Rod Stewart’s Hidden Tribute: The Song He Never Wrote—Until Now

Rod Stewart’s career is a testament to resilience, reinvention, and the powerful influence of mentors. Few rock stars reach the heights Stewart has achieved without support, and in his case, that mentor was Long John Baldry—a man he credits for sparking his journey into professional music. Baldry’s passing marked the end of an era for Stewart, who once described the blues singer as “everything” to him. It was Baldry who gave Stewart his first chance in the music world, and it is now Baldry’s memory that Stewart honors in a tribute he had long kept hidden.

Before Stewart rose to fame as the iconic frontman of The Faces and later as a solo artist, he was a young, struggling musician trying to find his way. At the time, Britain was experiencing a musical revolution. The Beatles and The Rolling Stones had already launched the British Invasion, taking over the global charts with their pop hits. But the underground music scene was thriving with a different energy—blues, rooted in the American South and brought to the UK by the likes of Muddy Waters and Robert Johnson. Amidst this burgeoning blues scene stood Long John Baldry, whose powerful vocals and mastery of the genre left an indelible mark on British music.

Baldry was an artist of unique stature. As a blues singer, he carved out a space for himself in an industry dominated by jazz and rock. His influence on younger artists was undeniable. And it was through Baldry that Stewart was introduced to the professional music world. Long before Stewart’s breakthrough, he was a young man playing harmonica and singing in Baldry’s band—sharing stages with Reggie Dwight (later Elton John) and other rising stars, all without fully realizing the significance of the moment.

However, it was Baldry’s role in Stewart’s early career that proved to be the most crucial. When Stewart was discovered drunk and singing on a railway platform in Twickenham, it was Baldry who saw the potential in him and gave him his first real break. Stewart never forgot this act of kindness, and as his career flourished, he frequently credited Baldry as the one who truly shaped him as an artist.

Despite their differing styles—Baldry’s soulful blues versus Stewart’s more rock-infused sound—the two shared an approach to music that transcended the typical glamor of fame. For Baldry, it wasn’t just about entertaining; it was about commitment to the craft and lifestyle of a musician. This is something Stewart learned from him and carried with him throughout his own career. Life as an entertainer, Baldry taught him, was not about the fleeting moments of fun; it was a relentless pursuit of greatness, requiring patience and sacrifice.

In reflecting on Baldry’s influence, Stewart once told The Guardian, “He was everything. Absolutely everything. He not only got me started … He found me drunk, singing on Twickenham railway station, playing harmonica. I loved him so much. It’s time I wrote a song about him.”

And now, after years of keeping this tribute hidden, Stewart has finally put his thoughts into song. For the first time, Stewart has written a song about the man who was pivotal in his life and career, honoring Baldry’s legacy and their bond. It’s a deeply personal tribute, one that Stewart says he could not have written until now—years after Baldry’s passing—because of the emotional weight it carried.

Rod Stewart’s song for Long John Baldry is more than just a musical tribute; it’s a reflection of a deep, unspoken gratitude. It’s a nod to the mentor who helped shape a young artist’s future and a testament to the powerful bonds formed in the unpredictable world of rock ‘n’ roll. In Stewart’s words, “He was everything.” And now, through this song, Baldry’s legacy will live on forever in the music of one of the most iconic rock stars of our time.