Amii Stewart
Encyclopedia
Amy 'Amii' Paulette Stewart (born January 29, 1956) is an America
n contemporary R&B
/disco
/dance-pop
singer, dancer and actress most famous for her hit disco
record "Knock on Wood
". Stewart is the stepsister of actress-singer Miquel Brown
and aunt to Brown's actress-singer daughter Sinitta.
in Washington but soon left to work with the D.C. Repertory Dance Company, studying ballet and modern dance. Before being signed to Ariola Records
, Stewart was in the touring company of the stage production Bubbling Brown Sugar
in 1975, firstly in Miami, then Broadway
, and eventually London's West End
, where she met Barry Leng, a record producer for Hansa records.
At the end of 1977, "You Really Touched My Heart" a Leng/Simon May
composition, produced by Leng, was Stewart's first recording. An album followed, which contained five Leng/May songs, one Leng/Morris song and three cover versions.
Her first single, a disco cover version
of the 1966 Eddie Floyd
hit "Knock on Wood
" (Floyd/Cropper), reached number one in the U.S.
in April 1979, and earned her a platinum record and a Grammy Award
nomination. It also reached number 6 in the UK, and number 2 in Australia
. In the same year, Amii Stewart followed up with another cover of The Doors' classic, "Light My Fire", which reached #5 in the UK, although only managed a lowly #69 in the US. She recorded it as a medley, incorporating "Light My Fire/137 Disco Heaven".
Among her other successes in music recordings is the song entitled "Friends" from 1985. This song was a collaboration with the Italian
composer/musician Mike Francis
and was a big hit in the UK
and the Philippines
.
, actress/singer Mary Griffin portrayed Amii Stewart, performing the song Knock on Wood
, at the famed discothèque Studio 54
. While performing, Griffin wore a similarly extravagant outfit to that which Stewart wore in the video to "Knock On Wood" in 1979. Although it was obvious that Griffin was portraying Stewart, the credits at the end of the movie have Griffin's character listed as Disco Star.
In 2000, Stewart toured Italy, playing the part of Mary Magdalene, in the revival of the rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar
. The play also starred Carl Anderson
, who revived his role of "Judas Iscariot" from the 1971 movie.
In 2003, Stewart starred in the musical Lady Day
, in the role of Billie Holiday
; the musical was written and produced by her.
Since 2001 Stewart has been working as a goodwill ambassador
for Italian Unicef and has been involved in a large number of projects such as "Uniti per i bambini, Uniti contro l'AIDS" (translated as "United for the children, united against AIDS"). In 2006, she recorded the charity single "Love Song" for UNICEF in four different languages, once again returning to work with Ennio Morricone. The following year saw her return to duet with Mike Francis on the track "Nothing Can Come Between Us". In 2006 Stewart and long-time friend and collaborator Ennio Morricone
released 5 track single "Love Song", sung in English, Italian, French, Spanish as well as a multilingual version. All proceeds from the single went to Unicef's campaign "Check Out For Children".
In May 2007 Stewart again participated in the Sanremo Music Festival
, performing the duet
"Schiavo D'Amore" with Piero Mazzocchetti.
Amii is fluent in Italian
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
n contemporary R&B
Contemporary R&B
Contemporary R&B is a music genre that combines elements of hip hop, soul, R&B and funk.Although the abbreviation “R&B” originates from traditional rhythm and blues music, today the term R&B is most often used to describe a style of African American music originating after the demise of disco in...
/disco
Disco
Disco is a genre of dance music. Disco acts charted high during the mid-1970s, and the genre's popularity peaked during the late 1970s. It had its roots in clubs that catered to African American, gay, psychedelic, and other communities in New York City and Philadelphia during the late 1960s and...
/dance-pop
Dance-pop
Dance-pop is dance-oriented pop music that originated in the early 1980s. Developing from post-disco, it is generally up-tempo music intended for clubs with the intention of being danceable or merely dancey...
singer, dancer and actress most famous for her hit disco
Disco
Disco is a genre of dance music. Disco acts charted high during the mid-1970s, and the genre's popularity peaked during the late 1970s. It had its roots in clubs that catered to African American, gay, psychedelic, and other communities in New York City and Philadelphia during the late 1960s and...
record "Knock on Wood
Knock on Wood (Amii Stewart album)
Knock on Wood is a studio album by Amii Stewart released in February 1979. The album yielded two successful single releases, "Knock on Wood" and "Light My Fire / 137 Disco Heaven"...
