Van Stephenson
Encyclopedia
Van Wesley Stephenson was an American singer-songwriter
. He scored two US Billboard Hot 100
hits in the 1980s as a solo artist, and later became tenor vocalist in the country music band BlackHawk in the 1990s. In addition, Van co-wrote several singles for other artists, such as Restless Heart
. Van died of Melanoma
in 2001.
but moved to Nashville, Tennessee
when he was ten years old, and played in garage band
s as a teenager. He graduated from seminary
school and wrote songs on the side in the 1970s; his first chart hit as a songwriter was for Crystal Gayle
, who cracked the US country Top Ten with his "Your Kisses Will" in 1979. Stephenson went on to write hits for Kenny Rogers
, Dan Seals
, Janie Fricke
, and John Anderson
. Partnering with Dave Robbins, Stephenson wrote a string of hits for Restless Heart
, and would continue to work with Robbins later in his career.
First album "China Girl" was released in 1981
Stephenson landed a recording contract of his own, and his album, Righteous Anger, was released in 1984. He scored big on the Billboard charts with "Modern Day Delilah", peaking at #22, and a second hit, "What the Big Girls Do", peaked at #45. Righteous Anger charted at #54 on the Billboard 200
, but his follow-up 1986 disc, Suspicious Heart, did not chart, nor did its lead single, "We're Doing Alright". It also included two songs featured on movie soundtracks: "Make It Glamorous" from the 1984 film The Wild Life
and "No Secrets" from the 1985 film Secret Admirer
. Stephenson returned to songwriting duties until the early 1990s, when he became one-third of BlackHawk, a successful country group, through the end of the decade. In February 1999, Stephenson was diagnosed with melanoma
and underwent surgery. He left the group in early 2000, and he died on the morning of April 8, 2001 as a result of the disease.
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
. He scored two US Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
hits in the 1980s as a solo artist, and later became tenor vocalist in the country music band BlackHawk in the 1990s. In addition, Van co-wrote several singles for other artists, such as Restless Heart
Restless Heart
Restless Heart is an American country music band established in 1984. The band's original members were John Dittrich , Paul Gregg , Dave Innis , Greg Jennings , and Verlon Thompson...
. Van died of Melanoma
Melanoma
Melanoma is a malignant tumor of melanocytes. Melanocytes are cells that produce the dark pigment, melanin, which is responsible for the color of skin. They predominantly occur in skin, but are also found in other parts of the body, including the bowel and the eye...
in 2001.
Biography
Stephenson was born in Hamilton, OhioHamilton, Ohio
Hamilton is a city in Butler County, southwestern Ohio, United States. The population was 62,447 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Butler County. The city is part of the Cincinnati metropolitan area....
but moved to Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
when he was ten years old, and played in garage band
Garage band
The term garage band can refer to:* A band that performs garage rock* GarageBand, audio production software published by Apple Inc.* GarageBand.com, a website that helps publicize emerging bands...
s as a teenager. He graduated from seminary
Seminary
A seminary, theological college, or divinity school is an institution of secondary or post-secondary education for educating students in theology, generally to prepare them for ordination as clergy or for other ministry...
school and wrote songs on the side in the 1970s; his first chart hit as a songwriter was for Crystal Gayle
Crystal Gayle
Crystal Gayle is an American country music singer best known for her 1977 country-pop hit, "Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue". An award-winning singer, she accumulated 18 number one country hits during the 1970s and 1980s...
, who cracked the US country Top Ten with his "Your Kisses Will" in 1979. Stephenson went on to write hits for Kenny Rogers
Kenny Rogers
Kenneth Donald "Kenny" Rogers is an American singer-songwriter, photographer, record producer, actor, and entrepreneur...
, Dan Seals
Dan Seals
Danny Wayland "Dan" Seals was an American musician. The younger brother of Seals & Crofts member Jim Seals, he first gained fame as the "England Dan" half of the soft rock duo England Dan and John Ford Coley, which charted nine pop and adult contemporary singles between 1976 and 1980, including...
, Janie Fricke
Janie Fricke
Janie Fricke is an American country music singer, best remembered for a series of country music hits in the early to mid 1980s....
, and John Anderson
John Anderson (musician)
John David Anderson is an American country music artist with a successful career that has lasted more than 30 years...
. Partnering with Dave Robbins, Stephenson wrote a string of hits for Restless Heart
Restless Heart
Restless Heart is an American country music band established in 1984. The band's original members were John Dittrich , Paul Gregg , Dave Innis , Greg Jennings , and Verlon Thompson...
, and would continue to work with Robbins later in his career.
First album "China Girl" was released in 1981
Stephenson landed a recording contract of his own, and his album, Righteous Anger, was released in 1984. He scored big on the Billboard charts with "Modern Day Delilah", peaking at #22, and a second hit, "What the Big Girls Do", peaked at #45. Righteous Anger charted at #54 on the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
, but his follow-up 1986 disc, Suspicious Heart, did not chart, nor did its lead single, "We're Doing Alright". It also included two songs featured on movie soundtracks: "Make It Glamorous" from the 1984 film The Wild Life
The Wild Life (film)
The Wild Life is a 1984 comedy-drama film, written by Cameron Crowe and directed by Art Linson.The movie was an indirect sequel to the film Fast Times at Ridgemont High. The film is only available on VHS and Laserdisc in pan and scan with stereo analog tracks. No DVD version has been released due...
and "No Secrets" from the 1985 film Secret Admirer
Secret Admirer
Secret Admirer is a 1985 romantic comedy film directed by David Greenwalt starring C. Thomas Howell, Lori Loughlin, Kelly Preston and Fred Ward. The screenplay was written by Greenwalt and Jim Kouf...
. Stephenson returned to songwriting duties until the early 1990s, when he became one-third of BlackHawk, a successful country group, through the end of the decade. In February 1999, Stephenson was diagnosed with melanoma
Melanoma
Melanoma is a malignant tumor of melanocytes. Melanocytes are cells that produce the dark pigment, melanin, which is responsible for the color of skin. They predominantly occur in skin, but are also found in other parts of the body, including the bowel and the eye...
and underwent surgery. He left the group in early 2000, and he died on the morning of April 8, 2001 as a result of the disease.
Albums
| Year | Title | US Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | China Girl | — |
| 1984 | Righteous Anger | 54 |
| 1986 | Suspicious Hearts | — |
Singles
| Year | Title | US Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | "Modern Day Delilah" | 22 | Righteous Anger |
| "What the Big Girls Do" | 45 | ||
| 1986 | "We're Doing Alright" | — | Suspicious Hearts |