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Redd Stewart : I Remember
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The fiddle-playin', guitar-pickin' cowboy with the "voice as smooth as honey" blazed a glorious trail throughout the 1940's & 50's as a solo artist and lead singer/songwriter with Pee Wee King's Golden West Cowboys.
Genre: Country: Western Swing
Release Date: 2004
I Remember Record Label: Ambridge Music, Inc.
  • Buy CD - $15.00
Preview Song Name Time Format Price Select
I Remember 2:47 Album Only
Bimbo 2:22 Album Only
Having Second Thoughts 2:10 Album Only
Sunshine Over The Hill 2:23 Album Only
My Home is the Dust of the Road 2:12 Album Only
Tennessee Waltz 2:19 Album Only
Banjo 2:12 Album Only
Dreaming Again 2:45 Album Only
Cold, Cold Heart 2:55 Album Only
Talk to the Angels 2:52 Album Only
Bonaparte's Retreat 2:16 Album Only
preview all songs

Album Notes

Redd Stewart Biography:
May 27, 1923 - Born Henry Ellis Stewart in Ashland City, Tennessee; the son of musical parents and raised in Louisville, Ky. Redd's family moved to Louisville, Kentucky, while he was still young. He learned to play the banjo, piano, fiddle and guitar as a child, then dropped out of junior high to perform in local bands. He legally changed his first name to Redd because of his red hair, freckles and fair complexion.

1935 - Redd was contracted to write a song for a car dealer's commercial in Louisville, Kentucky at the age of 14 (he completed only the seventh grade.) He then formed and played in various bands around Louisville, including the Prairie Riders.

1937 - Pee Wee King came to Louisville, Ky. to play on WHAS and signed Redd as a musician with the Golden West Cowboys. At the time, Eddy Arnold was the band's vocalist. Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, Redd was drafted into the U.S. Army and sent to the South Pacific. While stationed there with the rank of sergeant, Redd wrote "A Soldier's Last Letter," which Ernest Tubb worked on and recorded in 1944, making it a No.1 hit staying at the top for four weeks out of a seven month stay on the Country charts and crossing over to the Pop chart Top 20. When Redd returned to Pee Wee's Golden West Cowboys at the end of WW II, he became the band's vocalist, Arnold having gone solo. Now Redd started to take songwriting seriously.

1947 -He appeared on the Grand Ole Opry until 1947 and a year earlier, he and Pee Wee wrote their first major success, "Bonaparte's Retreat," which was Kay Starr's launch-pad to stardom.

1947 - Signed a lifetime exclusive songwriting contract with Acuff-Rose Publications.

1948 - "Tennessee Waltz", his most popular song, was written with Pee Wee King. (King & Stewart decided to write the song after hearing Bill Monroe's Kentucky Waltz on the radio. Stewart emptied a matchbox and tore it open to write down the song.)

1947-1957 - In 1947, Pee Wee, Redd and the band moved to WAVE Louisville, Kentucky, where they had a weekly radio show and then later in the year, they transferred to WAVE-TV, where they had a television show until 1957. Redd sang on Pee Wee King's 1948 version, which reached the Top 3 on the Country chart and crossed over to the Top 30 on the Pop charts, on RCA Victor. It was re-issued in 1951 and climbed to the Top 10. Other hit versions, in 1948, were by Cowboy Copas (Top 3) and Roy Acuff (Top 15). The following year, Tennessee featured in the title of two other King hits on which Redd appeared, namely, "Tennessee Tears" and "Tennessee Polka." Pee Wee King's version of "Bonaparte's Retreat" edged into the Top 10, during 1950. However, it was in 1951 that Pee Wee had a No.1 hit with the King-Stewart song "Slow Poke," which also became a No.1 Pop success. That year, Patti Page took "The Tennessee Waltz" to No.1 on the Pop chart, which also became a Top 3 Country hit. It went on to sell over 6 million copies. The following year, the song became a Top 10 hit for Hawkshaw Hawkins and "You Belong to Me" became a Pop hit for Jo Stafford. By now, Pee Wee had dropped his band's name and as Pee Wee King & his Band, he racked up "Silver and Gold" (Country Top 5/Pop Top 20) and "Busybody" (Country Top 10/Pop Top 30). Redd was still the featured vocalist on the 1954 Pee Wee King double-sided hit "Changing Partners/Bimbo." Their final hit together was "Backward, Turn Backward." Redd toured with Pee Wee throughout the 50's and 60's, and during that time, their songs continued to be recorded. In 1959, Billy Grammar had a Pop success with "Bonaparte's Retreat" as did Bobby Comstock and Jerry Fuller with "Tennessee Waltz." Other charted versions of Redd's songs were "Bonaparte's Retreat" by Carl Smith (1970) and Glen Campbell (1974) and "Tennessee Waltz" by Sam Cooke (1964) and Lacy J. Dalton (1980). On February 17, 1965, "Tennessee Waltz" was officially proclaimed by Governor Frank Clement as the Tennessee state song. As well as recording with Pee Wee, Redd also recorded on his own, including the 1959 Audio Lab album "Redd Stewart Sings Favorite Old Time Tunes." He also appeared in several movies with Pee Wee King, including "Gold Mine in the Sky (1938), "Ridin' the Outlaw Trail" (1951) and "The Rough, Tough West" (1952), the last two starred Charles Starrett as the Durango Kid. In 1961, Redd and Pee Wee appeared in the movie, "Hoedown."

1972 - Redd was inducted as a charter member of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame- Hall of Fame Highest Achievement

August 2, 2003 - Died at Baptist Hospital East in Louisville, Ky. He was 80 years old. He died from complications from injuries suffered in the early 1990s after a fall at his home in Louisville.