". Stewart is the stepsister of actress-singer Miquel Brown
Miquel Brown
Miquel Brown Miquel Brown Miquel Brown (born Michael Brown, 1954 is a Canadian actress and Disco/Soul singer from the 1970s and '80s most popular for the songs "Close to Perfection" and the Hi-NRG songs 'So Many Men, So Little Time' and "He's A Saint, He's A Sinner" (both now considered vintage gay...
and aunt to Brown's actress-singer daughter Sinitta.
Career
Amy Stewart was the fifth of six children. Amii Stewart's father Joseph Stewart II, signed her up for singing and dancing lessons in 1960, at the age of four. There already was an Amy Stewart registered with Actor's Equity, so she changed the spelling of her name to Amii. She began attending Howard UniversityHoward University
Howard University is a federally chartered, non-profit, private, coeducational, nonsectarian, historically black university located in Washington, D.C., United States...
in Washington but soon left to work with the D.C. Repertory Dance Company, studying ballet and modern dance. Before being signed to Ariola Records
Ariola Records
Ariola Records is a German record label. As of the late 1980s, it was a subsidiary label of BMG which in turn has since become a part of the international media conglomerate Sony Music Entertainment...
, Stewart was in the touring company of the stage production Bubbling Brown Sugar
Bubbling Brown Sugar
Bubbling Brown Sugar is a musical revue written by Loften Mitchell based on a concept by Rosetta LeNoire and featuring the music of numerous African-American artists who were popular during the Harlem Renaissance, 1920–1940, including Duke Ellington, Eubie Blake, Count Basie, Cab Calloway and Fats...
in 1975, firstly in Miami, then Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
, and eventually London's West End
West End of London
The West End of London is an area of central London, containing many of the city's major tourist attractions, shops, businesses, government buildings, and entertainment . Use of the term began in the early 19th century to describe fashionable areas to the west of Charing Cross...
, where she met Barry Leng, a record producer for Hansa records.
At the end of 1977, "You Really Touched My Heart" a Leng/Simon May
Simon May
Simon May is a British musician and composer, best known for composing some of British television's best known theme tunes, including EastEnders and Howards' Way, and for composing the music for the 1988 film The Dawning....
composition, produced by Leng, was Stewart's first recording. An album followed, which contained five Leng/May songs, one Leng/Morris song and three cover versions.
Her first single, a disco cover version
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
of the 1966 Eddie Floyd
Eddie Floyd
Eddie Lee Floyd is an American soul/R&B singer and songwriter, best known for his work on the Stax record label in the 1960s and 1970s and the song "Knock on Wood".-Biography:...
hit "Knock on Wood
Knock on Wood (song)
"Knock on Wood" is a hit 1966 song written by Eddie Floyd and Steve Cropper and originally performed by Eddie Floyd. The Eddie Floyd version peaked at number twenty-eight on the Hot 100, and spent one week at number one on the soul singles....
" (Floyd/Cropper), reached number one in the U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in April 1979, and earned her a platinum record and a Grammy Award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
nomination. It also reached number 6 in the UK, and number 2 in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. In the same year, Amii Stewart followed up with another cover of The Doors' classic, "Light My Fire", which reached #5 in the UK, although only managed a lowly #69 in the US. She recorded it as a medley, incorporating "Light My Fire/137 Disco Heaven".
Among her other successes in music recordings is the song entitled "Friends" from 1985. This song was a collaboration with the Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
composer/musician Mike Francis
Mike Francis (musician)
Michele Francesco Puccioni , better known under his stage name Mike Francis, was an Italian singer and composer, born in Florence. He was best known for his 1982 hit, "Survivor".-History:...
and was a big hit in the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
.
Recent times
In the 1998 movie 5454 (film)
54 is a 1998 drama film written and directed by Mark Christopher, starring Ryan Phillippe, Salma Hayek, and Neve Campbell...
