RIP Gary Stewart

Janice Brooks · From: Pleasant Gap Pa

Country music singer Stewart found dead

By Will Vash, Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

FORT PIERCE - Gary Stewart, a country singer popular in the 1970s,
was found dead today in his home, police said.

Stewart, a native of Lechter County, Kentucky, was called one of the
most compelling country singers of the 1970s. His honky-tonk songs
include: "Drinkin' Thing," "Out of Hand" and "She's Actin' Single
(I'm Drinkin' Doubles)." In 1975, "She's Actin' Single" hit No. 1 on
the Billboard chart.

Police are investigating, although the death appears to be suicide.

His wife of 43 years died earlier this fall.

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Janice "Busgal" Brooks
ICQ 44729047

Mike Winter · From: Portland, OR

That's a shame. I saw him when he was Charlie Pride's piano player. Charlie let him have a section in the show to do his own songs. Must've been back in '74 or so, in San Diego.

erik · Posted 16 Dec 2003 5:05 pm

WOW! That's a shock. I've always had a tough time deciding who was my favorite singer him or Jones. He was so unique. The first 2 songs I ever wrote(we're talking early 80s) were heavily influenced by him. Now I will have to record them for you to hear. Although I no longer listen to "cheatin'" or "drinkin'" songs I can't help but say his music was some of the best Country I ever heard.

erik · Posted 16 Dec 2003 5:18 pm

Going through one of my songs in my head and you just would not believe the lyrics. To say it is ironic would be an understatement.. and it was written about 20 yrs ago.

Here are the lyrics:

Never Again

Many lonely times alone
pass me every day
Many hopeful dreams are gone
of great shame I should say
And I still get kicked around
I swear I don't know why
How many more times can I break down and cry?

Chorus:
Never again
Never again
I've seen the darkness of the end
I can't live alone
I need a helping hand
Will I just cry some more or
Never again

Now I hear them saddle tramps
are wailing down the road
No true love to be found
Time is growing old
But if they wanted love
Why do they run away?
Now I think it's time to change
The thoughts of yesterday

Never again
Never again
I've seen the sadness of the end
I can't live alone I need a wifetime friend
Will I just cry some more or
Never again

Now I'll cry the day we meet
everday that we hold hands
Will I just cry some more or
Never again

copyright 2003 Erik John Johnson

I don't have it recorded but i'll try to do it on the weekend.

[This message was edited by erik on 16 December 2003 at 05:36 PM.]

Buddy Carter · From: Spring Grove (Chicago), IL

Wow; I was in Best Buy today looking at his CD's. I was impressed that his music was actually being stocked.

Smiley Roberts · From: Hendersonville,Tn. 37075

http://www.cmt.com/news/articles/1481143/20031216/stewart_gary_1_.jhtml?headlines=true

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  ~ ~


  ©¿©  It don't mean a thang,   


  mm   if it ain't got that twang.


       www.ntsga.com

Larry Miller · From: Dothan AL,USA

Gary, was one of my favorite all time honky tonkers! RIP

Danny Naccarato · From: Burleson, Texas

Ron Page · From: Penn Yan, NY USA

Danny, I think the writer means he faded from the "recording" end of the biz during those years...not the honky tonks or some big gigs.

That "Out of Hand" album is fantastic and contans several of his hits. Lots of great steel work (I think by 2 or 3 great steel players including Weldon Myrick). I replaced my vinyl a few years back when it was released on CD. My favorite tune on the album that wasn't a single hit is called "Backsliders Wine"; fantastic steel and I'm 95% sure that's Weldon.

I'm sorry his last days on earth were unhappy enough for it to come to this. May he rest in peace.

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HagFan

[This message was edited by Ron Page on 17 December 2003 at 10:45 AM.]

Danny Naccarato · From: Burleson, Texas

You could be right about the "faded" comment. Hit me at the wrong time I guess.

Local station here has been playing a number of his cuts off the "Live at Billy Bob's" cd he did within the last few years. Not sure who the steeler was on it, but it's some killer playing and big-time in the mix.

You're right about Backslider's wine. Great cut.

Tom Kaufman · From: Denton, Maryland, USA

Does anyone here know if Gary Stuart did that song that Nat Stuckey had out called "Sweet Tater and Sisco"; Nat called it "Sweet Thang and Sisco?

Tom Kaufman · From: Denton, Maryland, USA

Oops! Spelled his name wrong in that last reply! "Stewart!" That'll learn me to check out the spelling before I type!

Bob Knight · From: Bowling Green KY

Click to view supersized image

Mitch Drumm · From: Frostbite Falls, hard by Veronica Lake

danny: unfortunately, the liner notes on the "live at billy bob's" CD do not mention the steeler. it's a must have and contains 15 of his best known songs that were originally recorded in the 1970s.

tom: yes, gary recorded "sweet tater and cisco" for kapp records very early in his career, several years before he became so well known on RCA for "drinkin' thing", et al. there is an LP of that early material out there on kapp, but it sank without a trace and likely will never be on CD, unless someone like bear family gets into the act.

that RCA "out of hand" LP may be the strongest country release of the entire 1970s. he was really a breath of fresh air at the time and i for one will sorely miss him.

Donny Hinson · From: Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.

To me, Gary will always be the #1 country honky-tonk singer. His stuff was so fresh, powerful, and new when he came along in the '70s that his hit song "She's Actin' Single" was voted the #1 country song of all time by Country Song Roundup magazine. Though his popularity was short, and his life frought with troubles, he nevertheless left an indelible mark on the history of country music.

Gary's "Greatest Hits CD is, IMHO, a must have in any steeler's collection, if, for nothing else, Pete Drake's "one-pedal, two-string" intro on "She's Actin' Single".

I'll miss him.

It's a classic, for sure.

Ron Page · From: Penn Yan, NY USA

quote:
Gary's "Greatest Hits CD is, IMHO, a must have in any steeler's collection, if, for nothing else, Pete Drake's "one-pedal, two-string" intro on "She's Actin' Single".

When I first read this I thought I'd have to go home and spin it up... and then it came to me just like that! That is a good one. Always lots of great steel on Gary's hits.

I think the "Out of Hand" album had steel by Pete, Weldon and John Hughey. I'll have to give it a listen to put my finger on what tunes I think John is on... or if he is in fact the 3rd steeler. Anyone else know for sure?

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HagFan

Les Pierce · From: Shreveport, LA

I never made to any of Gary's concerts while I lived in Texas. I regret that now.

A band I used to be with opened for him at George Jones Possum Holler in York, South Carolina, around 1977. (Sorry to the guy who started the "we opened for" thread). He appeared with just him and backup trio. Lot's of twin guitar and distorted country rockin'. I think he was playing a Les Paul Junior or TV model. It was very impressive, to say the least.

Now I'm wondering how a guy with his reputation could have been married to same woman all those years. I think there was more to him than he let the public see.

"Drinkin' Thing", "Acting Single", all great songs, but when I lived in Texas, "An Empty Glass" was the one that brought the house down.

I know he's gone to a better place, and to be reunited with his wife.

Take care,

Les

erik · Posted 18 Dec 2003 11:58 pm

Here's a news clip search link:
http://news.google.com/news?q=Gary+Stewart&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=nn

Danny Naccarato · From: Burleson, Texas

From what I,ve found out, the Steeler on the Live at Billy Bob´s CD was Palusek.....

erik · Posted 4 Jan 2004 7:23 am

Here's the link to song for the lyrics I posted above.