Remembering Honky-Tonker Gary Stewart

As I was getting dressed for work today, I was listening as usual to Joe Ed Dick's "Lubbuck Or Leave It" on KFJC, 89.7fm. This radio slot is on each Wednesday from 10:am-2:pm, and features some very good Alternative Country, Old Time Radio Dramas, Interviews, and Fishing Reports. I've listen to this show each Wednesday because the music helps me get into the right frame of mind to face the workday. This is also the one show I can count on to play at least one selection by Gary Stewart. In my opinion, there is no other Country singer that can wring as much emotion out of a song as Gary can, with his extraordinary tremulous voice. There is noone in Country, or any other musical genre that can sound quite so expressive as this. His songs and the way he delivers those songs, grab ahold of your heart and don't let go!

I actually had the pleasure of meeting Gary Stewart in person, back in the late 70's when I was working at TOWER RECORDS in Campbell. In those days, I was pretty much exclusively into Rock and Punk, so I didn't even know who he was. I remember being up at the register when a hottie wearing a cowboy hat came up to me and asked me if I could show him which aisle a particular artist could be located in. Since I'm not in the habit of refusing a request from a cute guy, (a cute guy in a cowboy hat, how mindboggling is that)?, I walked away from my register, and led him over to the location he was seeking. As he and I were both searching for the correct title, we made small talk and I couldn't help but notice how electrofyingly intense his dark eyes were, and how I was getting tiny shocks just gazing into them. Here was a man who seemed quiet, even abit shy, but exuded unbelievable magnetism, energy and charisma. I helped him locate the record he wanted, went back to my register, and within a few minutes, he came back to the register and I rang up his sale. After he left, I was musing over how attractive, magnetic and unusual he was when one of my co-workers came running up to me with, "Wow!! Do you know who that was???" I had to admit that I did not. "That's Gary Stewart, and he is absolutely amazing!!" She proceeds to go on and on about how wonderful he is, and what great shows he does. This definately proceeded to arouse my interest even more, so I asked if we had any of his records, and if so, I wanted to hear what he sounded like. She grabs one of his records, (this was vinyl in those days), plops it on the store turntable, and I had the opportunity to listen to Gary Stewart for the first time. After that, I was hooked on him, and his unique sound. For this, I must give my thanks to Diana Tucker, the Country Music Buyer at Tower Records in Campbell,CA at that time for educating me about this wonderful artist.This is all leading up to a thought that sprang to mind today while listening to the radio. What with all the movies being made now about unmatchable musical artists such as RAY CHARLES, JOHNNY CASH, and even the more obscure DANIEL JOHNSTON, why not one about GARY STEWART?? Surely, this could not be a dull movie by any stretch. The man had quite an interesting life. He was a huge hit with many of the Navajo and other Indian nations and who ever else would be fortunate enough to see one of his very high energy shows. He was rubbing shoulders with the ALLMAN BROS among others. It's very sad to realize that he never reached the pinnacle of fame that he deserved. It was unfortunate that from a strictly commercial viewpoint he was too country to be classified as rock and too rock to be classified as country. His life story would be filled with recognition, success, and the wild, fun, motorcycle riding, heavy drinking, heavy drug using, partying lifestyle that musicians seem to have in common. What would create the more interesting side of Gary Stewart was his early marriage to and love of his wife, Mary Lou, how they wrote songs together, the ups and down they shared through his tumultuous chemical abuses, his son's tragic suicide, and finally, the tragedy of Gary Stewarts own suicide one month after his beloved wife died of phneumonia. Maybe finally after a motion picture would be made about Gary Stewart, his life, his talent, and his wonderful music would he finally be given the attention, respect and admiration which he so rightfully deserves.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gary_Stewart_%28singer%29

Here's a link that reveals abit more of the "dark" side of Gary Stewart:
http://www.furious.com/Perfect/garystewart.html