Stevie Wonder reminisces

ON HIS 16TH BIRTHDAY, Stevie Wonder came to Philly, met a girl and played Seven Minutes in Heaven for the first time.

"I'd never been there before, naw . . . It was a Friday going on Saturday. I thought I could see," he joked. The crowd erupted with laughter. Then he launched into "Hey Love . . . may I have a word with you . . . "

As most of Philadelphia now knows, the Motown multi-instrumentalist performed a free, outdoor show for thousands of fans at Dilworth Park yesterday afternoon. People braved blistering heat as temperatures crept into the mid-90s, with onlookers squeezing on top of each other just to edge into the shade.

I was lucky enough to get in front of the barricades - right up to the stage - to see Stevie in his glory. His long, trademark braids skimmed his waist. His signature mock-neck shirt rippled in the hot breeze.

"Obviously, it's always fun to think of when I was a nappy-headed boy. My hair is thinning now, but . . . I believe that people really can see how much we are all more alike far more than not, no matter what ethnicity we are."

Mike Jerrick and Alex Holley from Fox 29 were also right up front, dancing along. So were KYW's Cherri Gregg and Mayor Michael Nutter.

Stevie said he has never before given a free, outdoor show that took him from Washington, D.C., to Philly to New York City all in one day.

Patti Jackson, morning show host from WDAS-FM radio, asked if yesterday's impromptu performance - which also served as an announcement of the fall 2015 leg of his "Songs in the Key of Life Performance Tour"- was in any way an indicator he'd be winding down on touring. Stevie said these will mark the final shows in a live-tour setting in the U.S. He'll be 66 in May.

"I don't think I can slow down. But there's so much more ground to cover - so many more things we need to accomplish."

I'm told that upon his exit, Jackson gave her old pal Stevie a homemade peach-cobbler pie.

CBS3 reporter Todd Quinones and his wife, Gosia, have a special announcement to make. Gosia gave birth to Benjamin Todd on Friday. Baby Benjamin weighed in at 7 pounds, 6 ounces and station reps say baby and mama are doing just fine. Congrats to them both.

Original "Dreamgirl," actress/activist Sheryl Lee Ralph graces the cover of this fall's Sheen magazine, the periodical that promises to be the "ultimate beauty guide for the modern day woman." She embodies the standard for a classy, timeless woman, magazine reps say, and is coming to town this weekend.

On Saturday, Ralph will light up the Dell Music Center (2400 Strawberry Mansion Drive) for the 25th annual "Divas Simply Singing!" concert, which benefits HIV/AIDS awareness and education. The concert is presented by Ralph's DIVA (Divinely Inspired Victoriously Aware) Foundation, which aims to raise money for patients living with the disease, among other causes.

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