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Rod Stewart

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Rod Stewart is a British singer and songwriter, born in 1945 in Highgate in north London. His career began in 1962, when he played harmonica as a street musician. He then sang in various groups, and in 1967 he joined the Jeff Beck Group. In 1969 he became the singer of Faces and also began a solo career with the album An Old Raincoat Won't Ever Let You Down.

Music and breakthrough

His breakthrough was Every Picture Tells a Story in 1971, with the single Maggie May. Never a Dull Moment followed, with You Wear It Well, and after the end of Faces in 1975 the album Atlantic Crossing with the ballad Sailing. Later records such as A Night on the Town, Foot Loose & Fancy Free and Blondes Have More Fun produced hits such as Tonight's the Night, You're in My Heart and Da Ya Think I'm Sexy? Later he carried on with softer rock and in the 2000s recorded songs from the Great American Songbook. His trademark is a raspy voice. He was knighted in 2016.

Influence

Stewart began as a raw rock singer with influences from folk, soul and rhythm and blues. With Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?, a song with disco sounds, he showed that even a rock singer could reach the dance floor. That makes him, in School of Rock, an example of the transition from rock to pop at the end of the 1970s.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to Maggie May and notice the raw voice and the acoustic guitar and mandolin. Compare that with the tight, danceable rhythm of Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?

Discography

Studio albums

In School of Rock

The chapters, maps and magazine stories of School of Rock are currently available in Dutch only.

See also

Categories: Artists