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

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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

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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

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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

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With Chad & Jeremy

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Solo

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  • "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

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(List may be incomplete)

Year Album Artist
1969 Celebration of Life

Stuart also arranged

Gale Caldwell
1969 Tarantula Taratula
1970 Silent Song Through the Land Ron Davies
1970 At Home

Producers: Glyn Johns, David Anderle, Chad Stuart

Lambert & Nuttycombe
1970 Gift of Song Judith Durham
1977 Tiny Little Star

Producers: Chad Stuart, Jimmie Haskell

Harry Sonoda
1983 Chad Stuart & Jeremy Clyde

Executive producer: Gary Davis

Chad & Jeremy
2002 Phil Hartman's Flat TV Phil Hartman

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Traub, Alex (22 December 2020). "Chad Stuart, of the Hit British Duo Chad & Jeremy, Dies at 79". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 1 April 2021.
  2. ^ "Chad & Jeremy Chart History". Billboard. Archived from the original on 7 April 2019. Retrieved 1 November 2021.
  3. ^ "Chad Stuart & Jeremy Clyde Lyric Index". www.chadandjeremy.net. Archived from the original on 29 January 2003. Retrieved 1 November 2021.
  4. ^ a b c d Rhoden, Frank Jason (2006). "Timeline... part one (before 1964)". Electric Paintbox. Archived from the original on 3 September 2002. Retrieved 1 April 2021.
  5. ^ a b c Thompson, David (2000). "The Chad and Jeremy Story". Rock's Backpages. Archived from the original on 19 March 2013. Retrieved 1 April 2021.
  6. ^ Rhoden, Frank Jason (2010). "Timeline...part seven (reunited again: 2002 to today)". Electric Paintbox. Archived from the original on 11 September 2011. Retrieved 1 April 2021.
  7. ^ "Chad Stuart, of Britain's Chad & Jeremy Duo, Dead at 79". Best Classic Bands. 20 December 2020. Archived from the original on 20 December 2020. Retrieved 1 April 2021.
  8. ^ Boron, Allison Johnelle. "Chad & Jeremy's Double Life". Rebeat. Archived from the original on 2 December 2014. Retrieved 1 April 2021.
  9. ^ a b "David Stuart Chadwick". Idaho Mountain Express. 23 December 2020. Archived from the original on 28 December 2020. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
  10. ^ Rhoden, Frank Jason (2009). "Timeline...part six (in the wilderness: 1987 to 2002)". Electric Paintbox. Archived from the original on 7 September 2002. Retrieved 1 April 2021.
  11. ^ Rhoden, Frank Jason (2013). "Chad Stuart & the KGB". Chad Stuart & Jeremy Clyde. Electric Paintbox. Archived from the original on 2 August 2018. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
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