John Stewart wrote more truly great songs than any other singer-songwriter of the twentieth century. A tall statement , that, especially given who those other singer-songwriters were - artists like Guthrie and Dylan and Simon and Lightfoot and Taylor and Denver and more. If John Stewart never quite achieved the sustained acclaim and chart success of those others, it wasn't for want of quality original material or mesmerizing performance skills. It was simply a vagary of fate, one that gifted him with extraordinary powers of composition and musicianship but exacted in exchange the cost of labor in the shadows of commercial success.
If that exchange rendered this extraordinarily complex and sensitive artist and man something of a cult figure during his lifetime - well, he was at least our cult figure. It has always felt like something of a privilege to know and treasure the music of John Stewart, from his days as a member of the legendary Kingston Trio through his forty year solo career, when so relatively few others were afforded the same acquaintance with his muse and his genius that we who knew him through the decades have been. His passing in January 2008 seems to have reawakened substantial interest in the music community in his life and work, at least for now. If this be but another fleeting brush with public appreciation - then so be it. As one anonymous poster wrote on a video page shortly after his death - "Faith, pride and optimism. John you will always come back to us when we need you." Thus has it always been - and will be as long as some lonesome picker finds some healing in his songs.
John Stewart, 1939 - 2008 : Songwriter, Singer, Artist
John Stewart wrote more truly great songs than any other singer-songwriter of the twentieth century. A tall statement , that, especially given who those other singer-songwriters were - artists like Guthrie and Dylan and Simon and Lightfoot and Taylor and Denver and more. If John Stewart never quite achieved the sustained acclaim and chart success of those others, it wasn't for want of quality original material or mesmerizing performance skills. It was simply a vagary of fate, one that gifted him with extraordinary powers of composition and musicianship but exacted in exchange the cost of labor in the shadows of commercial success.
If that exchange rendered this extraordinarily complex and sensitive artist and man something of a cult figure during his lifetime - well, he was at least our cult figure. It has always felt like something of a privilege to know and treasure the music of John Stewart, from his days as a member of the legendary Kingston Trio through his forty year solo career, when so relatively few others were afforded the same acquaintance with his muse and his genius that we who knew him through the decades have been. His passing in January 2008 seems to have reawakened substantial interest in the music community in his life and work, at least for now. If this be but another fleeting brush with public appreciation - then so be it. As one anonymous poster wrote on a video page shortly after his death - "Faith, pride and optimism. John you will always come back to us when we need you." Thus has it always been - and will be as long as some lonesome picker finds some healing in his songs.
John Stewart: Videos And Tributes
Fred Grittner And John August Lee Singing Fred's "Where The River Meets The Sea"
The Song That Should Have Been Included In The Film Secretariat
Tim Dismang With Dave Batti And Bob Hawkins: Three JS Songs
California Bloodlines
Runaway Train
Wind On The River
New From Denis Hurst - "Brothers And Sisters Of The Lines"
A Tribute To John Stewart And His Most Dedicated Followers, The Bloodliners
From Nikki Sherwin: Tribute Picture - "Ticket To The Stars" (2004)
From UK Bloodliner Denis Hurst: Original Song And Tribute Video - "Home To The Stars"
For John - By David Bezayiff
From Bloodliners Jan Hauenstein and Charlie Woodward: "Bolinas"
From Bloodliner/Recording Artist Jeff McDonald: "Thank You, Lonesome Picker"
From The John Stewart Band: Selection From The Towne Crier Memorial
From The UK: Amy And Helen's "Lonesome Picker's Last Hurrah"
Video from The Malibu Memorial
Slider Tribute Video
From Nashville, 1990 - Joan Baez: "Strange Rivers"
From Sweden: A Remarkable Montage To "Botswanna"
From The UK: Helen And Amy - "Some Kind Of Love"
From The UK: Helen And Amy - "Bringing Down The Moon"
Mr. Banjo: "Remember The Man"
The Song That Should Have Been Included In The Film Secretariat
Tim Dismang With Dave Batti And Bob Hawkins: Three JS Songs
California Bloodlines
Runaway Train
Wind On The River
New From Denis Hurst - "Brothers And Sisters Of The Lines"
A Tribute To John Stewart And His Most Dedicated Followers, The Bloodliners
From Nikki Sherwin: Tribute Picture - "Ticket To The Stars" (2004)
From UK Bloodliner Denis Hurst: Original Song And Tribute Video - "Home To The Stars"
For John - By David Bezayiff
From Bloodliners Jan Hauenstein and Charlie Woodward: "Bolinas"
From Bloodliner/Recording Artist Jeff McDonald: "Thank You, Lonesome Picker"
From The John Stewart Band: Selection From The Towne Crier Memorial
From The UK: Amy And Helen's "Lonesome Picker's Last Hurrah"
Video from The Malibu Memorial
Slider Tribute Video
From Nashville, 1990 - Joan Baez: "Strange Rivers"
From Sweden: A Remarkable Montage To "Botswanna"
From The UK: Helen And Amy - "Some Kind Of Love"
From The UK: Helen And Amy - "Bringing Down The Moon"
Mr. Banjo: "Remember The Man"
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