Billy Stewart facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Billy Stewart
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | William Larry Stewart II |
| Born | March 24, 1937 Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Died | January 17, 1970 (aged 32) Smithfield, North Carolina, U.S. |
| Genres | R&B, Chicago soul, Northern soul |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, musicians |
| Instruments | Vocals, piano, drums |
| Years active | 1955–1970 |
| Labels | Chess, Okeh |
William Larry Stewart II (March 24, 1937 – January 17, 1970) was an American R&B singer and pianist. He was very popular during the 1960s. Billy Stewart was known for his special way of singing, which included doubling up words and making unique sounds with his voice.
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Who Was Billy Stewart?
Billy Stewart started singing at a young age. When he was 12, he sang with his younger brothers Johnny, James, and Frank. They called themselves the Four Stewart Brothers. For five years, they even had their own radio show every Sunday on WUST in Washington, D.C.. Billy went to Armstrong High School in Washington, D.C.
Starting His Music Career
Billy Stewart began singing secular music, which means non-religious music. He sometimes filled in for a group called the Rainbows. This group was led by Don Covay, who later became a famous soul singer. Through the Rainbows, Billy also met another singer who would become famous, Marvin Gaye.
A famous rock and roll musician named Bo Diddley discovered Billy Stewart. Bo Diddley saw Billy playing piano in Washington, D.C. He then asked Billy to be one of his backup musicians.
Signing with Record Labels
In 1955, Billy Stewart signed a recording contract with Chess Records. This was Bo Diddley's record label. Bo Diddley even played guitar on Billy's first recording in 1956, called "Billy's Blues." This song sold well in Los Angeles. It even made it into the top 25 sales list in Variety magazine.
After that, Billy moved to another label called Okeh Records. There, he recorded "Billy's Heartache." The Marquees, another group from Washington, D.C. that included Marvin Gaye, sang backup on this song.
Returning to Chess Records
In the early 1960s, Billy Stewart went back to Chess Records. He started working with A&R man Billy Davis. An A&R man helps find new artists and guides their music. Billy recorded a song called "Fat Boy." He then had more success with "Reap What You Sow" and "Strange Feeling." Both of these songs made it onto the Billboard Hot 100 chart. They also reached the top 30 on the R&B charts.
Big Hits and Unique Style
Billy Stewart had major success in 1965. He recorded two songs he wrote himself: "I Do Love You" and "Sitting in the Park." "I Do Love You" reached No. 6 on the R&B chart and No. 26 on the Pop chart. His brother Johnny Stewart was one of the backup singers on this song. "Sitting in the Park" reached No. 4 on the R&B chart and No. 24 on the Pop chart.
Billy's singing style was very special. He would often double up his words, scat (singing nonsense syllables), and trill his lips. This made his sound unique in the 1960s.
In 1966, Billy recorded an LP (long-play album) called Unbelievable. The first single from this album was his version of the George Gershwin song, "Summertime." This song became a Top 10 hit on both the pop and R&B charts.
His next single was a cover version of the Doris Day hit "Secret Love." It reached the Pop Top 30 and almost made the Top 10 on the R&B chart. Billy continued to record music for Chess Records throughout the late 1960s, but he didn't have as many big hits.
Later Life and Legacy
Billy Stewart faced some health challenges. He was in a motorcycle accident in 1969, but only had minor injuries.
His Untimely Death
Sadly, Billy Stewart died in a car accident in January 1970. He was only 32 years old. The accident happened near Smithfield, North Carolina. Three members of his band were also in the car and died with him. They were on their way to a show in South Carolina.
Remembering Billy Stewart
Even after his death, Billy Stewart's music remained popular. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, his songs were especially loved by Latino youth on the West Coast.
In 2002, Billy Stewart was honored by being inducted into the Washington Area Music Association Hall of Fame. His version of "Summertime" was featured on Bob Dylan's radio show, Theme Time Radio Hour. It was also used in the 2003 movie Stuck on You.
Billy's musical legacy is carried on by his family members in Washington, D.C. His cousins, Grace Ruffin (from the 1960s group The Four Jewels), Calvin C. Ruffin Jr., and Dane Riley, still perform his songs in their concerts.
The band NRBQ has also performed "Sitting In The Park" many times since 1970.
In 2019, The New York Times Magazine reported that some of Billy Stewart's original music recordings might have been lost in the 2008 Universal fire.
Billy Stewart's "Summertime" was also featured in Quentin Tarantino's movie Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. In 2021, Billy Stewart was inducted into the National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame.
Discography
Singles
- Chess 1625: "Billy's Blues" / "Billy's Blues"
- Argo 5256: "Billy's Blues" / "Billy's Blues"
- Okeh 4-7095: "Baby, You're My Only Love" / "Billy's Heartache" (1957 with Bo Diddley, backed by The "Marquees")
- Chess 1820: "Reap What You Sow" / "Fat Boy" (1962) - #18 R&B, #79 pop
- Chess 1835: "True Fine Lovin'" / "Wedding Bells" (1962)
- Chess 1852: "Scramble" / "Oh My, What Can the Matter Be" (1963)
- Chess 1868: "Strange Feeling" / "Sugar and Spice" (1963) - #25 R&B, #70 pop
- Chess 1888: "A Fat Boy Can Cry" / "Count Me Out" (1964)
- Chess 1905: "Tell It Like It Is" / "My Sweet Senorita" (1964)
- Chess 1922: "I Do Love You" / "Keep Loving" (1965) - #6 R&B, #26 pop
- Chess 1932: "Sitting in the Park" / "Once Again" (1965) - #4 R&B, #24 pop
- Chess 1941: "How Nice It Is" / "No Girl" (1965)
- Chess 1948: "Because I Love You" / "Mountain of Love" (1965)
- Chess 1960: "Love Me" / "Why Am I Lonely" (1966) - #38 R&B
- Chess 1966: "Summertime" / "To Love, to Love" (1966) - #7 R&B, #10 pop
- Chess 1978: "Secret Love" / "Look Back and Smile" (1967) - #11 R&B, #29 pop
- Chess 1991: "Every Day I Have the Blues" / "Ol' Man River" (1967) - #41 R&B, #79 pop
- Chess 2002: "Cross My Heart" / "Why (Do I Love You So)?" (1968) - #34 R&B, #86 pop / #49 R&B
- Chess 2053: "Tell Me the Truth" / "What Have I Done?" (1968) - #48 R&B
- Chess 2063: "I'm In Love" / "Crazy 'Bout You, Baby" (1969)
- Chess 2080: "By the Time I Get to Phoenix" / "We'll Always Be Together" (1969)
Albums
- Chess 1496: I Do Love You (1965) (Billboard #97)
- Chess 1499: Unbelievable (1966) (Billboard #138)
- Chess 1513: Billy Stewart Teaches Old Standards New Tricks (1967)
- Chess 1540: Cross My Heart (1969)
- Chess 1547: Remembered (1970)
- Sugar Hill/Chess CH-8401: The Greatest Sides (1982)
