My Night with Stevie Wonder

It was a Friday night just like any other, performing at Skylight Gardens from 7-10pm. I’m halfway into my set when Sean (the bartender) slips a note onto the end table next to me. Mid-song, I look down to read, “Stevie Wonder is here.” I wanted to freeze, but I managed to finish the song I was on. Then came the harrowing thought, “What do I play now?” I kept arguing to myself, “Don’t play a Stevie Wonder song. Don’t do it. It’s way too obvious!” Eventually I gave in. I played “Isn’t She Lovely.” However, I just did an instrumental version, intended to serve as a tip of the hat gesture. As soon as I finished, I got a tap on the shoulder, and a man (Stevie’s bodyguard) said, “That’s Stevie Wonder over there and he wants to know if he can play with you.” I wanted to cry right then and there. To this day I still don’t know how I kept it together but I did, and we played the night away for the better part of an hour. Playing with a legend is absolutely amazing and I’ll always cherish this once in a lifetime moment. I will forever be impressed with how sincere of a person he is, he is profoundly kind and an absolute pleasure to be around.