London , England ( CNN ) -- Stevie Wonder has had more than 30 U.S. top ten hits and has won 22 Grammy Awards -- more than any other male artist . Blind from birth , Wonder 's music has always reflected his concern with humanitarian and social issues . On Thursday , he joined the prestigious list of U.N. Messengers of Peace and will focus on the battle for disabled rights . UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon announced the appointment , calling Wonder a `` musical genius '' and `` great humanitarian , who has campaigned against apartheid , for children in need , and for persons with disabilities . '' Speaking about his new U.N. role Wonder told CNN 's Becky Anderson : `` It 's about that ten percent of the world that suffers with a disability . It 's about sounding that alarm off that says to the 90 percent : it 's time to get it together for those of us with disabilities . '' Asked by Anderson what phrase which would encapsulate his mission Wonder said : `` We can never let our fears put our dreams to sleep . '' He said the 90 percent of people who are n't disabled should learn not to fear disability , whatever form it takes and called for a stop to an `` ignorance to the highest point of ridiculousness . '' Wonder hopes that politicians will listen to him in his new role as a U.N. messenger . `` If you love my music that much , then care about those ten percent as well . There are 650 million disabled people in the world . Lets do something about that . Lets make a change , '' he said . The popularity of Wonder 's music at the White House is well known . Indeed , President Obama says he owes a lot to his music . When awarding Wonder the U.S. 's highest award for pop music : the Library of Congress ' Gershwin prize earlier this year the president said : `` Michelle might not have dated me , we might not have married . The fact that we agreed on Stevie was the essence of our courtship . '' Wonder is n't surprised to see a black man in the White House . `` That whole place of feeling that you ca n't have a black president or a female president , it 's always been about people 's inability to think out of the box that 's always been backward in the first place . '' The only downside from Wonder 's new role is for his fans . His new album `` Gospel Inspired By Lula '' wont be coming out until next May he told Anderson . He admitted that after all these years in the business he still gets nervous and still hits the odd bum note . `` We did a show recently where my voice cracked and I said 'we got ta do that again ! ' We all laughed about it . '' Does he have a favorite song from his own catalogue ? `` I always use this thing that Duke Ellington would say . He used to say that ' I have n't written it yet . ' I guess I would say the same . I would say this to you : whatever your favorite is , is my favorite too . ''
Stevie Wonder talks to CNN about his new U.N. role . The multi award-winning Grammy artist is a new Messenger of Peace . TL;DR