Billy Stewart
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Billy Stewart (March 24, 1937 – January 17, 1970) was an American musical artist, with a highly distinctive scat-singing style, who enjoyed popularity in the early 1960s.
Billy Stewart began singing publicly with his mother’s group, the Stewart Gospel Singers, as a teenager. He made the transition to secular music by filling in occasionally for the Rainbows, a D.C. area vocal group led by future soul star Don Covay. It was also through the Rainbows that Stewart met another aspiring singer, a very young Marvin Gaye. Seminal rock and roller Bo Diddley has been credited with discovering Stewart playing piano in Washington, D.C. in 1956 and inviting him to be one of his backup musicians. This led to a recording contract with Bo Diddley’s label, Chess Records, and Bo Diddley played guitar on Stewart’s 1956 recording of “Billy’s Blues”. Stewart then moved to Okeh Records and recorded “Billy’s Heartache” backed by the Marquees, another D.C. area group which was now featuring Marvin Gaye.
Back at Chess in the early 1960s, Stewart began working with A&R man Billy Davis. He cut a song called “Fat Boy”. Showing additional promise with his recordings of “Reap What You Sow” and “Strange Feeling”, major chart success was not far away. Stewart hit both the pop and R&B charts big in 1965 with the songs, “I Do Love You” and “Sitting in the Park.” His improvisational technique of doubling-up, scatting his words and trilling his lips made his style unique in the 1960s.
Billy Stewart began singing publicly with his mother’s group, the Stewart Gospel Singers, as a teenager. He made the transition to secular music by filling in occasionally for the Rainbows, a D.C. area vocal group led by future soul star Don Covay. It was also through the Rainbows that Stewart met another aspiring singer, a very young Marvin Gaye. Seminal rock and roller Bo Diddley has been credited with discovering Stewart playing piano in Washington, D.C. in 1956 and inviting him to be one of his backup musicians. This led to a recording contract with Bo Diddley’s label, Chess Records, and Bo Diddley played guitar on Stewart’s 1956 recording of “Billy’s Blues”. Stewart then moved to Okeh Records and recorded “Billy’s Heartache” backed by the Marquees, another D.C. area group which was now featuring Marvin Gaye.
Back at Chess in the early 1960s, Stewart began working with A&R man Billy Davis. He cut a song called “Fat Boy”. Showing additional promise with his recordings of “Reap What You Sow” and “Strange Feeling”, major chart success was not far away. Stewart hit both the pop and R&B charts big in 1965 with the songs, “I Do Love You” and “Sitting in the Park.” His improvisational technique of doubling-up, scatting his words and trilling his lips made his style unique in the 1960s.
Shouts:
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Top Albums
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One More Time: The Chess Years
Billy Stewart
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One More Time
Billy StewartBuy- Download Album
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I Do Love You
Billy Stewart Buy- Download Album
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Shoutbox
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turbydude wrote:
One of the best....and unique.
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ThyFoetalMind wrote:
Where can I find a link to get Billy's I Do Love You album? I've searched high and low, and I'm coming up dry. :(
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mastalna wrote:
I love Billy Stewart!! His songs take me back to my young, happy and carefree years. I love reminiscing to his songs.
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jpmsimoes wrote:
one of the best summertime versions ever
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Rowsenator wrote:
hey baby, I'm nearer now! How art thou?
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razor851 wrote:
Hardcore.
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dualdisaster wrote:
Sitting in the Park is a beautiful song. This is real talent.
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Sonofthe60s wrote:
I used to hear him on Philadelphia radio referred to as "The Round Mound of Sound." The man could sing!
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didi-soulie wrote:
secret love could be the best of all, love it
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philla12 wrote:
This and ''I Do Love You '',are my all time best
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jogatonga wrote:
ein genie den beat im arsch
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vago_mexicano wrote:
Billy Stewart is the greatest artist to ever take up the mic. His vocal deliverance is flawless and his style is phenomenal. The songs he made are immortalized.
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kronic_King13 wrote:
This man is a genius and his music is timeless. Billy will live on forever
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LucitaSanchez wrote:
çok kışkırtıcı..
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csburton wrote:
This was "our" song all those years ago and still is. Guess it always will be.
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Carrottop54 wrote:
It don't get no better than this!!!!!
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mattcunn wrote:
shoop da whoop
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Magic_Alex wrote:
now there's a voice to make your heart flutter...
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brownda7 wrote:
Love the start of Summertime. Awesome Scatting
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StuckPig wrote:
holy shit, great tunes
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Recent Activity
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SonyaFrausto, TheMackD, ssmusicx and 8 other people added Billy Stewart to their libraries. Saturday evening
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MYBMW99 tagged Billy Stewart with ‘60’. last month
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cgern tagged Billy Stewart with ‘oldies’. last month
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jenniferoberts tagged Billy Stewart with ‘i do love you’. last month
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LuvinLifeHombre, LindasMixx, Fleetingwhisper and 33 other people added Billy Stewart to their libraries. last month
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Wilwa tagged Billy Stewart with beach, early rnb, am pop and 8 other tags. November 2011
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sheababy1962, misterdaddy, Spaceman14 and 23 other people added Billy Stewart to their libraries. October 2011
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