B.W. Stevenson

Born October 5, 1949, in Dallas, Texas, Lewis Stevenson—who performed and recorded as B.W. Stevenson, a moniker said to derive from the nickname Buckwheat—remains chiefly associated with the 1973 hit “My Maria.” During his teenage years he performed with several Dallas-area rock groups, later enrolling in college and enlisting in the U.S. Air Force. After completing his service he relocated to the Austin region, where he quickly became a regular performer on the city’s vibrant club scene. RCA signed him and positioned his early work toward country audiences, yet neither the 1972 self-titled debut nor the follow-up album Lead Free gained traction. The title song from 1973’s My Maria, however, reached the pop Top Ten—though it failed to register on country charts. Subsequent releases never matched that single’s impact; after issuing Calabasas in 1974 he moved to Warner Bros., which released We Be Sailin’ the following year. His final chart entry, “Down to the Station,” appeared on the 1977 album Lost Feeling. The 1980 LP Lifeline marked the end of his recording career. Stevenson underwent heart surgery and died on April 28, 1988, at the age of thirty-eight.