, actress/singer Mary Griffin portrayed Amii Stewart, performing the song Knock on Wood
Knock on Wood (song)
"Knock on Wood" is a hit 1966 song written by Eddie Floyd and Steve Cropper and originally performed by Eddie Floyd. The Eddie Floyd version peaked at number twenty-eight on the Hot 100, and spent one week at number one on the soul singles....
, at the famed discothèque Studio 54
Studio 54
Studio 54 was a highly popular discotheque from 1977 until 1991, located at 254 West 54th Street in Manhattan, New York, USA. It was originally the Gallo Opera House, opening in 1927, after which it changed names several times, eventually becoming a CBS radio and television studio. In 1977 it...
. While performing, Griffin wore a similarly extravagant outfit to that which Stewart wore in the video to "Knock On Wood" in 1979. Although it was obvious that Griffin was portraying Stewart, the credits at the end of the movie have Griffin's character listed as Disco Star.
In 2000, Stewart toured Italy, playing the part of Mary Magdalene, in the revival of the rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar
Jesus Christ Superstar
Jesus Christ Superstar is a rock opera by Andrew Lloyd Webber, with lyrics by Tim Rice. The musical started off as a rock opera concept recording before its first staging on Broadway in 1971...
. The play also starred Carl Anderson
Carl Anderson (singer)
Carl Anderson was an American singer, film and theatre actor best known for his portrayal of Judas Iscariot in the Broadway and film versions of the rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice.-Early life:Born in Lynchburg, Virginia, Anderson was one of 12 children of...
, who revived his role of "Judas Iscariot" from the 1971 movie.
In 2003, Stewart starred in the musical Lady Day
Lady Day
In the western Liturgical year, Lady Day is the traditional name of the Feast of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin in some English speaking countries. It is the first of the four traditional English quarter days. The "Lady" was the Virgin Mary. The term derives from Middle English, when some...
, in the role of Billie Holiday
Billie Holiday
Billie Holiday was an American jazz singer and songwriter. Nicknamed "Lady Day" by her friend and musical partner Lester Young, Holiday had a seminal influence on jazz and pop singing...
; the musical was written and produced by her.
Since 2001 Stewart has been working as a goodwill ambassador
Goodwill Ambassador
Goodwill Ambassador is a collective term sometimes used as a substitute honorific title or a title of honor for an Ambassador of Goodwill; but, most appropriately for a generic recognition, it is a job position or description that is usually indicated following the name of the individual recognized...
for Italian Unicef and has been involved in a large number of projects such as "Uniti per i bambini, Uniti contro l'AIDS" (translated as "United for the children, united against AIDS"). In 2006, she recorded the charity single "Love Song" for UNICEF in four different languages, once again returning to work with Ennio Morricone. The following year saw her return to duet with Mike Francis on the track "Nothing Can Come Between Us". In 2006 Stewart and long-time friend and collaborator Ennio Morricone
Ennio Morricone
Ennio Morricone, Grand Officer OMRI, , is an Italian composer and conductor, who wrote music to more than 500 motion pictures and television series, in a career lasting over 50 years. His scores have been included in over 20 award-winning films as well as several symphonic and choral pieces...
released 5 track single "Love Song", sung in English, Italian, French, Spanish as well as a multilingual version. All proceeds from the single went to Unicef's campaign "Check Out For Children".
In May 2007 Stewart again participated in the Sanremo Music Festival
Festival della canzone italiana
The Festival della canzone italiana di Sanremo is a popular Italian song contest, held annually in the city of Sanremo, in Italy, and consisting of a competition amongst previously unreleased songs...
, performing the duet
Duet (music)
A duet is a musical composition for two performers. In classical music, the term is most often used for a composition for two singers or pianists; with other instruments, the word duo is also often used. A piece performed by two pianists performing together on the same piano is referred to as...
"Schiavo D'Amore" with Piero Mazzocchetti.
Amii is fluent in Italian
Italian language
Italian is a Romance language spoken mainly in Europe: Italy, Switzerland, San Marino, Vatican City, by minorities in Malta, Monaco, Croatia, Slovenia, France, Libya, Eritrea, and Somalia, and by immigrant communities in the Americas and Australia...
