Larry Stewart (singer)
Encyclopedia
Larry Stewart is an American country music
singer, best known for his role as lead singer of the country pop
band Restless Heart
. In 1993, Stewart left the band in pursuit of a solo career, recording four solo albums and charting eight singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks (now Hot Country Songs
) charts before reuniting with Restless Heart in 2002. His highest-charting solo single was "Alright Already", which peaked at #5 in 1993.
in the 1980s in pursuit of a career in baseball
. Although he had received an athletic scholarship from Belmont College in Nashville, he decided to focus on a career in music instead. After finding work as a demo singer, Larry joined the group Restless Heart in 1984 at the recommendation of the band's keyboardist Dave Innis, with whom Stewart had attended college. Between 1985 and 1992, Restless Heart charted eighteen Top 40 singles on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart (including six Number Ones, as well as one single that was released only to the Adult Contemporary format). Stewart left the group in 1991 in pursuit of a solo career. The band continued for four more years without him, trading off lead vocals among the other members.
, the album produced a Top 5 country hit in the single "Alright Already" and a #34 in "I'll Cry Tomorrow", although "We Can Love" peaked at #62. This album also included a cover of Kevin Welch
's 1989 single "I Came Straight to You", as well as the song "When I Close My Eyes", which was later a Top 5 hit in 1996 for Kenny Chesney
.
In 1994, the same year that Restless Heart disbanded, Stewart made two contributions to Faith Hill
's debut album Take Me as I Am, co-writing the single "But I Will" with Troy Seals
and singing duet vocals on "I've Got This Friend". Later that year, he moved to Columbia Records
, releasing Heart Like a Hurricane
. The album accounted for three more singles — the title track, followed by the Vince Gill
co-write "Losing Your Love" and "Rockin' the Rock" — all of which failed to make Top 40 on the US country charts, although "Losing Your Love" reached #21 in Canada.
Why Can't You
, Stewart's third album was released in 1996, also on Columbia. Its title track reached #46, followed by the #70 "Always a Woman". After this album, Stewart briefly reunited with all of the members of Restless Heart (save for Innis) to record new tracks for a Greatest Hits album, but disbanded again soon afterward. Stewart released his fourth solo album, Learning to Breathe
, in 1999 on independent Windham Hill Records
, although this album did not account for any chart singles.
In 2004, Stewart and the other four members of Restless Heart all officially reunited to record the album Still Restless
on Audium Entertainment, a branch of Koch Records (now E1 Music). On most of the tracks, Stewart again assumed his role as lead singer. Still Restless produced a Top 30 hit in the single "Feel My Way to You", but Koch Records closed the Audium label in early 2005. He has remained with Restless Heart since.
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...
singer, best known for his role as lead singer of the country pop
Country pop
Country pop, with roots in both the countrypolitan sound and in soft rock, is a subgenre of country music that first emerged in the 1970s. Although the term first referred to country music songs and artists that crossed over to Top 40 radio, country pop acts are now more likely to cross over to...
band Restless Heart
Restless Heart
Restless Heart is an American country music band established in 1984. The band's original members were John Dittrich , Paul Gregg , Dave Innis , Greg Jennings , and Verlon Thompson...
. In 1993, Stewart left the band in pursuit of a solo career, recording four solo albums and charting eight singles on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks (now Hot Country Songs
Hot Country Songs
Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales...
) charts before reuniting with Restless Heart in 2002. His highest-charting solo single was "Alright Already", which peaked at #5 in 1993.
Biography
Stewart moved to Nashville, TennesseeNashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
in the 1980s in pursuit of a career in baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
. Although he had received an athletic scholarship from Belmont College in Nashville, he decided to focus on a career in music instead. After finding work as a demo singer, Larry joined the group Restless Heart in 1984 at the recommendation of the band's keyboardist Dave Innis, with whom Stewart had attended college. Between 1985 and 1992, Restless Heart charted eighteen Top 40 singles on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart (including six Number Ones, as well as one single that was released only to the Adult Contemporary format). Stewart left the group in 1991 in pursuit of a solo career. The band continued for four more years without him, trading off lead vocals among the other members.
