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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZSTEWART, Wynn(b 7 June '34, Morrisville MO; d 17 July '85, Hendersonville TN) Country singer/songwriter. Began on Radio KWTO in Springfield '47; family moved to California '48; he first recorded '49, worked club circuit, recorded for Capitol '50s without much success. Move to Jackpot subsidiary of Challenge label led to first chart hit, "Wishful Thinking' '58 in top 10. A popular act on the Las Vegas circuit, he had his own Nashville- Nevada Club and his own weekly TV show; he renamed his band the Tourists and toured the Southwest, at one time with Merle Haggard as front man. He moved back to Capitol '64; hits incl. "It's Such A Pretty World Today' '67, no. 1 country hit in charts almost six months. He continued to make the charts, but songs were commercially underrated. He recorded for RCA '73, Atlantic '74, Playboy '75-7 (back in country top 10 with "After The Storm' '76), more small labels. Albums incl. Songs '65, In Love '68, Let The Whole World Sing It With Me '69, Yours Forever '70, It's A Beautiful Day '71, all on Capitol; Above And Beyond '68 on Hilltop, After The Storm '76 on Playboy. Challenge tracks have been reissued on Bear Family and AVI CDs. |