Ex-Kinsgton Trio leader John Stewart Dead at age 68

[no name no slogan]

One thing not mentioned in the AP story linked below is that Stewart marched in Selma and was the RFK campaign's resident trubador in 1968. His album "California Bloodlines" is a touchstone of California folk-rock, and was highly influential on the developing scene of the 1970s. It's one of my ten desert island discs.

It's strange, because during band practice last night (before we knew he'd died), my band was messing around playing his 1979 top ten hit "Gold". I also heard "Gold" last week on the Muzak at the supermarket.

Video of John performing his top 10 hit "Gold":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_ohRBgmOTs

Video of John performing solo April 2007:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWwayDfJtkE



AP story about his death:
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jGO97U870NfzEZkeXyVuAM1i7vAAD8U9I8C00

SAN DIEGO (AP) — John Stewart, who wrote the Monkees' hit "Daydream Believer" and became a well-known figure in the 1960s folk music revival as a member of The Kingston Trio, has died, according to the band's Web site. He was 68.

Stewart suffered a massive stroke or brain aneurysm and died early Saturday at a San Diego hospital, the band announced on its official Web site.

"The world has lost one of its best men, but a man who lived well and made many people happy with his love, his wit and his music," the announcement said.

Stewart joined The Kingston Trio in 1961, three years after the band released its version of an old folk song, "Tom Dooley," that went on to become a hit. Stewart replaced the band's founder Dave Guard, who had left to pursue a new musical direction.

www.chillywinds.com (John's web site)
www.kingstontrio.com (Kingston Trio's web site)



Rest In Peace, John Stewart. A true American patriot :patriot:

[More Than A Feeling]

1. Thanks for not messing around with a "Jo(h)n Stewart is dead!" headline.

There was too much of that with the death of Sir Edmund Hillary.

[no name no slogan]

3. Yeah, I figured most people in this forum wouldn't bother reading the story

unfortunately. John Stewart was doing great things when Jon Stewart was still getting the snot wiped off his nose by his mama.

[Cha]

2. I'm sorry..that's too

bad..I didn't know his history only that I loved the Kingston trio and remember listening to "Scotch And Soda" in my college dorm and all the other Kingston T's hits growing up. I didn't realize that he's only 5 years older than I.

[no name no slogan]

5. "Scotch and Soda" is one of my favorites

The Kingston Trio site said that he was suffering from the early stages of Alzheimers, too. He was still playing and touring up until the end.

I'm just really sad that I missed seeing him play before he passed. I've really gotten into his music in the past few years and would have liked to have seen him perform.

[Cha]

10. It's neat that you do

music..makes the world a better place:)

[no name no slogan]

11. Thanks! You have to put your talents to use doing something good

Plus it gives me a reason to get out of bed in the morning. Unfortunately my "job" is not one of them. ;)

We did a CD ten years ago. PM me if you want to hear some MP3s. I have them posted on the web and I can send you a link. :D

[Cha]

23. Done!

:D

[Tuesday Afternoon]

4. May he rest in peace.

:patriot:

[no name no slogan]

8. They just reissued "California Bloodlines" and "Willard" last year

as a two-CD set, after both had been out of print for many years. Both are amazing albums.

"California Bloodlines" was also covered by Dave Alvin (formerly of the Blasters) on an album he put out last year.

Good stuff.

[BarbaRosa]

6. Bombs Away Dream Babies

RIP John.

[no name no slogan]

13. They need to reissue that album

It's been out of print (again) for the last decade, and CD copies are trading for $70+ on eBay. Maybe they'll do it now, but who knows? :shrug:

[BarbaRosa]

25. Wow, I didn't know that

I've got a near perfect condition vinyl I picked up from a bargain table some years ago, it has one of the corners sniped off. Great album.

[alcibiades_mystery]

7. And his fate is still unlearned...

[no name no slogan]

12. Help Charlie get of the MTA

http://www.petitiononline.com/Charlie/petition.html

:D

[zulchzulu]

9. RIP John. Woody wants to jam with you

[no name no slogan]

14. I bet it would be a helluva show

:toast:

[mac56]

15. Aw, damn.

Sorry to hear it.

He had some huge shoes to fill, taking Dave Guard's place in the Kingston Trio.

Godspeeed, John.

[no name no slogan]

19. I agree, that was a huge job

It would be little like replacing McCartney in the Beatles. I read that Roger McGuinn (the Byrds) also auditioned for that spot, so he had some stiff competition.

[OzarkDem]

16. Thanks for the great music, John

RIP

[Amerigo Vespucci]

17. The "Daydream Believer" story...

...dramatized in the VH1 Monkees movie...

Supposedly Davy Jones got his undies in a bunch during the recording of the song, saying that the lyrics made no sense, really slipping into the diva role. Good thing he was able to pull it together, because that song probably became the biggest cash cow of his career. I saw him perform it on the first Nesmith-less "reunion" tour in the late 80s.

So yes, Mr. Stewart's accomplishments were many, but that song is the one I'll remember him for first. R.I.P., John.

:patriot:

[no name no slogan]

18. That's a great story

I could see Davy doing that, too. And sure, the song doesn't make any sense, but it's pop music. If it made any damned sense, it would be folk music. Or something more "highbrow", so to speak.

[Journeyman]

20. Richer for his presence, poorer for his passing. . .

I was fortunate to catch one of his last shows, back in October. He never failed to amaze and amuse. I wrote about it here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=293x953


I often get the feeling that I'm talking to the wind
And no-one hears, no-one listens in
Then I start singing songs
And the music makes the whole world feel like home
Sing a song and you're not alone

-Some Lonesome Picker

[no name no slogan]

22. I'm officially jealous

Seems like he'd been having mini-strokes in his sleep, and he also was in the early stages of Alzheimers. I'm impressed that he was able to keep going. Being on the road performing is hard work, no matter what anybody thinks. It says a lot that he was able to keep on doing what he loved.

[saltpoint]

21. "She's hung on the heart of a man back home / She's got the heart of

a rolling stone..."

Rest in peace, John Stewart.

You'll be missed.

[alfredo]

24. He's the one in this video that nearly gets bonked on the head by

the guitar neck.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VMSGrY-IlU

[no name no slogan]

26. Kick for the Sunday evening crowd

And a link to his stuff on eMusic:
http://www.emusic.com/artist/John-Stewart-MP3-Download/10565485.html


1939-2008

[KoKo]

27. Thanks for the post...sad...and K&R,. n/t

[DemBones DemBones]

28. We come on the sloop John B, my grandfather and me,

Around Nassau town we did roam.
Drinkin' all night. Got into a fight. Well, I feel so break up, I want to go home. (I want to go home. So now,)

Chorus:

Hoist up the John B's sails. See how the main sails set. Call for the captain ashore, let me go home. (Let me go home.)
Let me go home. (I want to go home.) I want to go home. (Why don't you let me go home?)
Well, I feel so break up, I want to go home. (I want to go home.)

First mate, he got drunk. Broke up the people's trunk. Constable had to come and take him away.
Sheriff John Stone (Sheriff John Stone), why don't you leave me alone? (Why don't you leave me alone?)
Well, I feel so break up, I want to go home. (I want to go home. So, now)

etc.