Eugene Stewart (1944 – 11 February 2016) known professionally as Gene Stuart,
was an Irish
country music
Country (also called country and western) is a genre of popular music that originated in the Southern and Southwestern United States in the early 1920s. It primarily derives from blues, church music such as Southern gospel and spirituals, ...
singer, born in
County Tyrone
County Tyrone (; ) is one of the six Counties of Northern Ireland, counties of Northern Ireland, one of the nine counties of Ulster and one of the thirty-two traditional Counties of Ireland, counties of Ireland. It is no longer used as an admini ...
, in
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland ( ga, Tuaisceart Éireann ; sco, label= Ulster-Scots, Norlin Airlann) is a part of the United Kingdom, situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, that is variously described as a country, province or region. Nort ...
.
Career
Stuart's first found success when
Larry Cunningham
Larry Cunningham (13 February 1938 – 28 September 2012) was an Irish country music singer, who was one of the leading figures of the showband scene in the 1960s and 1970s. Cunningham accomplished a series of "firsts" during his career. In 1964 ...
left the
Mighty Avons showband in 1969, after auditioning he landed the role of lead singer. After charting in Ireland on many occasions he later left the Mighty Avons in 1974 to form his own band – The Homesteaders.
Prior to finding fame, Stuart worked as a brick-layer and as a photographer with the Dungannon Observer newspaper.
Style
Stuart charted with many cover versions of US
country
A country is a distinct part of the world, such as a state, nation, or other political entity. It may be a sovereign state or make up one part of a larger state. For example, the country of Japan is an independent, sovereign state, while the ...
hits as well as some more traditional Irish songs.
Selected Discography
Singles
*1969
Before the Next Teardrop Falls
''Before The Next Teardrop Falls'' is an album by Freddy Fender.
His first album, it was released in 1974. The album includes the number-one hits "Before the Next Teardrop Falls" and "Wasted Days and Wasted Nights". It peaked at No. 20 on the ...
(Number 3, Irish Charts)
*1970 I'm Just Lucky I Guess (Number 5, Irish Charts)
*1971 I'd Rather Love and Lose You (Number 11, Irish Charts)
*1971 Don't Go (Number 9, Irish Charts)
*1972
Kiss an Angel Good Mornin'
"Kiss an Angel Good Mornin'" is a song written by Ben Peters, and recorded by American country music artist Charley Pride. It was released in October 1971 as the first single from the album '' Charley Pride Sings Heart Songs''. The song has since ...
(Number 6, Irish Charts)
*1973 Papa's Wagon (Number 20, Irish Charts)
*1973 Christmas in my Hometown (Number 2, Irish Charts)
*1974 If Teardrops were Pennies (Number 19, Irish Charts)
*1974 The Man Behind the Gun
*1975 Santa and the Kids (Number 15, Irish Charts)
*1975 My Nora (Number 14, Irish Charts)
*1979 She is the Dream
*1981 Old Fashioned Girl
Albums
*1971 The Best of Gene Stuart and the Mighty Avons (Dolphin Rercords)
*1981 Pure Country (K-Tel records, Compilation Album)
*1998 Once Again
*2000 Ireland's Country Legend
*2000 Sincerely Irish
*2017 (Posthumous release)Old Loves and Country Memories
(Note There were very many more singles and LP's pre ITunes etc., this section will be constantly improved when references to same can be found)
References
Musicians from County Tyrone
Irish country singers
1951 births
2016 deaths
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