Biography
Born Wilfrid Pierce on 25 September circa 1937 in Annesley Woodhouse near Kirkby-In-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, the future performer spent his childhood driving farm tractors from the age of eight, although his early dream of farming remained unfulfilled. His miner father’s death when the boy was roughly thirteen forced him to leave school and enter the pits. Around 1965 a sibling entered him in a local talent contest; victory there, together with his resonant, commanding voice, secured a steady, paid engagement at the same venue. He acquired a guitar, later mastered piano, and steadily assembled a personal songbook.
Late in the decade, recording for EMI as Stuart Stevens, he issued the coupling “Soft Is The Night” / “Tender Hearted” and guested on Lonnie Donegan’s television programme. In March 1970 he was hired to entertain at a reception honouring American country artists appearing at the Wembley Festival; billed as Willard Pierce, he made so strong an impression that he was added to the festival bill the following day, apparently becoming the first British act to appear there. An Opportunity Knocks appearance in 1972 ended narrowly, three votes behind a juvenile drummer. That same year he cut the album Stories In Song for Youngblood, which eventually sold some twelve thousand copies.
A 1973 disc-jockey convention in Nashville led to bookings at major American venues, among them the Grand Ole Opry and network television slots. Cliffie Stone placed him on the U.S. Granite label in 1974, which reissued the Youngblood album across America and Europe; the track “My Woman My Woman My Wife” gained transatlantic airplay and drew a compliment from its composer, Marty Robbins. Repeated visits to the States continued until both Granite and Youngblood suspended operations, leaving the artist without a contract on either continent.
Stevens maintained a busy schedule in British clubs, initially fronting Silver Mist, later working with Pat and Roger Johns, and eventually sharing stages with his sons Stuart on bass guitar and Steven on keyboards. He established his own recording facility, produced other acts, and launched the Major Oak, Eagle and Ash imprints, whose releases found a loyal following among domestic country listeners. Twelve of twenty-eight previously unreleased Youngblood sides later surfaced on the compilation The Loner.
In 1979 “The Man From Outer Space,” first issued on Eagle and subsequently licensed to MCA, climbed close to the British Top 40 and received playful exposure from Terry Wogan on BBC Radio. Subsequent singles—“If I Heard You Call My Name,” “One Red Rose” and “Hello Pretty Lady”—performed respectably within the country market yet fell short of pop expectations, prompting MCA to drop the artist. His theatre and concert-hall profile nevertheless grew; he continued to choose his own material and declined requests he considered unsuitable.
The death in 1984 of his youngest son at nineteen from a rare heart condition devastated Stevens and his wife. Steven, an exceptionally gifted keyboard player who had performed publicly since the age of seven, had been an integral part of the family act. After fulfilling existing engagements, Stevens largely withdrew from the music scene. Following a long period of retirement, the singer affectionately nicknamed “The Voice” by his followers returned in 2003 with a fresh album on the Ash label.
Late in the decade, recording for EMI as Stuart Stevens, he issued the coupling “Soft Is The Night” / “Tender Hearted” and guested on Lonnie Donegan’s television programme. In March 1970 he was hired to entertain at a reception honouring American country artists appearing at the Wembley Festival; billed as Willard Pierce, he made so strong an impression that he was added to the festival bill the following day, apparently becoming the first British act to appear there. An Opportunity Knocks appearance in 1972 ended narrowly, three votes behind a juvenile drummer. That same year he cut the album Stories In Song for Youngblood, which eventually sold some twelve thousand copies.
A 1973 disc-jockey convention in Nashville led to bookings at major American venues, among them the Grand Ole Opry and network television slots. Cliffie Stone placed him on the U.S. Granite label in 1974, which reissued the Youngblood album across America and Europe; the track “My Woman My Woman My Wife” gained transatlantic airplay and drew a compliment from its composer, Marty Robbins. Repeated visits to the States continued until both Granite and Youngblood suspended operations, leaving the artist without a contract on either continent.
Stevens maintained a busy schedule in British clubs, initially fronting Silver Mist, later working with Pat and Roger Johns, and eventually sharing stages with his sons Stuart on bass guitar and Steven on keyboards. He established his own recording facility, produced other acts, and launched the Major Oak, Eagle and Ash imprints, whose releases found a loyal following among domestic country listeners. Twelve of twenty-eight previously unreleased Youngblood sides later surfaced on the compilation The Loner.
In 1979 “The Man From Outer Space,” first issued on Eagle and subsequently licensed to MCA, climbed close to the British Top 40 and received playful exposure from Terry Wogan on BBC Radio. Subsequent singles—“If I Heard You Call My Name,” “One Red Rose” and “Hello Pretty Lady”—performed respectably within the country market yet fell short of pop expectations, prompting MCA to drop the artist. His theatre and concert-hall profile nevertheless grew; he continued to choose his own material and declined requests he considered unsuitable.
The death in 1984 of his youngest son at nineteen from a rare heart condition devastated Stevens and his wife. Steven, an exceptionally gifted keyboard player who had performed publicly since the age of seven, had been an integral part of the family act. After fulfilling existing engagements, Stevens largely withdrew from the music scene. Following a long period of retirement, the singer affectionately nicknamed “The Voice” by his followers returned in 2003 with a fresh album on the Ash label.
Albums