John Stewart (musician) facts for kids

John Coburn Stewart (born September 5, 1939 – died January 19, 2008) was an American songwriter and singer. He was a big part of the American folk music scene in the 1960s. He was a member of the Kingston Trio from 1961 to 1967. John Stewart also wrote hit songs for other artists, like "Daydream Believer" for the Monkees. This song became a number one hit. He also had his own hit song, "Gold", which reached number 5. His solo career lasted 40 years, and he released many albums and hundreds of songs.

Early Life and Musical Start

John Stewart was born in San Diego, California. His father was a horse trainer. John grew up in Southern California, mostly in Pasadena and Claremont. He finished high school in 1957. After that, he went to junior college for a year.

John showed musical talent from a young age. He learned to play the guitar and banjo. He wrote his first song, "Shrunken Head Boogie," when he was just ten years old. He once said that listening to Tex Ritter and the Sons of the Pioneers inspired him.

John Stewart's Musical Journey

John Stewart started his music career with a high school band called Johnny Stewart and the Furies. They played in colleges and coffee houses in California. In 1957, they released a song called "Rockin' Anna." It was a small hit in their local area.

After the Furies, John joined a group called the Cumberland Three. This group was inspired by the popular Kingston Trio. The Cumberland Three released three albums. Two of these albums were about songs from the American Civil War.

Joining the Kingston Trio

In 1961, John Stewart joined the Kingston Trio. This folk music group was very famous. They had already released ten successful albums. The Kingston Trio helped make folk music popular again. They influenced many other artists like Bob Dylan and John Denver.

John Stewart joined Nick Reynolds and Bob Shane in the Trio. He brought his skills as a musician and songwriter to the group. Together, they recorded twelve more albums. They also started to include more of their own songs. They performed songs by new songwriters like Tom Paxton.

By 1967, pop music from bands like the Beatles became more popular. The Kingston Trio decided to stop performing together.

Solo Career and Big Hits

After the Kingston Trio, John Stewart continued to write and record music. He also started touring as a solo artist. During this time, he wrote "Daydream Believer" for the Monkees. This song became a huge hit. It was also a hit for Anne Murray.

John Stewart also wrote "Never Goin' Back" for the Lovin' Spoonful. He recorded this song on his own album, California Bloodlines, in 1969. He even toured with Robert F. Kennedy during his 1968 presidential campaign. In 1975, he married fellow folk singer Buffy Ford Stewart. They stayed together until his death.

John released many albums, including California Bloodlines and Willard. His albums were liked by critics and fans. However, they were not always big commercial successes.

In 1979, John Stewart had his biggest solo success. He teamed up with Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham from Fleetwood Mac. He released the album Bombs Away Dream Babies. This album reached number 10 on the music charts. It included his hit song "Gold", which reached number 5. Two other songs from the album, "Midnight Wind" and "Lost Her in the Sun," also became Top 40 hits. This made John Stewart a pop star at age 40.

His next album, Dream Babies Go Hollywood (1980), was not as successful. After that, his songs did not make it onto the main music charts. But John Stewart kept performing until he passed away.

Later Years and Legacy

In his later years, John Stewart became known for his songwriting. Many popular artists recorded his songs. These included Nanci Griffith, Rosanne Cash, and Joan Baez. He also kept recording new music. He released CDs on his own record label. His last album was The Day the River Sang in 2006.

In 2001, John Stewart received a Lifetime Achievement Award. This award was from the World Folk Music Association.

A special moment for John Stewart happened in 1969. His song "Mother Country" was played on the Apollo 11 spacecraft. This happened as the astronauts were returning to Earth. In 2019, the song was used in the movie Apollo 11.

Personal Life

Besides music, John Stewart loved to paint. He had art shows and designed covers for his albums and books. He continued to write many songs. He also toured regularly in the United States and Europe.

He married Julie Koehler in 1960. They had three children together. Later, he married Buffy Ford Stewart in 1975. John's brother, Mike Stewart, was also a musician. Mike started the folk-rock group We Five.

Death

In 2007, John Stewart was diagnosed with early Alzheimer's disease. He still wanted to keep performing as long as he could. On January 19, 2008, he passed away from a stroke in a San Diego hospital. He was 68 years old.

He was survived by his wife, Buffy, and their son Luke. He also had three children from his first marriage: Amy, Jeremy, and Mikael.

Discography

The Cumberland Three

• Folk Scene U.S.A., 1960
• Civil War Almanac - "Yankees" Vol. 1, 1960
• Civil War Almanac - "Rebels" Vol. 2, 1960

The Kingston Trio

Solo Albums