder's activist career, obviously. So, I'm gonna let you go baste in your own ignorance. C'ya.

[Jenoch]

49. Yeah, I'm on a phone.

I just never heard anything about him and this case until after the verdict.

I probably should have explained things better, but my basic point is that boycotts in these kinds of situations does not hurt anyone that has anything to do with the outcome of this case. It makes people feel good and it makes them feel like they're are doing something about the situation, but what it is all about is symbolism. Maybe that's helpful, I don't know.

I think there are many better ways to respond to this case rather than just a boycott of the state of Florida, but they would take much more effort and money.

[ReRe]

26. Juror B37 said "Stand-Your-Ground" Law WAS used... ? n/t

[HiPointDem]

36. wow all the usual suspects

[JustAnotherGen]

45. +1

don't they have a Ted Nugent playlist to listen to?

[amerikat]

11. Even a blind man can see it.

I hope that doesn't offend anyone. I'm so frustrated right now.

Having fought the good fight for decades I am astonished by how little
progress we have made. Don't get me wrong we have made progress but not enough.
My father must be rolling in his grave having fought in WW2 so that every man, women and
child could be counted as a part of this country.

I'm not a young person anymore but I pledge my remaining years to the goal of equal justice for all.

amerikat

[Bombero1956]

14. I think all big name musical groups should start a boycott

No Springsteen, Stones or Elton John. No big name concerts until the SYG laws are repealed.

[DeSwiss]

15. K&R

[hfojvt]

19. sounds like he's

very superstitious

[Pretzel_Warrior]

24. Way to go, Stevie! Make the racist fucks in Florida pay.

[WestStar]

29. Now there's some twisted logic

Do you really think that the racists would miss a concert of his?

He should show up just to piss them off.

[Pretzel_Warrior]

34. The critical mass of Americans (especially entertainers) boycotting that 3rd world swamp

Will make that band of toothless carnies pay. You do realize tourism is a top contributor to Florida's economy, right?

Wondering how long you'll hold out here.

[rl6214]

28. Didn't know he was still playing anywhere

Mr irrelevant?

[HiPointDem]

32. lots more relevant than you or your comment.

Wonder performed at the pre-game show for Super Bowl XL in Detroit in early 2006, singing various hit singles (with his four-year-old son on drums) and accompanying Aretha Franklin during "The Star Spangled Banner".

In March 2006, Wonder received new national exposure on the top-rated American Idol television program. Wonder performed "My Love Is on Fire" (from A Time To Love) live on the show itself. In June 2006, Stevie Wonder made a guest appearance on Busta Rhymes' new album, The Big Bang on the track "Been through the Storm". He sings the refrain and plays the piano on the Dr. Dre and Sha Money XL produced track. He appeared again on the last track of Snoop Dogg's new album Tha Blue Carpet Treatment, "Conversations". The song is a remake of "Have a Talk with God" from Songs in the Key of Life.

In 2006, Wonder staged a duet with Andrea Bocelli on the latter's album Amore, offering harmonica and additional vocals on "Canzoni Stonate". Stevie Wonder also performed at Washington, D.C.'s 2006 "A Capitol Fourth" celebration.

On August 2, 2007, Stevie Wonder announced the A Wonder Summer's Night 13 concert tour—his first U.S. tour in over ten years. This tour was inspired by the recent passing of his mother, as he stated at the conclusion of the tour on December 9 at the Jobing.com Arena in Glendale, Arizona.

On August 28, 2008, Wonder performed at the Democratic National Convention at Invesco Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado. Songs included a previously unreleased song, "Fear Can't Put Dreams to Sleep," and "Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours".[42]

On September 8, 2008, Wonder started the European leg of his Wonder Summer's Night Tour, the first time he had toured Europe in over a decade. His opening show was at the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham. During the tour, Wonder played eight UK gigs; four at The O2 Arena in London, two in Birmingham and two at the M.E.N. Arena in Manchester. Stevie Wonder's other stops in the tour's European leg also found him performing in Holland (Rotterdam), Sweden (Stockholm), Germany (Cologne, Mannheim and Munich), Norway (Hamar), France (Paris), Italy (Milan) and Denmark (Aalborg). Wonder also toured Australia (Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane) and New Zealand (Christchurch, Auckland and New Plymouth) in October and November.[43]