.
Studio albums
- Knock on WoodKnock on Wood (Amii Stewart album)Knock on Wood is a studio album by Amii Stewart released in February 1979. The album yielded two successful single releases, "Knock on Wood" and "Light My Fire / 137 Disco Heaven"...
(1979) - Paradise BirdParadise BirdParadise Bird is a studio album by Amii Stewart released in September 1979. The album yielded two European single releases, "Jealousy" and double A-side "The Letter" / "Paradise Bird"...
(1979) - ImagesImages (Amii Stewart album)Images is a studio album by Amii Stewart released in April 1981. The album yielded three European single releases, "My Guy/My Girl" , "Where Did Our Love Go", and "Great Balls Of Fire" and had been followed by single "Rocky Woman" which was also included on the Mexican edition...
(1981, Europe only) - I'm Gonna Get Your LoveI'm Gonna Get Your LoveI'm Gonna Get Your Love is a studio album by Amii Stewart released in the USA in 1981, a slightly altered version of European album Images with the title track and "Calling For Your Love" replacing her rendition of "Great Balls Of Fire" and "Love Is Bad For Your Health". The singles released in...
(1981, US only) - Amii StewartAmii Stewart (1983 album)Amii Stewart is a studio album by Amii Stewart released in 1983 which includes hit single "Working Late Tonight" as well as covers of two songs from Donna Summer's unreleased 1981 album I'm a Rainbow...
(1983) - Try LoveTry Love (Amii Stewart album)Try Love is a studio album by Amii Stewart, first released in Italy in 1984. It includes singles "That Loving Feeling" , "I Gotta Have You Back" and "Try Love"....
(1984) - AmiiAmiiAmii is a studio album by Amii Stewart released in 1986 which includes singles "Love Ain't No Toy" and "Time Is Tight." The album was produced by Giorgio Moroder and Dutch brothers Bolland & Bolland.- Track listing :Side A...
(1986) - Time for FantasyTime for FantasyTime for Fantasy is a studio album by Amii Stewart released in 1988. One of the ballads, "I Still Believe," which had already become a major hit for pop singer Brenda K. Starr in 1987, was also covered by Mariah Carey some ten years later...
(1988) - Pearls - Amii Stewart Sings Ennio MorriconePearls - Amii Stewart Sings Ennio MorriconePearls – Amii Stewart Sings Ennio Morricone is a studio album by Amii Stewart released in 1990. The album which covers many of film composer Ennio Morricone's best known songs was recorded with Rome's Philharmonic Orchestra....
(1990) - MagicMagic (Amii Stewart album)Magic is a studio album by Amii Stewart released in 1992. The album which includes singles "Don't Be So Shy" and "Don't Stop" was a collaboration with Narada Michael Walden and British songwriting duo Climie Fisher.-Track listing:...
(1992) - Lady to LadiesLady to LadiesLady To Ladies is a tribute album by Amii Stewart released in 1994. The album includes songs made famous by other female singers, among them Nina Simone, Annie Lennox, Tina Turner, Donna Summer, Barbra Streisand, Diana Ross, Aretha Franklin, Patti LaBelle, Roberta Flack and Chaka Khan...
(1994) - The Men I LoveThe Men I LoveThe Men I Love is a tribute album by Amii Stewart released in 1995, a follow-up to 1994's Lady To Ladies. On this album Stewart pays tribute to her favourite male singers, among them Paul McCartney, Sting, Rod Stewart and Elton John.-Track listing:...
(1995) - Love AffairLove Affair (Amii Stewart album)-Track listing:#"How Could I Know?" - 4:20#"Plant a New Rose in Your Heart" - 5:03#"Summer Storm" - 4:27#"Goodnight Tonight" - 4:50#"Take Your Time" - 4:44#"Been too Long in New York City" - 6:07#"Sweet Talk" - 4:56...
(1996) - UnstoppableUnstoppable (Amii Stewart album)Unstoppable is a compilation/studio album by Amii Stewart released in 1999 which includes new versions of some of the greatest hits from her disco career, selected tracks from the 80's and 90's as well as two previously unreleased recordings, the title track and "Can I Come Home".-Track...
