John Stewart
b. 5 September 1939, San Diego, California, USA. Stewart's musical career began in the '50s when, as frontman of the Furies, he recorded Rocking Anna for a tiny independent label. Having discovered folk music, Stewart began performing with college friend John Montgomery, but achieved wider success as a songwriter when several of his compositions, including Molly Dee and Green Grasses, were recorded by the Kingston Trio. Indeed, the artist joined this prestigious group in 1961, following his spell in the like-sounding Cumberland Three. Stewart left the Kingston trio in 1967. His reputation was enhanced when a new composition, Daydream Believer, became a number 1 hit for the Monkees and this dalliance with pop continued when the artist contributed Never Goin' Back to a disintegrating Lovin' Spoonful on their final album. 
In 1968 Stewart was joined by singer Buffy Ford, whom he would marry in 1975. Together they completed SIGNALS THROUGH THE GLASS, before the former resumed his solo path with the excellent CALIFORNIA BLOODLINES. This country-inspired collection established Stewart's sonorous delivery and displayed a view of America which, if sometimes sentimental, was both optimistic and refreshing. It was a style the performer would continue over a series of albums which, despite critical approval, achieved only moderate success. Stewart's fortunes were upturned in 1979 when a duet with Stevie Nicks, Gold, became a US hit. The attendant BOMBS AWAY DREAM BABIES, featured assistance from Fleetwood Mac guitarist, Lindsay Buckingham and although markedly different in tone to its predecessors, the set augured well for the future. However, despite contributions from Linda Ronstadt and Phil Everly, the follow-up, DREAM BABIES GO TO HOLLYWOOD, proved an anti-climax. Stewart subsequently turned from commercial pursuits and resumed a more specialist direction with a series of low-key recordings for independent companies.