The "I Remember" CD included many of Redd's favorite songs, along with a beautifully illustrated booklet filled with treasured pictures of Redd, Pee Wee King, and Redd's family. The lyrics to all of the songs are also included.

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REVIEWS

A nice intro to Redd Stewart but too short
author: Joe Ross
Playing Time – 27:31 -- Dedicated to keeping the music of Redd Stewart alive, this album offers eleven songs recorded by the famous western swing musician between 1947-1974. Most famous as a vocalist with the well-known and popular Golden West Cowboys, Redd co-wrote (with fiddler/accordionist Pee Wee King) the hits “Tennessee Waltz,” “Bonaparte’s Retreat,” and “Slow Poke.” Of course, the former was also a big hit for Patti Page in 1950. The second hit launched Kay Starr to stardom. It might’ve been nice if the last of the three would’ve also been included on this compilation. The Golden West Cowboys appeared regularly on the Grand Ole Opry and on a regular Knoxville radio show. Their electric instrumentation and fancy outfits were a big hit at the Opry. Steel guitarist Roy Ayres once referred to Redd Stewart as “the glue that held the Golden West Cowboys together into a tight musical unit.” Other band hits were in 1952 with “Silver and Gold” (not included here) and in 1954 with Rod Morris’ “Bimbo”(included on this CD). One must remember that post-war country music was striving to reach the pop market, and many of these Acuff-Rose songs are now considered as appealing “crossover” hits that sold well. Thanks to publisher Fred Rose, many of Hank Williams’ hits were polished and popularized. On this sampler, Redd sings Hank’s “Cold, Cold Heart.” Besides being a singer and songwriter, I didn’t realize that Redd was also a pianist, guitarist, and fiddler. And he’s the sole writer of “I Remember,” “Sunshine Over the Hill,” and “Dreaming Again” on this CD. Henry Ellis Stewart was born on May 27, 1923 in Tennessee, and then the family moved to Louisville, Kentucky. Learning numerous instruments and dropping out of junior high, Redd had his own band (The Prairie Riders) by the time he was about 14. He joined the Golden West Cowboys in 1937 (when Eddy Arnold was vocalist). Drafted into the Army, Redd wrote “A Soldier's Last Letter,” which Ernest Tubb recorded in 1944. When Redd returned to the Golden West Cowboys at the end of WW II, he became the band’s vocalist, as Arnold had gone solo. Redd married and started a family in 1946. In 1947, the band moved to Louisville, Kentucky, and they had a show on WAVE-TV until 1957. Redd continued touring with Pee Wee, and he also appeared in various movies. On August 2, 2003, Redd Stewart died at the age of 80. I would’ve liked this CD to be about twice as long with such other hits as “A Soldier’s Last Letter,” “Tennessee Tears,” “Tennessee Polka,” “Slow Poke,” “Silver and Gold,” “You Belong to Me,” “Busybody,” “Changing Partners,” and “Backward, Turn Backward.” At only 27.5 minutes, it’s over much too quickly and leaves us wanting more. Yet, it’s still a nice introduction to Redd Stewart, and the CD jacket includes lyrics and some splendid historic photos. I’m told that Redd's youngest son, Bill, took over his music business, and has plans for future releases including many of the songs mentioned above. In 1972, Redd Stewart was inducted as a charter member of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. Bandleader Pee Wee King was elected into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1974, and a movement is currently in place to urge Redd Stewart’s inclusion also. See www.reddstewart.com for details. (Joe Ross, staff writer, Bluegrass Now, Roseburg, OR.)
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A timeless treasury of some spectacular songs
author: Kim Loftis
Redd Stewart wrote songs straight from his heart, with beauty, thoughtfulness, often humor, and always unflinching integrity. That fact is made evident on this lovingly compiled cd, which contains a treasury of some of Redd’s favorite compositions, and many of his most beloved works. Redd was not only a fantastic writer, but also a wonderful singer. I liken his voice to warm molasses dripping off of hot biscuits. His voice rings with soulful sincerity, tenderness and wit. All of these qualities can be found in the title track, “I Remember”, a lovely little song that is sure to bring a smile to the lips of any listener. As on all the songs featured here, Redd’s gift for crafting a superb melody is evident on this song. The second track, “Bimbo”, is an absolute delight. You’re sure to be left singing the chorus for hours after the song ends. Whoever could resist this little gem of a song! “Having Second Thoughts”, again, has a highly singable melody, and as always, Redd’s vocal is top-notch. A song of lost love, it is sure to impress. “Sunshine Over the Hill” is a wonderfully optimistic song, with a bit of a soul element thrown in for good measure. The following track, “My Home Is the Dust of The Road”, soars with a glorious string arrangement underlying Redd’s superb vocal. What can I possibly say about “Tennessee Waltz” that hasn’t already been said time and time again? It’s a simply superb song that may leave a tear in your eye. Again, it’s Redd’s absolute integrity in his delivery of this song that makes it so fantastic. “Banjo” is a wonderful story song sure to draw in the listener. “Dreaming Again” is another love song that you’ll be singing all day, while “Cold, Cold Heart” exhibits a longing quality that makes it timeless. “Talk To The Angels” is so tender and vulnerable that it will break your heart, and the closing track; the delightful “Bonaparte’s Retreat” may have you dancing like the song’s characters! Redd’s timelessness as a songwriter, and the absolute beauty of both his songs and his voice are showcased beautifully in this sterling recording! I for one look forward to many more albums such as this to commemorate Redd’s music. This lovingly compiled cd is proof positive that the man and his music are truly unforgettable.
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