Little Tikes to Music Titans: 4 Musicians Who Were Child Prodigies

We’ve all heard of Mozart and how he went from a child prodigy to a world-class composer. Though, prodigies were not just something of the classical period. In music’s modern age, there have been a vast amount of musicians who learned to play music just as fast as they learned to walk.

Given their long-time music talent, these artists have been able to climb the ladder of success and cement themselves as all-time greats. From piano to mandolin, here are four artists who were music prodigies.

1. Michael Jackson

Making his first televised public appearance at only 11-years-old on The Ed Sullivan Show. Michael Jackson showed the world that despite his age, he had a God-given talent to sing and dance. Starting to perform at the mere age of five, Jackson showed exemplary talent from a young age and would be made the front-man of the family band, The Jackson 5.

The Ed Sullivan episode says it all. Jackson, whose voice sounded far beyond years, delivered a performance that would go down as one of the best in televised music history. However, in accordance with Jackson’s upbringing and demise a question always arises. That question being: Was garnering this talent worth it?

2. Derek Trucks

Hailing from Jacksonville, Florida, Derek Trucks bought his first guitar at nine and started to play live shows by the time he was 11. Nephew of The Allman Brothers drummer, Butch Trucks, Derek had been around high-quality music his whole life. In consequence, he was taken under the wing of his uncle and The Allman Brothers.

Due to his relationship with the band and their music, Derek would go on to tour with The Allman Brothers at just 19-years-old. Though, it was his rendition of Eric Clapton’s “Layla” at 13 that proved him to be an above-average kid.

3. Stevie Wonder

Being visually impaired has never stopped Stevie Wonder, and it hasn’t stopped him since he was a child. Like Jackson, Wonder was only 11-years-old when he got his big break. After playing and singing for Ronnie White, Wonder was signed by Motown Records and nicknamed “Little Stevie Wonder.”

Far before his record deal, Wonder started learning the piano at the age of four. By the time he was eight, he had reportedly mastered the instrument. From then the rest was history, and Wonder scored his first big hit with “Fingertips” at 12-years-old.

4. Ricky Skaggs

The infamous story regarding Skaggs’ childhood music career, is that by the age of seven, he had played with Bill Monroe on stage. Starting to learn the mandolin at five, Skaggs quickly took a liking to the instrument and ended up teaching the majority of it to himself, according to PBS.

Following his performance with Monroe, Skaggs’ younger years consisted of playing bluegrass all around the South. His big break was shortly after his performance with Monroe, as he performed with Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs on their television show in 1971.

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