Redd Stewart
Encyclopedia
Henry Ellis Stewart better known as Redd Stewart, was an American country music
songwriter and recording artist who co-wrote "The Tennessee Waltz
" with Pee Wee King
in 1948.
. While still a child, his family moved to Louisville
. At an early age, he learned to play several musical instruments such as the banjo, piano, fiddle and guitar. He changed his first name to Redd because of his red hair and complexion. His talent was not only as a musician but also as a songwriter beginning by writing a little jingle for a Louisville
car dealer's commercial.
In 1937, he joined the Golden West Cowboys band headed by Pee Wee King with lead singer Eddy Arnold
. Stewart served in the South Pacific in World War II attaining the rank of sergeant. He wrote "Soldier's Last Letter
" while in still in the South Pacific, which became a hit record in 1944 for Ernest Tubb
. After he returned to the U.S. he again hooked up with King's band, this time as the lead singer since Eddie Arnold went solo. Stewart teamed up with King in writing many top 10 country hits starting with "The Tennessee Waltz", proclaimed by Governor Frank Clement
in 1965 as the Tennessee state song; and "You Belong To Me
". He 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 starring Charles Starrett
as the Durango Kid. In 1961, Redd and King appeared in the movie, Hoedown.
Stewart also wrote songs that would be made famous by other artists. He provided Jim Reeves
with "That's a Sad Affair" (Reeves also did "You Belong to Me") and Moon Mullican
with "Downstream" and "When Love Dies Where Does it Go" in the mid 1950s. "Tennessee Waltz" went on to be a massive hit for Patti Page
and was also covered by Roy Acuff
, Louvin Brothers
, Jerry Lee Lewis
, Elvis Presley
and many others. "You Belong to Me" also went on to become a major standard. The lesser known "Slow Poke" was covered by Hawkshaw Hawkins
.
In 1972, he was inducted as a charter member into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame
.
On August 2, 2003, Stewart died at 80 at Baptist Hospital East in Louisville from complications of injuries due to a fall in the early 1990s.
's 3,000,000 Airplay Award. (equivalent to 17.1 years of continuous playing), an honor shared with Barry Manilow
's "I Write the Songs", Frank Sinatra
's "My Way", Hank Williams's "Your Cheatin' Heart", Elvis Presley
's "Love Me Tender" and Roger Miller
's "King of the Road". In 2004, he was inducted into Country Legends Hall of Fame and the Traditional Country Music Hall of Fame; and in 2005, Tennessee Waltz Parkway opened in his birthplace, Ashland City.
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
songwriter and recording artist who co-wrote "The Tennessee Waltz
The Tennessee Waltz
"Tennessee Waltz" is a popular/country music song with lyrics by Redd Stewart and music by Pee Wee King written in 1946 and first released in December 1947 as a single by Cowboy Copas that same year...
" with Pee Wee King
Pee Wee King
Julius Frank Anthony Kuczynski , known professionally as Pee Wee King, was an American country music songwriter and recording artist best known for co-writing "The Tennessee Waltz"....
in 1948.
Biography
Stewart was born in Ashland City, TennesseeAshland City, Tennessee
Ashland City is a town in Cheatham County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 3,641 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Cheatham County.-History:Ashland City was created in 1856 as a county seat for the newly-established Cheatham County...
. While still a child, his family moved to Louisville
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
. At an early age, he learned to play several musical instruments such as the banjo, piano, fiddle and guitar. He changed his first name to Redd because of his red hair and complexion. His talent was not only as a musician but also as a songwriter beginning by writing a little jingle for a Louisville
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
car dealer's commercial.
In 1937, he joined the Golden West Cowboys band headed by Pee Wee King with lead singer Eddy Arnold
Eddy Arnold
Richard Edward Arnold , known professionally as Eddy Arnold, was an American country music singer who performed for six decades. He was a so-called Nashville sound innovator of the late 1950s, and scored 147 songs on the Billboard country music charts, second only to George Jones. He sold more...
. Stewart served in the South Pacific in World War II attaining the rank of sergeant. He wrote "Soldier's Last Letter
Soldiers Last Letter
Soldier's Last Letter was a country music song written by Redd Stewart and Ernest Tubb and recorded by Ernest Tubb. It was released in the United States in 1944. -Background and content:...
" while in still in the South Pacific, which became a hit record in 1944 for Ernest Tubb
Ernest Tubb
Ernest Dale Tubb , nicknamed the Texas Troubadour, was an American singer and songwriter and one of the pioneers of country music. His biggest career hit song, "Walking the Floor Over You" , marked the rise of the honky tonk style of music...
