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.
