Free Stevie Wonder concert to launch Montreal jazz festival

Stevie Wonder has signed onto dispense a little sunshine at the Montreal International Jazz Festival.

The American soul-pop musician will be giving a free outdoor concert to open the festival on June 30.

It ishis first visit to the festival, organizers said Monday in announcing the special event.

Wonderwill give the inaugural concert at La Place des festivals, the Montreal festival site that is being revamped by architects Daoust Lestage and the town planner Clment Demers. The official opening of the venue is not scheduled until September.

Wonder had his first success in 1962 as Little Stevie Wonder and has remained prominent in popular music ever since as both a performer and a producer.

His hits include My Cherie Amour, Superstition, You Are The Sunshine Of My Life, Isn't She Lovely, Living For The City, Master Blaster and Part Time Lover.

A multi-instrumentalist as well as a singer, Wonder has won more than 25 Grammy Awards.

The cost of the concert is being covered in part by a grant from Industry Canada, as well as funding from other levels of government and private sponsors.

The Montreal festival got $3 million from the federal government under this year's tourism marketing support program.

Tony Bennett, Ornette Coleman, Dave Brubeck, Jeff Beck, Joe Cocker, Jackson Browne, Al Jarreau, Molly Johnson and the Newport All Stars are among the acts scheduled for the festival, which runs until July 12.