Billy Stewart (March 24, 1937 – January 17, 1970) was an American R&B singer and
pianist known for his distinctive vocal style, characterized by scatting,
improvisation, and rapid phrasing. Born in Washington, D.C., he began his career
as a child singing with his brothers before transitioning to secular music. His
early career saw him performing with groups like the Rainbows, where he met
Marvin Gaye, and working as a session musician for Bo Diddley. Billy Stewart
signed with Chess Records in the 1950s and released his first hit, "Billy’s
Blues" (1956). His breakthrough came in t...