The spoken tributes included Nick Reynolds of the Kingston Trio, Max Kennedy whose childhood memories of John as a mischievous brother and father figure, after his own father, Robert Kennedy's death, was both touching and funny. Video presentations of John Glenn, Scott Carpenter and Rosanne Cash, all touched on various periods of a career that lasted a half a century.

The John Stewart Tribute band, including Chuck McDermott, John Hoke, Dave Crossland and the ever-present bass player, Dave Batti, weaved between their own carefully arranged covers of such Stewart classics as Mother Country, Armstrong, while giving able back-up to such artists as Bill Mumy, Chip Douglas and Henry Diltz. Buffy Ford-Stewart gave an enchantingly beautiful interpretation of California Bloodlines, on banjo singing, There's a California cowboy in my song…

One of the highlights of the evening was the rare appearance of the We Five. After two songs in tribute to John, they performed their #1 hit from 1965, Ian and Sylvia's You Were On My Mind. The band leader, Jerry Burgan talked of his childhood knowing John, forming the We Five with Michael Stewart (John's younger brother) and the encouragement they received while Stewart was in The Kingston Trio. He introduced the hit by saying the arrangement of the song would never have come to be without John's influence.

The concert peaked with Lindsey Buckingham's delivery of John's Kingston Trio song, Lock All The Windows. This performance was haunting and heartbreaking. If there was ever a time when you'd expect to see the smile of one lonesome picker from somewhere above, it was during this performance. Well, that's not really fair. It was one moment among many that would've made John Stewart proud. But the dynamics in voice and the haunting melody and lyrics to the song matched the moment of tribute and loss. He also inevitably covered Stewart's only top ten hit as a solo artist, Gold, with the band and Buffy.

The surprise visit from Davy Jones of The Monkees brought a light and celebrative touch to Daydream Believer. John always jokingly feared he would go down in music history as the guy who wrote, Daydream Believer. From the body of work, the diversity, the many chapters of his career, it is safe to say, John Stewart will be remembered for much more than this. As a musical pioneer who helped create and personify what's become known as Americana, his legacy as a poet, visionary, storyteller, songwriter, mentor and innovator in folk music is assured. This became especially apparent through the experience of love, joy, loyalty and passion demonstrated last Saturday in his old home of Malibu. This memorial concert was one for the ages.

Terry Roland is an English teacher, freelance writer, occasional poet, songwriter and folk and country enthusiast. The music has been in his blood since being raised in Texas. He came to California where he was taught to say 'dude' at an early age.

 

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