Stevie Wonder and his music are a treasure to many, and Kori Gillis credits Wonder’s music with feeding his own artistry. Growing up in a musical family in the Chicago metropolitan area, Gillis regularly heard soul, R&B, and Motown. When he started taking voice lessons as a teen, Wonder’s music was a significant inspiration.

“My first recital piece was ‘Ribbon in the Sky’ by Stevie Wonder. There was some applause and positive feedback after I (sang) my first few notes. By the end of the song, the audience had erupted into a thunderous ovation, and I was definitely hooked,” he says of his entry to music and singing. “It was an incredible exchange of energy and a feeling I had never felt before, but a feeling I definitely wanted to continue experiencing on a regular basis.”

Since then, he’s continued to pursue music, as a lead male vocalist in the Navy for the military branch’s bands, and as a vocalist and producer in his own band, Kogee Soul Reprise. Tonight, he’ll celebrate the musical master in a tribute performance of “Something Wonderful: The Songs of Stevie Wonder” at 8 p.m. at The Brooks Theatre in Oceanside. Presented by the Six Strings Society, the show will open with a performance by Taryn Donath, two-time winner of the San Diego Music Awards’ Blues Performer of the Year.

Gillis, 48, who has degrees in communication and education and counseling, also works as an academic adviser and lives in Ocean Beach. He took some time to talk about his music career, paying tribute to the work of Stevie Wonder, and the journey to becoming more confident and proud about being part of the LGBTQ community.

Q: How did you get your start playing/performing music?

A: Well, I come from a musical family and the gift of music was passed on to me by my maternal grandmother. She had seven children and most of them can sing, as well. I grew up watching, listening, and emulating them since before I can remember. I probably started to get more serious about it after I started taking voice lessons at age 14.

Q: Tonight, you’ll be performing in “Something Wonderful: The Songs of Stevie Wonder” at The Brooks Theatre in Oceanside with your band, Kogee Soul Reprise. What was your introduction to Stevie Wonder?

A: Since my family have always been huge soul/R&B and Motown enthusiasts, I cannot tell you the first time I heard Stevie Wonder, but I do remember the album that sparked my obsession: “Songs in the Key of Life.” There were so many amazing songs on that album that I had it on repeat for months. This led to me doing more research about other albums and digging more into his discography.

Q: He’s an iconic and legendary musician; do you feel any nervousness about covering his material?

A: Yes, it is natural to feel pressure to do this music justice and make sure I convey the musical message to the audience that I want them to receive. The best way to deal with that pressure, for me, is preparation and to remember to concentrate on that message and not on myself. Concentrating on oneself is just ego and that is what makes one nervous, so listening to the music and envisioning sending the message I want to send helps alleviate those nervous feelings and replaces them with excitement.

What I love about Ocean Beach…

Its proximity to the water. Ocean Beach is about a 15 minute-walk for me and it is very easy to go “sunsetting,” the word I use to describe the popular pastime in San Diego of making an excursion out of going to watch the sunset.

Q: When thinking about this performance taking place during Black History Month, what does it mean to you to be on stage, performing his work to an audience? Why is it important to you to celebrate Stevie Wonder and his music?

A: As much as I love and have been moved by the musical genius of Stevie Wonder, I also love the political impact he has made throughout the years and the role he has played in the progress of the Civil Rights Movement. A lot of people do not realize that his recording of “Happy Birthday” was written about Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., in the effort to commemorate his birthday as a national holiday. It could not be more fitting that this tribute show is happening during Black History Month.

Q: When you spoke with us briefly last year, you mentioned being grateful for the ability to perform in San Diego as a member of the LGBTQ-plus community, and that creating original music didn’t come until later in life because it was too terrifying to be yourself while growing up during the 1990s. Are you comfortable talking a bit about where you grew up, and why it felt too risky to share that kind of authenticity at that time?

A: Sure. Although there is a lot to unpack there, it had mostly to do with the insecurities of being a teenager and the impact of a very large, well-known family. Also, it seems society, as a whole, is a lot more accepting of the LGBTQ-plus community now, compared to back then.

I grew up in the Chicagoland area in a city called East Chicago, Ind.; it’s about 15 minutes from the Illinois/Indiana border on the Indiana side. The neighboring city to the east, Gary, Ind., is a lot more well-known thanks to the Jackson family and the classic Broadway musical, “The Music Man.” East Chicago is not a big city, by any means, and very much has the feel of a small town or suburb. In the 1990s, my family had already been living there for a few generations, so the Gillis name was well known in the area. My grandfather was a local deputy sheriff, his brothers and their wives were educators and school administrators, my grandmother guest sang at churches all around the area, and my uncle was the pastor of a local church. My family is very tight-knit and supportive now, and with the exception of a few, may have supported me back then, too. However, at that time in my life, I did not have the confidence or courage to come out to everyone and tell my story, let alone write and record songs about it. I didn’t even know that writing music was something that I would enjoy doing. It was very early on in my musical journey and there was a lot of self-discovery that had yet to happen.

Q: When did the fear you were feeling begin to fall away? What helped you begin to feel like you were safe sharing this part of yourself more openly?

A: Eventually, I grew up. Lol, I suppose I became more confident about who I am and that led to having more courage to come out to my family. After that happened, I was completely free to be myself. In the past, I had a lot of reservations because I did not want to disappoint family members. It’s natural to want your people to be proud of you; I guess what I learned is that you have to be proud of yourself first.

Q: What’s been rewarding about your work in music?

A: The exchange of so much positive energy on and off stage with so many amazing people has made this the most rewarding work. I am extremely extroverted, so people energize me. It is the most fun to perform with a group of super talented musicians, watch the reactions of the crowd, share the gift of music, and see the crowd experience the same feelings I have when I listen to music. The feeling is indescribable.

Q: What is the best advice you’ve ever received?

A: My speech and debate instructor in college told us to concentrate on the message and not ourselves when [engaging in] public speaking — it was the best advice I ever received. It translates to all types of performance art, and I remind myself of it constantly.

Q: What is one thing people would be surprised to find out about you?

A: People would probably be the most surprised to learn that I have four college degrees: two graduate degrees, a bachelor’s degree, and an associate’s degree. Or, that I love to skate! I have been rollerskating since I was 3 years old and practically grew up in the skating rink. I rollerskate and rollerblade, and can ice skate, too. Or, maybe it would be the most surprising to some to learn that I’ve been to over 40 countries performing in the Navy band.

Q: Please describe your ideal San Diego weekend.

A: I love movies and I very seldom have time to watch them. I also love rollerskating; dancing salsa, merengue, and bachata; and New Orleans music. So, a weekend that encompasses all those things would be the perfect weekend.