When Two Superstars Meet: Eddy Grant and Stevie Wonder

When Two Superstars Meet-

Los Angeles - (Stabroek News) It began as a trip to Los Angeles for a surprise party to celebrate
the 70th birthday of his former road manager Mick Parrish. But before it was over Guyanese
international recording superstar Eddy Grant had also appeared on radio alongside an old friend,
who took the opportunity to promote Eddy's latest album CD 'Reparation'.

Eddy told The Scene that he was in Guyana taking a break when his long-time friend American
superstar Stevie Wonder rang and invited him to LA to help celebrate Parrish's 70th. Parrish is
Stevie's current road manager.

Eddy said he was able to readily accept thanks to local dentist Dr Theodora Madekurozwa, who
had successfully treated him for a tooth infection the previous week, when he had to forego
attending the birthday celebration of another music legend - Bill Wyman, former bass player of
the Rolling Stones. Eddy had been unable to travel to London for that occasion because although
the pain had receded, he realised his face would have needed a few days to return to normalcy;
he was therefore in no condition to face the discerning British press photographers.

Eddy and Stevie performed on stage for Parrish's birthday bash at a glamorous LA venue, and
then Stevie persuaded Eddy to stay on for a few days so they could appear together on 'Stevie
Wonder's Morning Thunder', which is a breakfast programme hosted by Stevie once a week on
his radio station KJLH (Kindness, Joy, Love and Happiness).

During the programme, which Eddy described as fun and interactive, Stevie played a number of
tracks from the 'Reparation' album, which celebrates the 200th anniversary of the so-called end of
slavery. Eddy said the subject evoked "very serious discussion" on the programme including a
call on various governments of the world to recognise the need for apologies, reparations and
closure on the issue of African enslavement so that Africans and the rest of the world could
progress in peace.


Stevie Wonder

While on the programme Eddy also spoke fondly of Guyana and the rest of the Caribbean region.
And given that Eddy is well known for introducing his famous friends to Guyana, like Mick Jagger
who he brought here a few years ago to see the West Indies play England in an international test
series, there could well be a Stevie visit in the pipeline. In fact, Eddy said he was "looking forward
to the day when he could have his own radio station in Guyana and invite his many superstar
friends, like Stevie Wonder, to be his guests and to truly savour beautiful Guyana."

Eddy and Stevie also exchanged gifts; Eddy's offering being an autographed and specially
dedicated limited edition book containing the first issues of four postage stamps that were issued
in his honour by the people and Government of Guyana in conjunction with the Guyana Post
Office Corporation.

Eddy was born Edmond Montague Grant, on March 5, 1948 in Plaisance. While he was still a
child, his parents migrated to the UK, where he settled. He had his first number one hit in 1968,
when he was the lead guitarist and main songwriter of the multiracial group, The Equals. It was
his self-penned song, "Baby Come Back" that flew to the chart summit. The tune also later
topped the UK Singles Chart again when covered by Pato Banton. Notably, Eddy openly used his
song writing for political purposes, especially against the then-current apartheid regime of South
Africa.

One such notable song is "Gimme Hope Jo'anna", which became the most successful
anti-apartheid anthem worldwide although banned by the racist South African Government of the
time. The lyrics include:

"Well Jo'anna she runs a country, she runs in Durban and the Transvaal.

She makes a few of her people happy, oh she don't care about the rest at all.

She got a system they call apartheid, that keeps a brother inna subjection.

But maybe pressure will make Jo'anna see, how everybody coulda live as one."

Some other notable Eddy Grant hits include 1982's multimillion seller "I Don't Wanna Dance",
which spent three weeks at number one in the UK Singles Chart as it did in most other countries
of the world, "Do You Feel My Love", "Living On The Frontline", "Can't Get Enough Of You", "War
Party" and "Electric Avenue" which was both a UK and US number two in 1983, repeating this
success and selling many millions of copies worldwide. Plus, a later remix, "Electric Avenue -
The Ringbang Remix" was a UK Top Five hit again in 2001. His album 'Killer On The Rampage'
has brought him double Platinum sales worldwide.

In 1984 Eddy had a hit single in the US with his original song written to accompany the Michael
Douglas and Kathleen Turner film, Romancing the Stone. The song was also called "Romancing
the Stone."

In 2001, 'Eddy Grant, The Greatest Hits' was released and it immediately went double platinum.

Eddy owns Ice Records Ltd. with offices in the UK, USA and Barbados where his Blue Wave
Recording Studio has played host to many great recording stars including Sting, The Rolling
Stones, Elvis Costello, The Mighty Sparrow, Gabby, and almost every major Caribbean recording
star to include its latest, Rihanna.

His Ice Music Group is reputed to be the owner of the largest catalogue of Calypso, Soca and
Ringbang music in the world, controlling the works of The Mighty Sparrow, Lord Kitchener, and
almost every great writer and artist out of Trinidad and Tobago since 1933. Eddy is also owner of
several pieces of real estate in Guyana, including his now named "Ringbang Island" in the
Essequibo River.

Stevie Wonder was born Steveland Morris on May 13, 1950. Blind from infancy, he signed with
Motown Records as an adolescent, and continues to perform and record for the label to this day.
He has become one of the most successful and well-known artists in the world, with nine US
number-one hits to his name and album sales totalling more than 100 million units.

He is well known for hits such as "Hotter than July", also the name of his first platinum selling
album; "Happy Birthday"; "Ebony and Ivory", which he did with Paul McCartney; "I Just Called to
Say I Love You"; "Part-Time Lover" and many others.

He released a new album 'A Time to Love', last October.