Winford Lindsey Stewart (June 7, 1934 – July 17, 1985), better known as Wynn Stewart, was an American country music performer. He was one of the progenitors of the Bakersfield sound. Along with Tommy Collins and Buck Owens, Stewart stripped down the sound of honky tonk, taking away the steel guitars and relying on electric instruments, a driving beat, and loud, energetic performances.
Stewart was born in Morrisville, MO, and spent most of his
childhood moving around the country with his sharecropping family. Following
World War II, he spent a year working for KWTO in Springfield, MO, before
moving to California in 1948 with his family. Originally, Stewart wanted to
become a professional baseball player, but he suffered from a hand disease and
was too short to play ball professionally, so he concentrated on a musical
career. While he was still in high school, he formed a band and began playing
clubs around California. Eventually, he met steel guitarist Ralph Mooney, who
joined Stewart's band; rounding out the group's line-up were guitarist Roy
Nichols and bassist Bobby Austin.
In 1954, Stewart
signed a contract with the independent label Intro, where he released
"I've Waited a Lifetime" and "Strolling." The second single
drew the attention of Stewart's idol, Skeets McDonald, who had arranged an
audition at Capitol Records for him. By the summer of 1956, Stewart had signed
with Capitol and released his first single for the label, "Waltz of the
Angels," which spent one week at number 14 on the country chart; the song
was later a hit for George Jones and Margie Singleton. Subsequent singles were
released on Capitol, but none of the records made any impact, and Stewart left
the label.
With the help of Harlan Howard, Stewart signed with Jackpot,
a subsidiary of Challenge Records, in early 1958. Occasionally employing Mooney
on steel guitar, Stewart made a series of singles that explored a number of
different styles, from rockabilly and pop to pure honky tonk. In late 1959, he
finally had a hit with "Wishful Thinking," which climbed to number
five early in 1960. Shortly after the success of "Wishful Thinking,"
he moved to Las Vegas, where he hosted a local television show and opened the
Nashville Nevada Club. By the early '60s, Stewart's reputation, if not his
sales, was considerable, and he continued to have a string of moderate hit
singles, including the Jan Howard duet "Wrong Company," "Big,
Big Love," and "Another Day, Another Dollar." In 1962, Haggard
joined Stewart's band as a bassist, and Wynn eventually gave him "Sing a
Sad Song" for his debut single.
After his Vegas ventures went bankrupt, Stewart headed back
to
California in 1965, re-signing with Capitol Records. Early in 1967, he had his first significant hit for the label, "It's Such a Pretty World Today," which spent two weeks at number one. Following its success, Stewart concentrated on softer, more commercially acceptable material, and the result was a string of hit singles that ran into the early '70s. By 1972, his sales were beginning to decrease, and Stewart switched record labels, signing with RCA. Over the next three years he released a number of singles, none of which cracked the Top 40. In 1975, he signed with Playboy Records, scoring a comeback single with the Top Ten "After the Storm" the following year. He stayed with Playboy for two more years, which resulted in only one other hit single: his own version of "Sing a Sad Song."
California in 1965, re-signing with Capitol Records. Early in 1967, he had his first significant hit for the label, "It's Such a Pretty World Today," which spent two weeks at number one. Following its success, Stewart concentrated on softer, more commercially acceptable material, and the result was a string of hit singles that ran into the early '70s. By 1972, his sales were beginning to decrease, and Stewart switched record labels, signing with RCA. Over the next three years he released a number of singles, none of which cracked the Top 40. In 1975, he signed with Playboy Records, scoring a comeback single with the Top Ten "After the Storm" the following year. He stayed with Playboy for two more years, which resulted in only one other hit single: his own version of "Sing a Sad Song."
Stewart launched his own independent label, WIN, in 1978,
and his first single, "Eyes Big as Dallas," scraped the bottom of the
Top 40. Though the musical climate of the '70s was changing rapidly, leaving
Stewart behind, he also wasn't able to achieve more success because of his
developing alcoholism. Eventually, he decided to step back from performing in
the early '80s, using the time away from the spotlight. During the mid-'80s,
Stewart decided to launch a comeback with an extensive tour and a new album on
his Pretty World record label. In the middle of the tour, Stewart suddenly died
of a heart attack while at his home, on July 17, 1985, aged 51. Too soon for
him to have enjoyed the acclaim his steadily rising historic profile has only
lately engendered. (Below is a photo of Wynn with Jackie Burns)
Following his death, the posthumous "Wait Till I Get My Hands on You" became a minor hit. (Info mainly edited from All Music)
Following his death, the posthumous "Wait Till I Get My Hands on You" became a minor hit. (Info mainly edited from All Music)
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For Wynn Stewarts first LP (1962) go here:
http://www77.zippyshare.com/v/nUh98Zvj/file.html
1. Big Big Love
2. One More Memory
3. Wall To Wall Heartaches
4. Playboy
5. Heartaches For A Dime
6. Searching For Another You
7. Wishful Thinking
8. Above And Beyond (The Call Of Love)
9. Open Up Your Heart
10. School Bus Love Affair
11. I'd Rather Have America
12. Three Cheers For The Loser
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