Screaming Mama wrote of the “younger” oldsters who are still playing Rock in their 50’s with a mention of Cher at 60 who still going strong. They each owe something to Alice Stuart.

Like many of those who became Rock and Roll legends in the 60’s Alice began as a Folk Singer. Soon after she graduated from high school in Chelan Washington she headed to Seattle where she began playing at a local Folk  Hang out, Pamir House. She also began appearing at as a regular on a weekly local TV gig on Hootenanny.

In 1961 she appeared at the Seattle World’s Fair. During this time she discovered the music of Furry Lewis, Blind Willie McTell and Bessie Smith. The blues she knew was the music she wanted to play.  

In 1964 she performed at the Berkeley Folk Festival where she formed a friendship with Mississippi John Hurt, one that would have them touring together. She also toured during these early years with Rosalie Sorrels, Jack Elliott, Doc Watson, Phil Ochs and Joan Baez, all icons in the folk world.

In the early days of the Mothers of Invention Frank Zappa added Alice as lead guitarist and vocals. They also became romantically during this time.  Frank was playing  Country blues at this time, Muddy Waters and Howlin Wolf and thought Alice as lead guitar and vocals would be good for the band. Frank and Alice’s musical styles though proved to be different and they eventually parted.

Alice eventually returned to Berkeley and formed a band. Soon she signed with Fantasy Records along with her friend John Fogerty. Like Fogerty her contract claimed ownership to every song she would write during this period.  Both Alice and John were victims of the contract Saul wrote and would cost each hundreds of thousands of dollars.

In the 70’s Alice  appeared on the Dick Caveat show  hosted that evening by George Carlin. She also appeared  on British TV during a tour of Europe forever became a British favorite.

During the 70's Alice would be featured in several magizines. Guitar Player magazine featured Alice in an article in 1974. Rolling Stone Magazine profiled Stuart in 1975 in a feature, "Guitars of the Stars", where she was mentioned alongside Chet Atkins, Mike Bloomfield, David Bromberg, Jose Feliciano, Bonnie Raitt, and Doc Watson, among others.

Jackie Deshannon would have a number one hit in 1970 with a song that Alice wrote, “Full Time Woman”. Alice never received a dime from royalties. Her music has been covered by many artists over the years but again Alice never receives the royalties from those covers even though she is listed as the songwriter.

In the mid 70’s while touring in Europe with Van Morrison Alice quit. She was burnt out and disillusioned. She left music behind returning to collage. She moved to a Northern California community to raise her son and daughter. She went to work as a legal secretary in an office were no one knew of her music past. She worked for an attorney  played guitar and folk music but had no idea of Alice’s background. She was purposely anonymous.

Alice would not play music again for nearly 20 years. It would be the California Blue Grass Association Fathers Day festival in Grass Valley California that would spark the interest. Alice would attend the festival and jam.

In the mid 90’s KVMR radio featured a live concert of Alice Stuart. It was her first performance in nearly 20 years. Few attended and as Alice came to find out that night, “no one remembers me”.  

Alice did not become a leader of a Rock and Roll band by being a shrinking violet.  Alice had to be a strong willed woman to succeed in the 60’s as a band leader. Women were not  welcomed as lead Rock guitarist or even more so as band leaders when Alice was blazing her trail. You had to be strong and, well as a “bitch” at times. Far from being deterred Alice pushed ahead with her come back.

It was not an easy comeback as much had changed from the years when the Grateful Dead opened for her. So many were not aware that it was Alice who  as a female leader of a Rock band, writing her own music, playing lead guitar and international rock tours helped blaze a path for female musicians such as Bonnie  Raitt, Joan Jett, Melissa Etheridge and Chrissie Hynde, among others. Bonnie Raitt has mentioned Alice as an influence.

Alice in her comeback would write song that would be voted best song at the Sundance Film Festival. The song, “I Ruined Your Life” was featured in the “Station Agent”. 

The last few years Alice has been voted as best songwriter, blues guitar player and best blues band in Seattle. At 67 she is still cooking.

 I have included a few You Tube videos that I feel represent her music, The first “Down Earth Man” is a solo video from a TV performance,  the second is of Alice again solo blues that demonstrates her country blues roots, the last is Alice and her electric rocking blues.

Enjoy