. After he returned to the U.S. he again hooked up with King's band, this time as the lead singer since Eddie Arnold went solo. Stewart teamed up with King in writing many top 10 country hits starting with "The Tennessee Waltz", proclaimed by Governor Frank Clement
Frank G. Clement
Frank Goad Clement served as Governor of Tennessee from 1953 to 1959, and again from 1963 to 1967.-Early life:...
in 1965 as the Tennessee state song; and "You Belong To Me
You Belong to Me (1952 song)
"You Belong to Me" is a pop music ballad from the 1950s. The singer reminds his/her lover that, whatever exotic locales and sights he/she experiences, "you belong to me." It is credited to three writers: Pee Wee King, Chilton Price, and Redd Stewart...
". He 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 starring Charles Starrett
Charles Starrett
Charles Starrett was an American actor best known for his starring role in the Durango Kid Columbia Pictures western series. He was born in Athol, Massachusetts.-Career:...
as the Durango Kid. In 1961, Redd and King appeared in the movie, Hoedown.
Stewart also wrote songs that would be made famous by other artists. He provided Jim Reeves
Jim Reeves
James Travis Reeves , better known as Jim Reeves, was an American country and popular music singer-songwriter. With records charting from the 1950s to the 1980s, he became well-known for being a practitioner of the Nashville sound...
with "That's a Sad Affair" (Reeves also did "You Belong to Me") and Moon Mullican
Moon Mullican
Aubrey Wilson Mullican , known as Moon Mullican, was an American country and western singer, songwriter, and pianist. However, he also sang and played jazz, rock 'n' roll and the blues...
with "Downstream" and "When Love Dies Where Does it Go" in the mid 1950s. "Tennessee Waltz" went on to be a massive hit for Patti Page
Patti Page
Clara Ann Fowler , known by her professional name Patti Page, is an American singer, one of the best-known female artists in traditional pop music. She was the best-selling female artist of the 1950s, and has sold over 100 million records...
and was also covered by Roy Acuff
Roy Acuff
Roy Claxton Acuff was an American country music singer, fiddler, and promoter. Known as the King of Country Music, Acuff is often credited with moving the genre from its early string band and "hoedown" format to the star singer-based format that helped make it internationally successful.Acuff...
, Louvin Brothers
Louvin Brothers
The Louvin Brothers were an American country music duo composed of brothers Ira Lonnie Loudermilk and Charlie Elzer Loudermilk , better known as Ira and Charlie Louvin. They helped popularize close harmony, a genre of country music.-History:The brothers adopted the name Louvin Brothers in the...
, Jerry Lee Lewis
Jerry Lee Lewis
Jerry Lee Lewis is an American rock and roll and country music singer-songwriter and pianist. An early pioneer of rock and roll music, Lewis's career faltered after he married his young cousin, and he afterwards made a career extension to country and western music. He is known by the nickname 'The...
, Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
and many others. "You Belong to Me" also went on to become a major standard. The lesser known "Slow Poke" was covered by Hawkshaw Hawkins
Hawkshaw Hawkins
Harold Franklin Hawkins , better known as Hawkshaw Hawkins, was an American country music singer popular from the 1950s into the early 60s known for his rich, smooth vocals and music drawn from blues, boogie and honky tonk...
.
In 1972, he was inducted as a charter member into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame
Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame
The Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame was established by the Nashville Songwriters Foundation, Inc. in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. A non-profit organization, its objective is to honor and preserve the songwriting legacy that is uniquely associated with music community in the city of...
.
On August 2, 2003, Stewart died at 80 at Baptist Hospital East in Louisville from complications of injuries due to a fall in the early 1990s.
Legacy
In 2004, "The Tennessee Waltz" was awarded BMIBroadcast Music Incorporated
Broadcast Music, Inc. is one of three United States performing rights organizations, along with ASCAP and SESAC. It collects license fees on behalf of songwriters, composers, and music publishers and distributes them as royalties to those members whose works have been performed...
's 3,000,000 Airplay Award. (equivalent to 17.1 years of continuous playing), an honor shared with Barry Manilow
Barry Manilow
Barry Manilow is an American singer-songwriter, musician, arranger, producer, conductor, and performer, best known for such recordings as "Could It Be Magic", "Mandy", "Can't Smile Without You", and "Copacabana ."...
's "I Write the Songs", Frank Sinatra
Frank Sinatra
Francis Albert "Frank" Sinatra was an American singer and actor.Beginning his musical career in the swing era with Harry James and Tommy Dorsey, Sinatra became an unprecedentedly successful solo artist in the early to mid-1940s, after being signed to Columbia Records in 1943. Being the idol of the...
's "My Way", Hank Williams's "Your Cheatin' Heart", Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
's "Love Me Tender" and Roger Miller
Roger Miller
Roger Dean Miller was an American singer, songwriter, musician and actor, best known for his honky tonk-influenced novelty songs...
's "King of the Road". In 2004, he was inducted into Country Legends Hall of Fame and the Traditional Country Music Hall of Fame; and in 2005, Tennessee Waltz Parkway opened in his birthplace, Ashland City.