Michael Stewart, two-time Grammy nominee who lead the popular 1960s folk-rock
group We Five and produced Billy Joel's breakthrough "Piano Man' album, died
Wednesday at age 57 after a long illness.
Stewart grew up in Claremont and attended St. Joseph's Elementary School in
Pomona, Pomona Catholic Boys' High School in La Verne, Mt. San Antonio Junior
College in Walnut, and the University of San Francisco.
"He was the first guy to really do a good job producing my songs," Billy Joel
said Thursday. "Michael was a very sweet human being, a wonderful man who
loved music."
Born in Riverside in 1945, Stewart's family made their way first to Pasadena,
then to the Inland Valley where the budding musician, songwriter and arranger
completed grammar school at St. Joseph's.
His high intelligence was recognized early on when he achieved the highest IQ
score in his 7th grade class.
When Stewart graduated in 1963 from Pomona Catholic Boys, later to become
Damien High School, his musical career was already well under way. Along with
his friend and classmate Jerry Burgan, Stewart formed The Ridgerunners folk
music group, which played regularly at The Meeting Place, a folk music club in
Upland.
The quintet, recognized for its original and complex harmonies, changed its
name to We Five in early 1965 when playing at the Hungry i, a popular San
Francisco club. It was there the group was discovered by the record industry.
Later that year, We Five released its blockbuster song, "You Were on My Mind"
-- which reached No. 1 in Cashbox and No. 2 on Billboard's hits list.
"'You Were on My Mind' is still one of our biggest songs," KEARTH 101 radio
disc jockey "Shotgun Tom" Kelly said Thursday.
We Five earned a Best New Group Grammy nomination in 1965 for the song.
The quintet's original sound represented a transition between the folk music
era and folk-influenced groups such as The Byrds and The Mamas and Papas.
However, We Five's first album, with its sophisticated vocal arrangements,
daringly explored jazz and showtunes as well as folk and folk-rock.
"He had a great sense of arranging," Burgan said of his former partner. "He
was one of the few creative geniuses I've known in my life."
The original We Five contributed one more Top 40 hit, "Let's Get Together," in
1966.
Stewart eventually moved into record producing. In addition to Billy Joel's
double platinum "Piano Man" album, he produced more than 20 albums and singles
for such artists as Tom Jones, Kenny Rankin and Amad Jamal.
Always on the cutting edge, Stewart moved into the world of digital music,
educating himself in computer programming.
He designed systems for Digidesigns of Daly City and Adobe.
His technological creations, used daily by musicians and arrangers, include the
Session8 Digital Audio Workstation for PC, the Impulse Drum Trigger, and the
Human Clock, which instructs computerized musical devices to follow a human
tempo.
Through music and technology, Stewart touched the lives of many people,
Stewart's son James said.
"He had something that related to so many people in such a deep way," he said.
Stewart's older brother John also achieved fame in music, first as a member of
the Kingston Trio, then as a solo artist.
Stewart is survived by his wife Kate and three children, James, Molly, and
Joseph. A memorial service and funeral is scheduled for noon Monday, November
18 at the Chapel of the Chimes, 4701 Marysville Blvd., Sacramento.
Contributor: USA1 (46857610)May 2022
group We Five and produced Billy Joel's breakthrough "Piano Man' album, died
Wednesday at age 57 after a long illness.
Stewart grew up in Claremont and attended St. Joseph's Elementary School in
Pomona, Pomona Catholic Boys' High School in La Verne, Mt. San Antonio Junior
College in Walnut, and the University of San Francisco.
"He was the first guy to really do a good job producing my songs," Billy Joel
said Thursday. "Michael was a very sweet human being, a wonderful man who
loved music."
Born in Riverside in 1945, Stewart's family made their way first to Pasadena,
then to the Inland Valley where the budding musician, songwriter and arranger
completed grammar school at St. Joseph's.
His high intelligence was recognized early on when he achieved the highest IQ
score in his 7th grade class.
When Stewart graduated in 1963 from Pomona Catholic Boys, later to become
Damien High School, his musical career was already well under way. Along with
his friend and classmate Jerry Burgan, Stewart formed The Ridgerunners folk
music group, which played regularly at The Meeting Place, a folk music club in
Upland.
