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
swell
personal data | |
---|---|
SURNAME | Stewart, Wynn |
ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Stewart, Wynnford Lindsey (real name) |
BRIEF DESCRIPTION | American country musician |
DATE OF BIRTH | June 7, 1934 |
PLACE OF BIRTH | Morrisville , Missouri |
DATE OF DEATH | 17th July 1985 |
Place of death | Hendersonville |