Wynn Stewart

Wynn Stewart

Wynn Stewart (born June 7, 1934 as Wynnford Lindsey Stewart in Morrisville , Missouri , † July 17, 1985 in Hendersonville , Tennessee ) was an American country singer and songwriter, who is one of the founders of the California Bakersfield Sound .

Beginnings

Wynn Stewart came from a poor farming family who struggled to survive on leased land. As a student, he appeared several times on the Springfield, Missouri radio station KWTO. In 1948 the family moved to California, where he formed a band and played in local clubs. A career as a professional baseball failed because of his too small height.

He managed to win over the steel guitarist Ralph Mooney for his band, whom he had met at a talent competition. Mooney would stay with him for two decades and significantly shape his sound. In 1954 some singles were recorded for a small label. Country singer Skeets McDonald became aware of Stewart and brokered a record deal with the Capitol label.

Career

Although his first single, Waltz of the Angels , made it into the top 20, there were no further successes. In 1958, Stewart switched to the jackpot label; a year later he had his first top 10 hit with Wishful Thinking . Then his Wrong Company, sung with Jan Howard , reached a middle chart position. It was the first in a series of duets and at the same time the beginning of Jan Howard's career. In 1961, Wynn Stewart moved to Las Vegas , where he co-owned the Nashville Nevada Club and performed nightly. A young guitarist from his band named Merle Haggard , for whom he wrote Sing A Sad Song , started his career here.

In 1963 the club had to be abandoned for financial reasons; Stewart first moved to Bakersfield and then to Los Angeles, where he re-signed with the Capitol label. Two years later, he had his only number 1 hit with It's Such A Pretty World Today . A few top 10 hits and medium chart placements followed. When sales dropped, he parted ways with Capitol and switched to RCA Victor and then to the Playboy label. Only in the first few months was he able to build on his old successes. A major reason was his lack of determination to get to the top.

In 1976 he moved to Nashville , where he tried to return to the charts with various labels - albeit unsuccessfully in most cases. In 1978 he founded his own label, WIN Records, with which he was able to book some middle chart placements. During these years he had massive drinking problems. His marriage was in crisis and his health deteriorated noticeably. In 1985, shortly before a tour with which he wanted to initiate a comeback, he died of a heart attack.

Discography

Albums

year	title	Top ranking, total weeks, awardChart placementsChart placements (Year, title, rankings, weeks, awards, notes)		Remarks
		US	Country
1967	It's Such a Pretty World Today	US158 (8 weeks) US	Country1 (25 weeks) Country
	Love's Gonna Happen to Me	-	Country13 (11 weeks) Country
1968	Something pretty	-	Country28 (6 weeks) Country
1969	Let the Whole World Sing It with Me	-	Country41 (3 weeks) Country
1976	After the storm	-	Country24 (12 weeks) Country

More albums

• 1961: Sweethearts Of Country Music (with Jan Howard)
• 1962: Wynn Stewart
• 1965: Songs of Wynn Stewart
• 1967: Above and Beyond
• 1968: In Love
• 1969: Yours Forever
• 1970: You Don't Care What Happens to Me
• 1970: It's a Beautiful Day
• 1971: Baby It's Yours

Singles

year	Title album	Top ranking, total weeks, awardChartsChart placements (Year, title, album , rankings, weeks, awards, notes)	Remarks
		Country
1956	Waltz of the Angels Wynn Stewart	Country14 (... weeks) Country
1960	Wishful Thinking Wynn Stewart	Country5 (22 weeks) Country
	Wrong Company	Country26 (2 weeks) Country	with Jan Howard
1961	Big, Big Love Wynn Stewart	Country18 (7 weeks) Country
1962	Another day, another dollar	Country27 (3 weeks) Country
1964	Half of This, Half of That Songs of Wynn Stewart	Country30 (15 weeks) Country
1965	I Keep Forgettin 'That I Forgot About You It’s Such a Pretty World Today	Country43 (7 weeks) Country
1967	It's Such a Pretty World Today It's Such a Pretty World Today	Country1 (22 weeks) Country
	Cause I Have You It's Such a Pretty World Today	Country9 (16 weeks) Country
	That's the Only Way to Cry Love’s Gonna Happen to Me	Country68 (3 weeks) Country
1968	Love's Gonna Happen to Me Love’s Gonna Happen to Me	Country7 (16 weeks) Country
	Something Pretty Something Pretty	Country10 (13 weeks) Country
	In love in love	Country16 (11 weeks) Country
1969	Strings Let the Whole World Sing It with Me	Country29 (11 weeks) Country
	Let the Whole World Sing It with Me Let the Whole World Sing It with Me	Country20 (12 weeks) Country
	World Wide Travelin 'Man Let the Whole World Sing It with Me	Country19 (10 weeks) Country
	Yours Forever Yours Forever	Country47 (9 weeks) Country
1970	You Don't Care What Happens to Me You Don't Care What Happens to Me	Country55 (4 weeks) Country
	It's a Beautiful Day, It's a Beautiful Day	Country13 (13 weeks) Country
1971	Heavenly It's a Beautiful Day	Country32 (10 weeks) Country
	Baby It's Yours Baby It's Yours	Country55 (6 weeks) Country
	Hello Little Rock Baby It's Yours	Country53 (5 weeks) Country
1972	Paint Me a Rainbow	Country49 (8 weeks) Country
1973	Love Ain't Worth a Dime Unless It's Free	Country51 (9 weeks) Country
	It's raining in Seattle	Country62 (9 weeks) Country
1975	Lonely Rain After the Storm	Country80 (9 weeks) Country
1976	After the Storm After the Storm	Country8 (14 weeks) Country
1977	Sing a Sad Song After the Storm	Country19 (11 weeks) Country
1979	Eyes as Big as Dallas	Country37 (11 weeks) Country
	Could I Talk You Back Into Loving Me Again	Country59 (5 weeks) Country
1985	Wait 'til I get my hands on you	Country98 (1 week) Country

Web links

• http://www.wynnstewart.com/

swell

1. ↑ ^{a b} Chart sources: US