James Dewar (born October 12, 1942, in Glasgow; died May 16, 2002 in Glasgow) was a Scottish bassist and vocalist for Robin Trower and Stone The Crows, the latter having its beginnings as the resident band at the legendary Burns Howff in Glasgow. Dewar's career began with Lulu and the Luvvers in the early 1960s. His career eventually reached its zenith with the Robin Trower Band, a British rock power trio, after the 1974 release of the album Bridge of Sighs. Dewar made his mark as one of the greatest white soul singers, performing in front of sold-out stadiums and concert halls across the United States at the crest of the 1970s classic rock era. The Scotsman had a rich, powerful voice, with a soulful timbre, and was widely regarded as one of the most under-rated rock vocalists. Deep, gritty, and resonating, his style shows the influence of Ray Charles and Otis Redding. Along with fellow Brits Paul Rodgers and Frankie Miller, his voice is particularly suited for blues and soul-inspired material. In his best moments, Dewar was a vocalist extraordinaire, and many fans consider it a shame that he did not have more of an opportunity to explore his range.
With many of his friends, Dewar recorded his one solo album, Stumbledown Romancer, during the 1970s, at the height of his career, but it was not released until two decades later. He collaborated primarily with longtime Procol Harum organist Matthew Fisher on the album, with the title track relating a hard-luck story ...
...Stumbledown Romancer I never made the grade Never on the dance-floor when the music played Always moving on when I should have stayed...
External links
- AngelFire.com - 'James Dewar: Band/Career' History' (fansite)
- Home.ca.inter.net - 'James Dewar Tribute' (Bridge of Sighs fansite)
- Kneeling.co.uk - 'Stone the Crows: Teenage Licks' (album review)
- Steve's Place - 'In memory of James Dewar'
- Steve's Place - '"Listen...listen to the Bluebird sing": James Dewar' (Steve's Place Fan Section)
- ProcolHarum.com - 'James Dewar, 1942–2002: An epitaph to a Scottish legend'
- ProcolHarum.com - 'Tracking down the Stumbledown Romancer: "...and somebody called me a rock-and-roll sage..."' (Stumbledown Romancer album review)
- TrowerPower.com - Official Robin Trower website
- YouTube.com (video) - 'Stumbledown Romancer'