Solo career
Stewart released his solo debut album on the RCA Nashville label in 1993. Titled Down the RoadDown the Road (Larry Stewart album)
Down the Road is the debut album of American country music artist Larry Stewart. It was his first solo release, as he had just left his role as lead singer of the band Restless Heart one year previous...
, the album produced a Top 5 country hit in the single "Alright Already" and a #34 in "I'll Cry Tomorrow", although "We Can Love" peaked at #62. This album also included a cover of Kevin Welch
Kevin Welch
Kevin Welch is an American country music artist. He has charted five singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts and released eight studio albums...
's 1989 single "I Came Straight to You", as well as the song "When I Close My Eyes", which was later a Top 5 hit in 1996 for Kenny Chesney
Kenny Chesney
Kenneth "Kenny" Arnold Chesney is an American country music singer and songwriter. Chesney has recorded 15 albums, 14 of which have been certified gold or higher by the RIAA. He has also produced more than 30 Top Ten singles on the U.S...
.
In 1994, the same year that Restless Heart disbanded, Stewart made two contributions to Faith Hill
Faith Hill
Faith Hill is an American country singer. She is known both for her commercial success and her marriage to fellow country star Tim McGraw. Hill has sold more than 40 million records worldwide and accumulated eight number-one singles and three number-one albums on the U.S...
's debut album Take Me as I Am, co-writing the single "But I Will" with Troy Seals
Troy Seals
Troy Seals is an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist.He is a member of the prominent Seals family of musicians that includes, Jim Seals and Dan Seals and Brady Seals...
and singing duet vocals on "I've Got This Friend". Later that year, he moved to Columbia Records
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
, releasing Heart Like a Hurricane
Heart Like a Hurricane
Heart Like a Hurricane is the second studio album by American country music singer Larry Stewart. It is his second release after his 1991 departue from the band Restless Heart. This album accounted for three singles: the title track, "Losing Your Love" and "Rockin' the Rock"...
. The album accounted for three more singles — the title track, followed by the Vince Gill
Vince Gill
Vincent Grant "Vince" Gill is an American neotraditional country singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. He has achieved commercial success and fame both as frontman to the country rock band Pure Prairie League in the 1970s, and as a solo artist beginning in 1983, where his talents as a...
co-write "Losing Your Love" and "Rockin' the Rock" — all of which failed to make Top 40 on the US country charts, although "Losing Your Love" reached #21 in Canada.
Why Can't You
Why Can't You
Why Can't You is the third studio album by American country music singer Larry Stewart. His final album for Columbia Records, it was released in 1996...
, Stewart's third album was released in 1996, also on Columbia. Its title track reached #46, followed by the #70 "Always a Woman". After this album, Stewart briefly reunited with all of the members of Restless Heart (save for Innis) to record new tracks for a Greatest Hits album, but disbanded again soon afterward. Stewart released his fourth solo album, Learning to Breathe
Learning to Breathe (Larry Stewart album)
Learning to Breathe is the fourth album by American country music singer Larry Stewart. The final solo album of his career, it was released in 1999 on Windham Hill Records. "Still in Love", the only single, failed to chart. "Summer in the City" is a cover of a single originally recorded by The...
, in 1999 on independent Windham Hill Records
Windham Hill Records
Windham Hill Records is a subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment specializing in Acoustic, New Age and Folk music. Originally founded in 1976 as an Independent record label by guitarist and carpenter William Ackerman and his then-wife Anne Robinson, Windham Hill was a successful and well-respected...
, although this album did not account for any chart singles.
