Once a country music maverick praised by Bob Dylan, Gary Stewart's tumultuous life of addiction and self-exile led to an overlooked death. Now, decades later, a new biography, reissues, and a new generation of artists are bringing this 'unfathomably real' vocalist's raw talent back into the spotlight.
Gary Stewart, the late US singer-songwriter, is experiencing a posthumous resurgence, decades after his death in 2003 at age 59. Described by Bob Dylan as singing 'like a man arguing with destiny' and 'living in the aftermath,' Stewart was a country music maverick known for his raw, expressive vocals and a life marred by intense drug addiction. After a brief period of stardom in the mid-1970s, scoring hits like 'She’s Actin’ Single (I’m Drinkin’ Doubles),' Stewart retreated to a Florida trailer park with his wife Mary Lou, where they consumed vast quantities of drugs, leading to a self-destructive lifestyle that ultimately overshadowed his talent. Their daughter, Shannon Ashburn, recounts the 'insane situation' of growing up with drug-addicted parents, a life that also saw their son Joey take his own life. Stewart's addictions and distaste for the Nashville establishment led to his exile from the music business. Despite his obscurity, a handful of aficionados like Dylan, Willie Nelson, and John Waters always recognized his genius. Now, Stewart is finally being rediscovered through Jimmy McDonough's formidable biography, *Gary Stewart: I Am from the Honky Tonks*, a critical and commercial success. Additionally, Delmore Recording Society has released *One Track Mind*, a collection of his early demos, and contemporary artists like Ella Langley and Charley Crockett are championing his music. Stewart, born in Kentucky in 1944, was a prodigy who blended rockabilly, country, and R&B. His music, often compared to Jerry Lee Lewis and Hank Williams for its fierce intensity and self-destructive undertones, embodied a punk spirit in 1970s country. Mary Lou's death in November 2003 led to a despondent Stewart taking his own life three weeks later. His daughter, Shannon, is now determined to see her father inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, believing his unique music is finally getting the recognition it deserves.
