Chad Stuart

David Stuart Chadwick (10 December 1941 – 20 December 2020), better known by his stage name Chad Stuart, was an English musician. He was one half of the duo Chad & Jeremy.

Chad Stuart
Chad Stuart in 1959, while attending the Durham Cathedral Chorister School.[1]
Born
David Stuart Chadwick

(1941-12-10)10 December 1941
Died20 December 2020(2020-12-20) (aged 79)
Occupation(s)Musician, producer
Years active1960–2018
Spouse(s)Jill Gibson (m. 1964; divorced)
Valerie Romero (divorced)
Judy Shelly
(m. 2010)
ChildrenJames Patrick Stuart

Stuart has writing credits on four of the 11 Chad & Jeremy songs which entered the U.S. Hot 100. Stuart has sole credit for the duo's first hit, "Yesterday's Gone" (their only hit in the UK), and credits on "You Are She" (Stuart/Clyde), and "A Summer Song" (Stuart/Metcalfe/Noble), and "What Do You Want With Me" (Stuart/Clyde).[2][3]

Early life

Stuart was born on 10 December 1941 in Windermere, Westmorland, a town in the North West of England.[4] His father, Frank Chadwick, was a foreman in the lumber industry and his mother, Frieda Chadwick (née Bedford), was a nurse.[1] At five, Stuart's family moved to Hartlepool in the North East of England when his father's job was transferred.[4][5]

At 10, Stuart was recognized for his musical talent and earned a scholarship to attend the Durham Cathedral Chorister School.[1][4] After graduation, Stuart briefly attended an art school for a year before switching to drama. Stuart won a scholarship to the Central School of Speech and Drama in London. There, Stuart met fellow student Jeremy Clyde.[5]

Career

Stuart began working with Clyde as the British music duo Chad & Jeremy in 1962 and they had their first hit song in the UK with "Yesterday's Gone" (1963). That song became a hit in the United States in the following year as part of the British Invasion. The duo had a string of hits in the United States, including "Willow Weep for Me", "Before and After", and their biggest hit, "A Summer Song". Stuart also voiced one of the vultures in the 1967 movie The Jungle Book. After some commercial failures and divergent personal ambitions, Chad & Jeremy disbanded in 1968. In the early 1980s, the duo reunited to record a new album and perform concerts, including a multi-band British Invasion nostalgia tour.

Following the breakup of Chad & Jeremy, Stuart worked as a staff producer at A&M Records and musical director for the Smothers Brothers.[5] Over the years, Stuart and Clyde reunited to record and tour. In 2003, the duo were officially reunited again and had a semi-regular touring schedule until Stuart's retirement in 2016.[6]

On 20 December 2020, Stuart died of pneumonia following a fall.[7]

Personal life

Stuart was called Chad as a teenager and in 1964 legally changed his name.[1] In 1964, Stuart married his first wife, English model Jill Gibson, whom he met while attending the Central School of Speech and Drama.[4][8]

Stuart has several children and step-children.[9] One of Stuart's sons, from his first marriage, is American television, film, and voice actor James Patrick Stuart.

Stuart later settled in the state of Idaho in the northwestern U.S.A.[10]

Stuart supported and donated to Habitat for Humanity, the Humane Society, Horse Rescue, and other benefits.[9] All profits from CD sales of his 2013 album Chad Stuart & the KGB went to stopping the slaughter of wild horses.[11]

Partial discography

With Chad & Jeremy

Solo

  • "The Cruel War"/"I Can't Talk to You" (Chad & Jill single, 1966)
  • Don't Argue with an Elephant (2010)
  • Chad Stuart and the KGB (2013)

As producer

(List may be incomplete)

YearAlbumArtist
1969Celebration of Life

Stuart also arranged

Gale Caldwell
1969TarantulaTaratula
1970Silent Song Through the LandRon Davies
1970At Home

Producers: Glyn Johns, David Anderle, Chad Stuart

Lambert & Nuttycombe
1970Gift of SongJudith Durham
1977Tiny Little Star

Producers: Chad Stuart, Jimmie Haskell

Harry Sonoda
1983Chad Stuart & Jeremy Clyde

Executive producer: Gary Davis

Chad & Jeremy
2002Phil Hartman's Flat TVPhil Hartman

References

External links