Music was always part of his life. With his father a Pentecostal minister and his mother a missionary who played piano, Don Stewart credits his early upbringing for his passion for music.
Stewart (professionally, he uses both his names, DonStewart, without a space between) is appearing in the next Music at Queen’s concert at Queens Avenue United Church on Saturday, April 2.
The concert features the music of Nat King Cole – the latest evolution in Stewart’s career.
In his youth, Stewart won a talent contest and earned himself a scholarship to the Salem School of the Arts in Detroit, where his first musical and theatrical training began.
He toured throughout Canada and the U.S. as the headliner for various bands, and, after relocating to Vancouver, he studied full-time at the William Davis Actors’ Studio and sought out vocal coaching. It was the role of Nat King Cole that brought him back into a full-time singing career after a long break from performing as a singer – with his four-octave range and smooth vocals, his baritone voice suits Cole’s music and has made him a popular performer everywhere the show has gone.
Stewart has continued to work on original music projects, and original songs and standards share the spotlight on his CDs Midnight Hour and Tender Lies.
Find out more about him at www.donstewart.ca.
Stewart’s concert is at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 regular, $15 students and seniors or $10 for children. See www.queensavenue.org to purchase tickets or for information.
