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.
Top Albums
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One More Time: The Chess Years
Billy Stewart
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I Do Love You
Billy Stewart Buy- Download Album
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One More Time
Billy StewartBuy- Download Album
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- Buy Album
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ShiningStar911 ❤ Billy Stewart ❥
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turbydude One of the best....and unique.
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ThyFoetalMind 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 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 one of the best summertime versions ever
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Rowsenator hey baby, I'm nearer now! How art thou?
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razor851 Hardcore.
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dualdisaster Sitting in the Park is a beautiful song. This is real talent.
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