Stevie Wonder claims he had no idea his musical idol Ray Charles was also blind.

The blind "A Time To Love" singer, who named his debut album "A Tribute to Uncle Ray", was quoted by Internet portal Femalefirst as saying: "It was only when I was 11 and I recorded 'Tribute To Uncle Ray' that I found out he was blind.

"It was after a performance and he came out of his dressing room and someone led him over to me. He was kind of jumping up and down a bit."

The 55-year-old singer, who has had more than 30 hits in his 40-year career, says that first meeting with Ray gave him the determination to succeed. "I presented him with the album and he said, 'Keep on doing what you're doing, young man'. And his drummer gave me a pair of drumsticks I was so happy!"