Didn’tt know about Clarence Carter. Interesting!
From: Steve
Sent: Saturday, May 21, 2016 11:28 AM
To: msb-alumni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [msb-alumni] Re: Celebrity and Schools for the Blind
Larry,
Personally, you expressed my thoughts. I don't think, nor would I expect
Stevie to be as attached to the school as we were because most of the time he
was out on the road performing and with his tutor Ted Hull. Because of his
early success, the school was more of an enabler for him by being able to
contract with Hull to educate Stevie while he was on the road. I think that
MSB took advantage of this in some form of self-aggrandizement, more than
Stevie giving of himself back to the school. Yes, he did give performances
there and participated in a Christmas play, and occasionally, he was at the
school for short stretches when he wasn't touring.
In this sense, Stevie was much different than Ronnie Milsap at the North
Carolina School, Ray Charles at the Florida School, or Clarence Carter at the
Alabama School for the Blind, all of whom didn't have the career or notoriety
when they were students.
I did a Nexis search in the past using the Lexis/Nexis service. From what I
recall, MSB did more identification with Stevie than the other way around. If
you compare this to, say, Clarence Carter or Ray Charles, I think they had a
lot more tied into their early education at their respective blind schools than
Stevie did.
I think that leads to my opinion that he isn't particularly a strong supporter
of MSB; although in my mind, that really doesn't matter now since there is no
MSB to really support, except the institution that lives on in our minds.
This is separate and distinct from my opinion of what Steve does for humanity.
You couldn't find a stronger advocate for humanitarian causes; and certainly
not for integrating products for the blind to use than Steve or Mike May.
Now, let me become a bit more unpopular...
What was stated by some listers that he wasn't supportive of the school is not
really character assassination. Character assassination requires that the fact
be untrue and that it be stated with the motive of running down the other
person's reputation. In this case, there was no such motive; just an opinion.
I'm frankly disappointed in two things having to do with this.
First, I think some people jumped on others for expressing how they felt.
That's disappointing. There was a lot of defensiveness and demeaning in some
of this, very disappointed in that. As Donald Trump would say "OKAY???"
Second, the organization behind this supposed Birthday Party. If they are
using this as a means of fund-raising, they are purporting a fraud on the
public. I'm sure they knew, or reasonably should have known, that Stevie would
not be appearing as such a function. To attempt to tie into his birthday and
conducting the event at the former Gym of MSB, to me reeks of deceit and
deception.
Steve
Class of '72
----- Original Message -----
From: lkeeler@xxxxxxxxxxx
To: msb-alumni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Saturday, May 21, 2016 6:22 AM
Subject: [msb-alumni] Re: Celebrity and Schools for the Blind
Hey Marrk, I heard that Stevie was on the road a lot while at the school. I’ve
also heard that he offered free tickets to his concerts to MSB and noone took
them. I only mention that because I wonder if the bond between him and the
school was different than ours.
From: Mark Martin
Sent: Saturday, May 21, 2016 1:11 AM
To: MSB Alumni
Subject: [msb-alumni] Celebrity and Schools for the Blind
I got to thinking about how many schools for the blind can boast of an alumnus
as well known as Stevie? I can think of a couple of others, Ronnie Milsap from
the Governor Morehead School in North Carolina, and Ray Charles from Florida.
How supportive have they been? Personally I don't know. Those of you who
apparently track these things could perhaps fill us in! Maybe this would give
you the satisfaction in knowing they have been more supportive of their
schools, or maybe they have done no better. We here in Michigan have nothing
left to support. I actually don't know the status of Florida and North
Carolina. We have two Christmas concerts with Stevie singing solos. How many
schools for the blind can lay claim to that, and how about Stevie writing one
of his best known songs right there on our campus! "My Cherie Amour" reached
the number 4 position on the national Billboard charts in 1969. What is behind
this anyway? Envy? Jealousy? Why hasn't Stevie obtained a car for _me! After
all, I shared the same campus with him! Better yet, I was in the same classroom
with him a few times! Personally, I know he owes me absolutely nothing. Would
you be willing to trade your freedom to come and go in public without being
harassed for your autograph, pound of flesh and whatever else? Oh yeah! the
money would be great but I don't know about the rest for me. A number of years
ago I was sent to and ear specialist in Lapeer, and somehow the subject of MSB
and the fact that Stevie Wonder had graduated from there was discussed. This
really interested the doctor so upon my next visit I brought my 1969 yearbook
so he could see Stevie there. The guy went nearly nuts for a couple of minutes
and really appreciated me showing me that book and showed it off to some of his
staff. What is it that makes some of us blind folks so critical! Is it the
high rate of unemployment or what? We have someone in our alumni that few
other schools for the blind can claim.
Mark Martin, 73.