The quintet, recognized for its original and complex harmonies, changed its
name to We Five in early 1965 when playing at the Hungry i, a popular San
Francisco club. It was there the group was discovered by the record industry.
Later that year, We Five released its blockbuster song, "You Were on My Mind"
-- which reached No. 1 in Cashbox and No. 2 on Billboard's hits list.
"'You Were on My Mind' is still one of our biggest songs," KEARTH 101 radio
disc jockey "Shotgun Tom" Kelly said Thursday.
We Five earned a Best New Group Grammy nomination in 1965 for the song.
The quintet's original sound represented a transition between the folk music
era and folk-influenced groups such as The Byrds and The Mamas and Papas.
However, We Five's first album, with its sophisticated vocal arrangements,
daringly explored jazz and showtunes as well as folk and folk-rock.
"He had a great sense of arranging," Burgan said of his former partner. "He
was one of the few creative geniuses I've known in my life."
The original We Five contributed one more Top 40 hit, "Let's Get Together," in
1966.
Stewart eventually moved into record producing. In addition to Billy Joel's
double platinum "Piano Man" album, he produced more than 20 albums and singles
for such artists as Tom Jones, Kenny Rankin and Amad Jamal.
Always on the cutting edge, Stewart moved into the world of digital music,
educating himself in computer programming.
He designed systems for Digidesigns of Daly City and Adobe.
His technological creations, used daily by musicians and arrangers, include the
Session8 Digital Audio Workstation for PC, the Impulse Drum Trigger, and the
Human Clock, which instructs computerized musical devices to follow a human
tempo.
Through music and technology, Stewart touched the lives of many people,
Stewart's son James said.
"He had something that related to so many people in such a deep way," he said.
Stewart's older brother John also achieved fame in music, first as a member of
the Kingston Trio, then as a solo artist.
Stewart is survived by his wife Kate and three children, James, Molly, and
Joseph. A memorial service and funeral is scheduled for noon Monday, November
18 at the Chapel of the Chimes, 4701 Marysville Blvd., Sacramento.
Contributor: USA1 (46857610)May 2022
Michael Stewart, two-time Grammy nominee who lead the popular 1960s folk-rock
group We Five and produced Billy Joel's breakthrough "Piano Man' album, died
Wednesday at age 57 after a long illness.
Stewart grew up in Claremont and attended St. Joseph's Elementary School in
Pomona, Pomona Catholic Boys' High School in La Verne, Mt. San Antonio Junior
College in Walnut, and the University of San Francisco.
"He was the first guy to really do a good job producing my songs," Billy Joel
said Thursday. "Michael was a very sweet human being, a wonderful man who
loved music."
Born in Riverside in 1945, Stewart's family made their way first to Pasadena,
then to the Inland Valley where the budding musician, songwriter and arranger
completed grammar school at St. Joseph's.
His high intelligence was recognized early on when he achieved the highest IQ
score in his 7th grade class.
When Stewart graduated in 1963 from Pomona Catholic Boys, later to become
Damien High School, his musical career was already well under way. Along with
his friend and classmate Jerry Burgan, Stewart formed The Ridgerunners folk
music group, which played regularly at The Meeting Place, a folk music club in
Upland.
The quintet, recognized for its original and complex harmonies, changed its
name to We Five in early 1965 when playing at the Hungry i, a popular San
Francisco club. It was there the group was discovered by the record industry.
Later that year, We Five released its blockbuster song, "You Were on My Mind"
-- which reached No. 1 in Cashbox and No. 2 on Billboard's hits list.
"'You Were on My Mind' is still one of our biggest songs," KEARTH 101 radio
disc jockey "Shotgun Tom" Kelly said Thursday.
We Five earned a Best New Group Grammy nomination in 1965 for the song.
The quintet's original sound represented a transition between the folk music
era and folk-influenced groups such as The Byrds and The Mamas and Papas.
However, We Five's first album, with its sophisticated vocal arrangements,
daringly explored jazz and showtunes as well as folk and folk-rock.
"He had a great sense of arranging," Burgan said of his former partner. "He
was one of the few creative geniuses I've known in my life."
The original We Five contributed one more Top 40 hit, "Let's Get Together," in
1966.
