Rita Moreno surprised Stevie Wonder when she led the singing of his “Happy Birthday” song during the Legal Defense Fund’s 34th National Equal Justice Awards Dinner at Lincoln Center.
Moreno presented 71-year-old Wonder the LFD Inaugural Icon Award on Tuesday and delivered an impromptu performance of his “Happy Birthday” song. The crowd sang along with Moreno.
“The crowd got on their feet and everyone sang to him. It was like a birthday chorus,” a guest who attended the gala was cited as saying by Page Six.
Wonder’s version of “Happy Birthday,” which appeared on his 1980 album, “Hotter Than July,” is also known as “the black happy birthday song.” The song became the anthem of a rally in Washington D.C. led by Wonder on Jan. 15, 1981, that pushed for the designation of Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday as a national holiday.
As Moreno and the crowd sang for Wonder in the event, the “My Cherie Amour” singer appeared "overjoyed, smiling from ear to ear as the crowd serenaded him,” according to another guest at the event.
“It took him by complete and genuine surprise. He turned to Rita and said, ‘Thank you,'” the guest added.
Moreno tweeted her thoughts about the event and wrote, "Last night, little ole me, had the distinct honor in presenting #StevieWonder the Icon Award at the @naacp_ldf gala. We even had surprise performance by fellow EGOT, @johnlegend! The LDF is such an important organization and Stevie is an equally important public figure."
In his acceptance speech for the Icon Award, Wonder spoke against the “assault on civil liberties” in America.
"A woman's right to control her body, the right to vote and our precious civil liberties are under assault," Wonder told the audience. "Did you know that? Do you all know that? Without question. America is at a time of crisis, please hear me loud and clear. We must continue to stand together."
The singer and songwriter said the U.S. must provide healthcare and education for its people and must “liberate itself from the hate speech and practices that are destroying the promise of America and that is equal rights and justice for all."
Wonder concluded his speech by quoting the words of civil rights activist Justice Thurgood Marshall, 'When you see something wrong or inequality or injustice, speak out because this is your country, this is your democracy. Make it. Protect it. Pass it on.' It will be all good."
Stevie Wonder finally gave his opinion about Kanye West’s controversial slavery remarks. In this photo, the singer attends TIDAL X: Brooklyn at Barclays Center of Brooklyn on Oct. 17, 2017 in New York City. Photo: Getty Images/Mike Coppola