By June 2008, Wonder was working on two projects simultaneously: a new album titled The Gospel Inspired By Lula which will deal with the various spiritual and cultural crises facing the world, and Through The Eyes Of Wonder, an album which Wonder has described as a performance piece that will reflect his experience as a blind man. Wonder was also keeping the door open for a collaboration with Tony Bennett and Quincy Jones concerning a rumored jazz album.[44]

Wonder performed on January 18, 2009 at the We Are One: The Obama Inaugural Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial. On Inauguration Day, January 20, 2009, Wonder performed the song "Brand New Day" with musician Sting. He performed his new song "All About the Love Again" and, with other musical artists, "Signed, Sealed & Delivered". On February 23, 2009, Wonder became the second recipient of the Library of Congress's Gershwin Prize for pop music, honored by president Barack Obama at the White House.[46]

On July 7, 2009, Wonder performed "Never Dreamed You'd Leave in Summer" and "They Won't Go When I Go" at the Staples Center for Michael Jackson's memorial service.[47] On October 29, 2009, Wonder performed at the 25th anniversary concert for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Among songs with B.B. King, Wonder performed Michael Jackson's 'The Way You Make Me Feel', during which he became distraught and was unable to continue until he regained his composure.

On January 22, 2010, Wonder performed Bridge Over Troubled Water for the Hope for Haiti Now: A Global Benefit for Earthquake Relief event to help victims of the earthquake in Port-au-Prince on January 12, 2010.

On March 6, 2010, Wonder was appointed a Commander of the Order of Arts and Letters by French Culture Minister Frédéric Mitterrand.. A lifetime achievement award was also given to Wonder on the same day, at France's biggest music awards.[48]

His 2010 tour included a two-hour set at the Bonnaroo Music Festival in Manchester, Tennessee,[49] a stop at London's "Hard Rock Calling" in Hyde Park, and appearances at England's Glastonbury Festival, Rotterdam's North Sea Jazz Festival, and a concert in Bergen, Norway and a concert in Dublin, Ireland at the O2 Arena on June 24.

In February 2011, the Apollo Theater announced that Stevie Wonder will be the next in line for the Apollo Legends Hall of Fame. The theater said that the singer will be inducted into the New York City institution's Hall of Fame in five months.[50]

On June 25, 2011, Wonder performed at the opening ceremony of the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Athens, Greece.[51] On January 28, 2012, Wonder and Christina Aguilera gave a musical tribute at Etta James' funeral. Wonder played "Shelter in the Rain" and The Lord's Prayer while Aguilera sang "At Last."[52]

Wonder performed at the February 19, 2012 memorial service for Whitney Houston at the New Hope Baptist Church in Newark, New Jersey. He changed some of the lyrics of his song Ribbon in the Sky in dedication to Ms. Houston.[53]

On June 4, 2012, Wonder performed at the Jubilee Concert for HM Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee celebrations at a mass open air concert outside Buckingham Palace, London.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stevie_Wonder#Current_career:_2002.E2.80.93present

[rl6214]

38. Ooooooooo, you got me good with that one.

[HiPointDem]

42. so blind you don't get that wonder's statement isn't just about him. influential person in the

industry and there will be more.

[Pretzel_Warrior]

37. Apparently you know nothing about American music or you would recognize

Stevie for the living legend that he is.

[rl6214]

39. Actually Stevie wonder was the first album I ever had back in the early 70s

He just hasn't been relevant Ina long time.

[Pretzel_Warrior]

40. Neither has Bruce Springsteen but people keep going to his shows

[rl6214]

41. Yes they do

I'm not one of them. His act got tired a long time ago.

[HiPointDem]

43. it's about power & influence in the industry. if wonder or springsteen call & ask you to support

a boycott, they have more pull than some new, supposedly more 'relevant' act -- because they have deeper industry connections.

[HiPointDem]

31. props to stevie.

[dipsydoodle]

46. Good man

[TeamPooka]

50. Better idea for you Stevie, don't punish your fans who happen to live there and play Florida....

raise money from the crowd and donate your fees/salary to organizations working to repeal the Stand Your Ground laws in the state.
Doing good is better than doing nothing.