Rod Stewart Biography

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Rod Stewart is a British singer who was a member of the Jeff Beck group and The Faces before taking on a solo career. It has been noted that Stewart's album and single sales total more than 200 million easily earning him a place on the list of best selling music artists. Stewart started his career in music joining folk singer Wizz Jones in the early 1960's as a street singer traveling around Europe. He returned to London in 1964 and joined Jimmy Powell and the Five Dimensions as a vocalist and blues harp player. They recorded a single for Pye Records. He then went on to join the Hoochie Coochie Men and recorded a single, "Good Morning Little Schoolgirl" which failed to make the charts. The Hoochie Coochie Men became the Steampacket supporting the Rolling Stones and the Walker Brothers in the northern summer of 1965 and recorded an album that was released in 1970. The Steampacket broke up in 1966 and Stewart went on to join Shotgun Express as lead vocalist with Beryl Marsden. Shotgun Express released one single before breaking up. He went on to join the Jeff Beck group as a vocalist and in 1968 their first album, Truth was released and became a success. The second album, Beck-Ola became a success in the middle of 1969; however the band broke up at the end of the year.

Stewart went on to join The Faces with Ron Wood. He also signed a solo recording contract with Mercury Records at this time and An Old Raincoat Won't Ever Let You Down became his first solo album released in 1969. It was known as the Rod Stewart album in the U.S. The Faces released their debut album, First Step in early 1970. It was more successful in the UK than in the U.S. Stewart released his second album, Gasoline Alley that fall. His 1971 album, Every Picture Tells a Story gave him radio play with "Maggie May". The album and single hit number one in both the U.S. and UK. "Maggie May" has since been named in The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll, which is only one of three songs that Rod Stewart has on the list.

In early 1971, the second Faces album, Long Player was released which had much greater success than First Step. The Faces received their first and only U.S. Top 40 hit with "Stay With Me" from their third album, A Nod Is as Good as a Wink.To a Blind Horse which was released in late 1971. This album was in the Top 10 on both sides of the Atlantic. The Faces had a major tour in 1972 with tension rising due to Stewart's solo career creating more success than the band's. This same year Stewart released, Never a Dull Moment, and it reached number two on the U.S. album charts and number one in the UK and enjoyed great success. The Faces released their final album, Ooh La La which reached number one in the UK and number 21 in the U.S. in 1973. The Faces went on their last tour in 1974 to support Ooh La La and the single "Pool Hall Richard." The band broke up in 1975 with Ron Wood joining The Rolling Stones and Rod Stewart going on to pursue his solo career.

In late 1974, Stewart released Smiler which was disappointing. In Britian it reached number one, although the album itself has been noted as Stewart's weakest album. In 1975, Stewart moved to the U.S. and applied for citizenship due to a love affair with Britt Ekland and a fight with the UK tax authorities. He released, Atlantic Crossing for his new record company and it was a success going to the Top 10 of the Billboard album charts. Its first single "Sailing" was a major hit in the UK reaching the Top 60 in the U.S. In 1976, "Tonight's the Night" topped the Billboard singles charts for eight weeks. This hit was off of the A Night on the Town album which was number two on the Billboard album charts and was Stewart's first album to go platinum. During this time he did a few covers that went to the Top 30.

He went on to score another UK number one and U.S. number one single with "Da Ya Think I'm Sexy" which was the lead single from 1979's Blondes Have More Fun.or do they? which was number one on the Billboard album charts. It was his last number one album for 25 years. Stewart went in to what has been noted as a slump only having three Top 10 singles between 1982 and 1988; however "Baby Jane" did become his sixth and final UK number one in 1983. His album, Camouflage went gold in the UK. He went on to release Out of Order in 1988 which produced the hits "Forever Young" and "Lost in You." In 1989 he toured in South America performing to sold-out crowds and in 1990 his version of Tom Waits song "Downtown Train" went to number two of the U.S. singles charts. In 1993 he recorded "All For Love" with Sting and Bryan Adams and it reached number one on the U.S. charts. In 1993, he reunited with Ron Wood and did an MTV Unplugged special and in 1994 he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

In more recent years Stewart has focused on 1930's and 1940's pop standards. His first album from the songbook series, It Had to Be You.The Great American Songbook reached number four on the U.S. album chart and number eight in the UK. The second album in the series, As Time Goes By: The Great American Songbook 2 reached number two in the U.S. and number four in the UK. In 2004, he reunited with Ron Wood again for concerts of The Faces material. In late 2004, the third album in the series, Stardust.The Great American Songbook Volume III was released. It was his first U.S. number one album in 25 years selling over 200,000 copies in the first week. He released his fourth and final songbook album, Thanks for the Memory: The Great American Songbook 4 which included duets with Diana Ross and Elton John. In 2006, he made his return to rock'n'roll with the release of Still the Same.Great Rock Classics of our Time. The album was number one on the Billboard charts. You can buy your Rod Stewart concert tickets now at Ticket Solutions to see him perform these latest hits.Stewart has been noted as one of the top ten biggest selling artists in recording history with well over 250,000,000 sold records.

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