Black Inspirations: Jazmine Sullivan on Stevie Wonder

For the month of February, in celebration of Black History Month on XPN, we’re presenting a new series called Black Inspirations. We’ve asked contemporary Black artists to share some of their influences from the Black music vanguard. The series continues today with a testimonial from Jazmine Sullivan.

Philly’s Jazmine Sullivan has a powerful voice and a knack for musical storytelling, strongly on display on her new record Heaux Tales. When we asked her to talk about one of her influences for this series, she went for another songwriter and storyteller who makes the personal feel universal — pop visionary Stevie Wonder. Here’s what Sullivan had to say.

“I’ve been listening to Stevie Wonder since I was a child. His music is timeless and his lyrics are poetic. He has inspired me to make music that is true to me as an artist.”

Below, listen to Jazmine Sullivan’s favorite Stevie Wonder songs, chosen for Black Inspirations on WXPN.