Rod Stewart Biography, Photos and Posters

Rod Stewart

Biography

Born: January 10, 1945
City and Country of Origin: Highgate, London England
Music Background:
Awards: 2004 Grammy Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album, Stardust...The Great American Songbook Volume III
Top Recordings: "Reason to Believe," "Maggie May," "This Old Heart of Mine," "I Don't Want To Talk About It," "Tonight's the Night," "Da Ya Think I'm Sexy," "Downtown Train," "Have I Told You Lately"
Rod Stewart Biography: Roderick David Stewart the youngest of 5 children was born in London to Scottish father Robert Stewart and London mother Elsie. His primary interest as a youngster was playing junior soccer. As a child he grew up admiring the singing of Al Jolson. By the early 60s he took up the guitar while adopting a beatnik lifestyle. He along with friend Wiz Jones worked as street singers traveling around Europe. This lifestyle and vocation eventually led to several run ins with the authorities. Most notable was his arrest and deportation from Spain as a vagrant. He also earned a few extra bucks digging graves. He returned to Birmingham England where he hooked up with Jimmy Powell & the Five Dimensions singing vocals and playing the blues harp.

He joined Long John Baldry's Hoochie Coochie Men in London in 1964 with whom he recorded "Good Morning Little Schoolgirl" which failed to chart. After the group evolved into Steampacket they backed up the Rolling Stones and the Walker Brothers. This brought some recognition to the group and Stewart. After a stint with Mick Fleetwood and Peter Green in Shotgun Express, Stewart teamed up with the Jeff Beck Group. Their recording Truth became a hit on both sides of the Atlantic in 1968. When the group disbanded he joined Ron Wood in the group Faces.

He signed a solo recording contract and his first album was An Old Raincoat Won't Let You Down or as it was known in the U. S. simply the Rod Stewart Album. The album helped establish his folk rock country style. Faces released their first album First Step in early 1970 while Stewart released his second album Gasoline Alley. The album featured Martin Quittenton playing lead mandolin.

Every Picture Tells a Story released in 1971 launched the single "Reason to Believe," but it would be the B side "Maggie May," that would rocket Rod to stardom. Both the album and the single reached number 1 on the charts on both sides of the pond.

By the mid 70s, after the release of the subpar Smiler Stewart started a relationship with actress Britt Ekland. During their relationship She would function as his fashion coordinator having him dress in outrageous outfits. This lifestyle made him the darling of the tabloids. Atlantic Crossing became his last successful recording effort of the 70s and included the single "Sailing" as well as Dobie Gray's "Drift Away." Nevertheless his records which reflected the disco influence included "First Cut Is The Deepest," "Tonight's The Night" and "You're In My Heart" continued to sell. His recording "Ole Ola" much to his pleasure would become the anthem of the Scottish World Cup football team.

Stewart entered the 80s married to George Hamilton the IV's former wife Alana. Now an international star he spent much of his time jetting around the globe. The decade would witness the breakup of his marriage and a long affair with model Kelly Emberg. Although many would say that his career hit a snag during the 80s he still managed to garner hits with songs like "Every Beat Of My Heart" and "Baby Jane." He started the 90's with a new wife and a '93 reunion with Ron Wood for an MTV Unplugged concert. The accompanying album featured the top 10 single "Have I Told You Lately." He followed a failed attempt at crossing over to the contemporary urban audience with the album Human in 2001 with th Great American Songbook. The effort launched a whole new path in his career which he continues to follow.

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