Gary Stewart is currently experiencing a profound second life. Thanks to Jimmy McDonough’s definitive biography, I Am From the Honky-Tonks, the Kentucky-born and Florida-bred country singer’s career is enjoying a renaissance more than two decades after his death. Stewart’s third album, 1976’s Steppin’ Out, was finally added to streaming services this past April. With contemporary artists like the band Wednesday covering his work and rising country stars like Ella Langley and Zach Top championing his legacy, Stewart’s influence is more visible than ever. As Top recently noted, “Every syllable he sings, he makes you feel it.”
The Emergence of a Country Icon
Fifty years ago, Stewart was arguably the most exciting country singer alive. His 1975 album Out of Hand stands as a genre masterpiece, featuring the chart-topping single “She’s Actin’ Single (I’m Drinkin’ Double).” Stewart sang about the grit of life—drugs, alcohol, and heartbreak—with an authenticity that made his contemporaries look like mere performers. Despite his immense talent, he remained a tragic figure, eventually fading from the spotlight before his death in 2003.
Stewart’s early life was defined by a restless spirit. The son of a miner and a coke dealer, he moved between Kentucky and Florida before finding his way to Nashville in 1965. It was there, amidst the grind of Music Row, that he began to hone the craft that would eventually define his sound. He spent years writing for others and playing in bands, including Charley Pride’s Pridesmen, before finally finding his own voice.
Unearthing the Cedarwood Demos
The new compilation One Track Mind, released by Delmore Recording Society, offers a vital look at these formative years. Drawing from an extensive archive of home recordings and demos, the collection captures Stewart before he became the outlaw country legend known for “Flat Natural Born Good-Timin’ Man.” These tracks, including early versions of “Iron Bar Motel” and “Woman Will Tear the Heart Right Out of a Man,” showcase a young artist who was already capable of crafting timeless, three-minute soap operas.
“It didn’t matter if he was cutting in a big professional studio or sitting in his trailer singing into my tape recorder. His thing was, ‘You’re gonna remember this song for the rest of your life.’” — Jimmy McDonough
The production quality of these demos—often just a mix away from being hits—highlights the inherent strength of Stewart’s songwriting. Whether he was singing about the perspective of a dog in “Living the Life of a Dog” or the heartbreak of “If You Come Back Darling,” Stewart’s ability to blend countrypolitan polish with raw, honky-tonk emotion was unmatched. One Track Mind is not merely a historical artifact; it is a testament to an artist who was always ahead of his time, churning out tunes for barstool warmers and two-steppers alike.