(1999) - Lady DayLady Day (Amii Stewart album)Lady Day is a studio album by Amii Stewart released in 2004. The album is the Italian cast recording of a musical based on the life of American jazz and blues singer Billie Holiday co-written by and starring Stewart.-Track listing:...
(2004) - Caracciolo Street - Amii Stewart (Italian/English bilingual MP3 download album) (2010)
Compilation albums
- The Best of Amii Stewart (1985, includes the new duet w/ Mike FrancisMike Francis (musician)Michele Francesco Puccioni , better known under his stage name Mike Francis, was an Italian singer and composer, born in Florence. He was best known for his 1982 hit, "Survivor".-History:...
, "Together") - The Hits (1985, remix album)
- All Of Me (1995)
- Knock on Wood - The Best of Amii StewartKnock on Wood - The Best of Amii StewartKnock on Wood – The Best of Amii Stewart is a compilation album of recordings by Amii Stewart released in 1996. The compilation mainly covers material from her early disco career and albums Knock On Wood and Paradise Bird, both from 1979...
(1996) - The Greatest HitsThe Greatest Hits (Amii Stewart 2005)The Greatest Hits is a compilation album of recordings by Amii Stewart released in 2005. The album is more or less a re-release of Hot Productions' 1996 compilation Knock On Wood - The Best Of Amii Stewart with a few changes...
(2005) - 17 Golden Hits - (Amii Stewart) (2010)
Singles
- "Knock On WoodKnock on Wood (song)"Knock on Wood" is a hit 1966 song written by Eddie Floyd and Steve Cropper and originally performed by Eddie Floyd. The Eddie Floyd version peaked at number twenty-eight on the Hot 100, and spent one week at number one on the soul singles....
" (1979) - #1 US Pop, #6 US R&B, #5 US Club Play, #6 UK, #13 Germany - "Light My Fire - 137 Disco Heaven (Medley)" (1979) - #69 US Pop, #36 US R&B, #5 UK, #26 Germany
- "Jealousy" (1979) - #58 UK, #4 Italy, #5 Netherlands
- "The Letter / Paradise Bird" (1980) - #39 UK
- "My Guy - My Girl (Medley)" (duet with Johnny BristolJohnny BristolJohnny Bristol , was an American musician, most famous as a songwriter and record producer for the Motown label in the late 1960s and early 1970s...
) (1980) - #63 US, #39 UK - "Rocky Woman" (1981)
- "Grazie Perchè (We've Got Tonight)" (duet with Gianni MorandiGianni MorandiGianni Morandi is an Italian pop singer and entertainer.He made his debut in 1962 and quickly placed high at or won a number of Italian popular song festivals, including the Canzonissima festival in 1969. In 1970, he represented Italy at the Eurovision Song Contest with "Occhi di ragazza"...
) (1984) - #3 Italy - "Friends" (duet with Mike Francis) (1984) - #46 US R&B, #12 UK, #1 Italy
- "I Gotta Have You Back" - (1984, Italy only)
- "That Loving Feeling" (1985) - #95 UK
- "Together" (duet with Mike Francis) (1985) - #9 Italy
- "Knock on Wood" / "Light My Fire" (Remix) (1985) - #7 UK
- "You Really Touch My Heart" (1985) - #89 UK
- "My Guy - My Girl (Medley)" (duet with Deon EstusDeon EstusDeon Estus is an American bassist and singer, best known as the bass player of Wham! and as George Michael's bassist on all of the latter's subsequent projects.-Biography:...
) (1986) - #63 UK - "Love Ain't No Toy" (1986) - #99 UK
- "Time Is Tight" (1986)
- "It's Fantasy" (1988) - #14 Italy
- "Don't Be So Shy" (1992)
Sources and external links
- Official site for Amii Stewart WARNING: KIS2010 reports that this site contains malicious software (Trojan-Clicker.HTML.IFrame.fh). You are advised not to follow this link.
- Discogs.com discography
- Biography and extensive discography
- IMDB entry, biography
- Rate Your Music biography and discography
- Foxy Tunes biography
- Disco Profiles biography and discography
- Unicef Italy biography