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'Daydream Believer' Writer Dies At 68

John Stewart passes away in San Diego...

January 21, 2008 by Daniel Melia
'Daydream Believer' Writer Dies At 68
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Songwriter John Stewart who penned the Monkees hit ‘Daydream Believer’ has died at the age of 68.

Stewart, who was a member of the folk group The Kingston Trio, suffered either a massive stroke or brain aneurysm according to the band’s website.

He was in his hotel room in San Diego at the time and doctors have said that had he survived any surgery would have left him immobile or unable to speak.

Stewart wrote ‘Daydream Believer’ in 1967 the same year he left The Kingston Trio whom he’d joined in 1961.

After writing the global hit he then produced over 45 solo albums and scored a top five hit in the US with the single ‘Gold’ in 1979.

In recent years he had been told that he was in the early stages of alzheimer’s and had suffered several minor strokes.

In a statement on The Kingston Trio site his friend Tom DeLisle wrote: "John Stewart leaves a compilation of musical excellence unparalleled in his time."

"He leaves behind a wide-ranging group of fans who have felt a passion for him and his music that bordered on fanaticism."
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  • Thank you John...met you in 1969 in N Cali...when you got booed off the stage at a hard core RR show. I went back stage to tell you I liked your stuff. You were cool. A feel like a bit of me has left.

    ~ by jim kirk 1/21/2008 Report

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  • Hard news to take in. Never met John but saw him at The Band on The Wall in Manchester on his so called Farewell Tour. His music kept me connected in memory with friends who went their own way long ago. I shall miss John as I miss them.

    ~ by Alan Sellers 1/21/2008 Report

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  • Great singer, guitarist, and song writer. So much more than just the writer of ”Daydream Believer” or a member of the Kingston Trio as the headlines seemed to have only focused on.

    ~ by BillWylie 1/21/2008 Report

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  • No one else’s music moved me the way John Stewart’s did. He made me believe in love when I lost hope, believe in our country when it was going to hell, and believe in humor when I found nothing funny. I fell in love with him when I was in high school, and even though I’m in my 50’s now, I guess I’m still in love with him. What a worthwhile life he lived.

    ~ by karen vogel cayley 1/22/2008 Report

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