Stewart eventually moved into record producing. In addition to Billy Joel's
double platinum "Piano Man" album, he produced more than 20 albums and singles
for such artists as Tom Jones, Kenny Rankin and Amad Jamal.
Always on the cutting edge, Stewart moved into the world of digital music,
educating himself in computer programming.
He designed systems for Digidesigns of Daly City and Adobe.
His technological creations, used daily by musicians and arrangers, include the
Session8 Digital Audio Workstation for PC, the Impulse Drum Trigger, and the
Human Clock, which instructs computerized musical devices to follow a human
tempo.
Through music and technology, Stewart touched the lives of many people,
Stewart's son James said.
"He had something that related to so many people in such a deep way," he said.
Stewart's older brother John also achieved fame in music, first as a member of
the Kingston Trio, then as a solo artist.
Stewart is survived by his wife Kate and three children, James, Molly, and
Joseph. A memorial service and funeral is scheduled for noon Monday, November
18 at the Chapel of the Chimes, 4701 Marysville Blvd., Sacramento.
Contributor: USA1 (46857610)May 2022
group We Five and produced Billy Joel's breakthrough "Piano Man' album, died
Wednesday at age 57 after a long illness.
Stewart grew up in Claremont and attended St. Joseph's Elementary School in
Pomona, Pomona Catholic Boys' High School in La Verne, Mt. San Antonio Junior
College in Walnut, and the University of San Francisco.
"He was the first guy to really do a good job producing my songs," Billy Joel
said Thursday. "Michael was a very sweet human being, a wonderful man who
loved music."
Born in Riverside in 1945, Stewart's family made their way first to Pasadena,
then to the Inland Valley where the budding musician, songwriter and arranger
completed grammar school at St. Joseph's.
His high intelligence was recognized early on when he achieved the highest IQ
score in his 7th grade class.
When Stewart graduated in 1963 from Pomona Catholic Boys, later to become
Damien High School, his musical career was already well under way. Along with
his friend and classmate Jerry Burgan, Stewart formed The Ridgerunners folk
music group, which played regularly at The Meeting Place, a folk music club in
Upland.
The quintet, recognized for its original and complex harmonies, changed its
name to We Five in early 1965 when playing at the Hungry i, a popular San
Francisco club. It was there the group was discovered by the record industry.
Later that year, We Five released its blockbuster song, "You Were on My Mind"
-- which reached No. 1 in Cashbox and No. 2 on Billboard's hits list.
"'You Were on My Mind' is still one of our biggest songs," KEARTH 101 radio
disc jockey "Shotgun Tom" Kelly said Thursday.
We Five earned a Best New Group Grammy nomination in 1965 for the song.
The quintet's original sound represented a transition between the folk music
era and folk-influenced groups such as The Byrds and The Mamas and Papas.
However, We Five's first album, with its sophisticated vocal arrangements,
daringly explored jazz and showtunes as well as folk and folk-rock.
"He had a great sense of arranging," Burgan said of his former partner. "He
was one of the few creative geniuses I've known in my life."
The original We Five contributed one more Top 40 hit, "Let's Get Together," in
1966.
Stewart eventually moved into record producing. In addition to Billy Joel's
double platinum "Piano Man" album, he produced more than 20 albums and singles
for such artists as Tom Jones, Kenny Rankin and Amad Jamal.
Always on the cutting edge, Stewart moved into the world of digital music,
educating himself in computer programming.
He designed systems for Digidesigns of Daly City and Adobe.
His technological creations, used daily by musicians and arrangers, include the
Session8 Digital Audio Workstation for PC, the Impulse Drum Trigger, and the
Human Clock, which instructs computerized musical devices to follow a human
tempo.
Through music and technology, Stewart touched the lives of many people,
Stewart's son James said.
"He had something that related to so many people in such a deep way," he said.
Stewart's older brother John also achieved fame in music, first as a member of
the Kingston Trio, then as a solo artist.
Stewart is survived by his wife Kate and three children, James, Molly, and
Joseph. A memorial service and funeral is scheduled for noon Monday, November
18 at the Chapel of the Chimes, 4701 Marysville Blvd., Sacramento.
Contributor: USA1 (46857610)May 2022
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