Stevie Wonder Performs at Sun Rose, Calls for Love

The musical icon performed with producer and Sun Rose creative director Adam Blackstone at the West Hollywood club

Musical icon Stevie Wonder took the stage at The Sun Rose on the Sunset Strip Friday night to help his friend, producer Adam Blackstone, celebrate an album release with an intimate performance after he offered up some words of wisdom.

“Clearly we are in a spiritual war,” Wonder told the crowd. “I celebrate the blessing, the spirit, of God…God is a spirit of the blessing of goodness. I say it with love in my heart…Using love against the weapon of hate, at the end of the day that is the key.” 

And then he launched into a rendition of his hit song “Higher Ground,” a song the 75-year-old singer wrote for his 1973 album “Innervisions,” to a jubilant crowd. Wonder was in attendance to celebrate the release of “Humble Magic,” the second album for the Sun Rose musical director Blackstone, who has worked with a slew of talent included Rihanna, Jill Scott, Justin Timberlake, Alicia Keys, Maroon 5, Eminem, Janet Jackson and was the magic behind the Super Bowl LIV Halftime show with Shakira and J-Lo.

Blackstone is now the creative director for the sexy live performance space on the first floor of The Sun Rose hotel, a former Pendry property that flipped to the Sun Rose last month. The club had been the site for the House of Blues, and part of the deal for developers on the site is a requirement to maintain a live music venue. The Sun Rose with Blackstone – a wildly talented, multi-instrumentalist – is a welcome addition to Sunset Boulevard.