(Credits: Far Out / Allan Warren)
Few rock stars can ascend to the pinnacle of success entirely alone. Unless you’re The Beatles, capable of amassing millions of fans solely on the strength of your music, most artists rely on a network of supportive friends to kickstart their careers—whether it’s through mentorship, musical collaboration, or guidance in the industry. While Rod Stewart has undoubtedly crossed paths with numerous rock legends throughout his career, he credits Long John Baldry as the pivotal figure who propelled him into becoming a professional singer.
Before Stewart had even started out, Britain was already going through a major change in its music scene. Loving the sounds of 1950s rock and roll, The Beatles and The Rolling Stones prompted the first British invasion overseas, introducing the world to what could happen if a full band took over the world rather than a handful of solo artists.
While the pop bands were trying their hand at making the biggest hits on the charts, the underground was filled with artists looking to channel their emotional creativity into the blues. After years of jazz bands clogging up the airwaves, these artists were influenced by the sounds of all strands of blues from America, whether it was the Chicago blues of Muddy Waters or the maniacal guitar licks of Robert Johnson.
Despite the emphasis on the guitar, it took a true belter to do justice to any blues song. Even though many phenomenal singers like Sleepy John Estes and Howlin’ Wolf showed legions of singers how to really sing the blues, Long John Baldry was his own unique animal, cutting his first blues albums while The Beatles were filming A Hard Day’s Night.
Anyone performing alongside Baldry needed to show their stuff, though, and he ended up mingling with two of the biggest artists in the world without knowing it. Before they achieved stardom, Stewart would cut his teeth singing and playing harmonica in Baldry’s band, while pianist Reggie Dwight, later rechristened Elton John, would tickle the ivories behind him.
Since playing the same blues songs could get tedious after a while, it wasn’t long before Stewart started looking for other work, becoming an integral part of The Faces and later jamming with Jeff Beck. While Stewart wouldn’t see real success until much later, he credited Baldry with teaching him everything he knew.
In light of Baldry’s passing, Stewart would credit him for his entire career, telling The Guardian, “He was everything. Absolutely everything. He not only got me started … He found me drunk, singing on Twickenham railway station, playing harmonica. I loved him so much. It’s time I wrote a song about him”.
Despite the massive differences in Baldry’s and Stewart’s performance styles, there are more than a few similarities in how they treated their craft. As opposed to trying to make the best out of being an entertainer, both Stewart and Baldry were in for the long haul, doing whatever they could to get by until they built themselves up to be the best artists that they knew. Most musicians get into the business just to have fun, but Baldry taught Stewart that life as an entertainer is not just for fun. It’s a lifestyle.
