Rod Stewart is a British singer and songwriter from Highgate, born in 1945. He is known for his raspy voice and has sold more than 120 million records worldwide.

Career

Stewart begins performing in 1962, busking with a harmonica. In 1963 he joins the Dimensions as a harmonica player and vocalist, then becomes part of Long John Baldry and the All Stars in 1964. He joins the Jeff Beck Group in 1967, then Faces in 1969. He also starts his solo career in 1969 with An Old Raincoat Won't Ever Let You Down.

His early solo records draw on rock, folk, soul and R&B. Every Picture Tells a Story (1971) reaches number one in the UK, US, Canada and Australia and includes “Maggie May”. Never a Dull Moment (1972) also tops the UK and Australian charts, with “You Wear It Well” reaching number one in the UK. After further UK top-ten hits, Faces disbands in 1975.

Later singles include “Sailing” from Atlantic Crossing (1975), “Tonight's the Night (Gonna Be Alright)” from A Night on the Town (1976), “You're in My Heart (The Final Acclaim)” and “Hot Legs” from Foot Loose & Fancy Free (1977), and “Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?” from Blondes Have More Fun (1978). In the late 1970s and early 1980s he explores disco and new wave before moving towards soft rock and middle-of-the-road material.

Style and later work

Stewart’s albums continue to chart strongly in the UK, Germany and Sweden, while generally doing less well in the US. Rhythm of My Heart from Vagabond Heart (1991) becomes a top-five hit in the UK, US and other countries. In 1993 he records “All for Love” with Bryan Adams and Sting, and in the early 2000s he releases a series of albums interpreting the Great American Songbook.

Recognition

Stewart has ten number-one albums and 31 UK top-ten singles, six of them number one. In the US he has 16 top-ten singles, four of them number one on the Billboard Hot 100. He receives a Grammy Award and a Brit Award, is ranked number 33 in Q Magazine’s Top 100 Greatest Singers, and is named the 17th most successful artist on Billboard magazine’s Billboard Hot 100 All-Time Top Artists list in 2008.

He is inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a solo artist in 1994 and again as a member of Faces in 2012, and enters the UK Music Hall of Fame in 2006. He is knighted in Britain’s 2016 Birthday Honours for services to music and charity.

Discography

Stewart’s studio albums include Gasoline Alley (1970), Smiler (1974), Foolish Behaviour (1980), Body Wishes (1983), Out of Order (1988), A Spanner in the Works (1995), Human (2001), Soulbook (2009), Time (2013), Blood Red Roses (2018), The Tears of Hercules (2021) and Swing Fever (2024) with Jools Holland.