In 2004, Stewart and the other four members of Restless Heart all officially reunited to record the album Still Restless
Still Restless
Still Restless is the ninth album released by the American country music band Restless Heart. Released in 2004, it was considered the band's reunion album, as it was their first release since 1998's Greatest Hits, as well as the first album since 1990's Fast Movin' Train to feature all five...
on Audium Entertainment, a branch of Koch Records (now E1 Music). On most of the tracks, Stewart again assumed his role as lead singer. Still Restless produced a Top 30 hit in the single "Feel My Way to You", but Koch Records closed the Audium label in early 2005. He has remained with Restless Heart since.
Albums
| Title | Album details | Peak positions |
|---|---|---|
| US Heat Top Heatseekers Top Heatseekers refers to either of two separate "Breaking and Entering" music charts issued weekly by Billboard Magazine: the Heatseekers Albums chart or the Heatseekers Songs chart. They were introduced by Billboard in 1993 with the purpose of highlighting the sales by new and developing musical... |
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| Down the Road Down the Road (Larry Stewart album) Down the Road is the debut album of American country music artist Larry Stewart. It was his first solo release, as he had just left his role as lead singer of the band Restless Heart one year previous... |
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39 |
| Heart Like a Hurricane Heart Like a Hurricane Heart Like a Hurricane is the second studio album by American country music singer Larry Stewart. It is his second release after his 1991 departue from the band Restless Heart. This album accounted for three singles: the title track, "Losing Your Love" and "Rockin' the Rock"... |
Columbia Records Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company... |
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| Why Can't You Why Can't You Why Can't You is the third studio album by American country music singer Larry Stewart. His final album for Columbia Records, it was released in 1996... |
|
— |
| Learning to Breathe Learning to Breathe (Larry Stewart album) Learning to Breathe is the fourth album by American country music singer Larry Stewart. The final solo album of his career, it was released in 1999 on Windham Hill Records. "Still in Love", the only single, failed to chart. "Summer in the City" is a cover of a single originally recorded by The... |
Windham Hill Records Windham Hill Records is a subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment specializing in Acoustic, New Age and Folk music. Originally founded in 1976 as an Independent record label by guitarist and carpenter William Ackerman and his then-wife Anne Robinson, Windham Hill was a successful and well-respected... |
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| "—" denotes releases that did not chart | ||
Singles
| Year | Single | Peak chart positions |
Album | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Country Hot Country Songs Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.This 60-position chart lists the most popular country music songs, calculated weekly mostly by airplay and occasionally commercial sales... |
CAN Country RPM (magazine) RPM was a Canadian music industry publication that featured song and album charts for Canada. The publication was founded by Walt Grealis in February 1964, supported through its existence by record label owner Stan Klees. RPM ceased publication in November 2000.RPM stood for "Records, Promotion,... |
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| 1993 | "Alright Already Alright Already (song) "Alright Already" is the title of a song written by Byron Hill and JB Rudd and recorded by American country music artist Larry Stewart. It was Stewart's first release as a solo artist, following a five-year tenure as the lead singer of Restless Heart. It was included on his solo debut album, Down... " |
5 | 4 | Down the Road |
| "I'll Cry Tomorrow" | 34 | 28 | ||
| "We Can Love" | 62 | 69 | ||
| 1994 | "Heart Like a Hurricane" | 43 | 61 | Heart Like a Hurricane |
| "Losing Your Love" | 46 | 21 | ||
| 1995 | "Rockin' the Rock" | 56 | 61 | |
| 1996 | "Why Can't You" | 46 | 71 | Why Can't You |
| 1997 | "Always a Woman" | 70 | — | |
| 1999 | "Still in Love" | — | — | Learning to Breathe |
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart | ||||
Music videos
| Year | Video | Director |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 | "Alright Already" | Deaton Flanigen Deaton-Flanigen Productions Deaton-Flanigen Productions is a music video directing duo composed of Robert Deaton III and George Flanigen IV. The two have directed multiple music videos, primarily in the field of country music... |
| 1994 | "Heart Like a Hurricane" | Jeffrey C. Phillips |
| "Losing Your Love" | ||
| 1996 | "Why Can't You" |