Letter from my brother, Steve, about Stevie Wonder

 Hello.  My name is Stephen Holdenried ,Sr. and I am 72 years old and from Missouri.  Stevie Wonder has always played a part in my life.  When I was in High School I started playing with bongos and really enjoyed it a lot. I was a southmore in High School when I first heard the song on the radio “FINGERTIPS” (part one and part two). I loved the songs so much, I left the house and bought the record. I had never bought a record before because I had three older siblings and I listened to their records and the rock and roll stations on the radio. However I just had to buy this recording that I had just heard on the radio. I listen to Fingertips over and over again and played the bongos until I learned how to play pretty good. 

When I was in High School, I was part of a 2 man team that competed in a talent show and we won first place, with me playing the bongos.  I am now 72 and still play the bongos but, because of a disease I now have, I have slowed down a bit.

Stevie Wonder has alway been one of my favorite singers and I have always enjoyed his music. In 1969 I had just finished my tour in the Air Force and started dating a girl name Regina Bottini.  We were in love and she was the best thing that ever happen to me. It was November 27th 1969 and we just left her mom and dad’s house and we were headed to my parents home.  As I turned to corner just a half block from their house your song “FOR ONCE IN MY LIFE” started to play on the radio. We both liked the song and we just listen to it very intently.

The song was so real and the words just hit us both like a tank. We both listened to the song and I have to say we both cried and we both felt like the song was written for just us. I was parked by a tree, just next to my parents home. and I remember looking her in the eyes and saw she was also crying. She looked so beautiful and sweet to me and that is when I asked her to be my wife.  

We married five months later and we were married for 32 years and then she passed away on November 7th, 2011. We had a love filled marriage and we shared 4 kids together and a love that will always carry me through life.  Because I loved her and it was, FOR ONCE IN MY LIFE.

Thank you for the memories and the greatest song I think was ever written and performed.  Lo and behold, when my wife died I found out that my brother, Mark Holdenried, and his wife, Kathy , also felt the the song was their song. It always brings me joy to hear the song. Stevie, I thank you.

Thank You Forever!