Morris Stewart (January 13, 1953, – May 19, 2017) – What's the Name of This Funk (Spider Man) (1975)

Spidey could have vanquished all his foes with the power of this funky jam, co-written by Charles Stepney and the songwriter who later wrote Oprah's theme music.

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(Note to readers: ICYMI, much more of our exclusive interview with Motown’s last surviving Funk Brother Jack Ashford is now online, with still more to come. It is one of the most intimate, revealing interviews Ashford has ever given.)

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Morris “Butch” Stewart was a singer/songwriter, producer, and executive. In addition to writing for and producing various artists, he ran one of Chicago’s top production companies specializing in music for television and radio.

Born in Chicago, Stewart was the third of four siblings. He went to high school in Harvey, Illinois, and attended DePaul University.

In 1975, he and his future wife Brenda Mitchell were hired as backing vocalists by Ramsey Lewis. They appeared on his next album Don't It Feel Good (1975), co-produced by Lewis and the legendary producer/arranger Charles Stepney and recognized as one of the funkiest releases in Lewis’ catalog.

Stewart also helped write three songs for the LP. The first was the funk bomb “What's The Name Of This Funk (Spider Man),” which he co-wrote with Stepney and multi-instrumentalist Derf Reklaw Raheem, who played flute, congas, tambourine, and cowbell and also sang on the album. It was released as the LP’s second single and hit #6 on Billboard’s disco charts.

“Spider Man” was memorably broadcast later that year on Soul Train for the Gang to get down to, with future Shalamar members Jeffrey Daniels (white suit) and Jody Watley (wearing jeans with a scarf) showing off their funky dancefloor Spidey sense.

The single’s B-side was the beautiful quiet storm slow jam “Juaacklyn,” solely written by Stewart.

Stewart also co-wrote the album’s very funky closing cut “Can't Function” along with Stepney.

For Lewis’ 1978 LP Tequila Mockingbird, Stewart wrote another gem, the laid back funky cut “My Angel's Smile.” Like the rest of the album, it was co-produced by the great Bert DeCouteaux and Earth, Wind & Fire keyboardist Larry Dunn.

That same year, Stewart founded JoyArtMusic, a musical production company that created advertising jingles and music for TV and radio. Their most notable creations were the theme music for the Oprah Winfrey Show and the Tom Joyner Morning Show.

Rest in Power, Morris Stewart.

Further info:

“Morris Butch Stewart,” The HistoryMakers.org

“Chicago Music Producer, Morris “Butch” Stewart Dies At 64,” Chicago Defender, May, 2017.

“Morris 'Butch' Stewart dies; did music for Oprah, Joyner,” Chicago Sun-Times, May 22, 2017.

#soul #funk #disco #Chicago #RamseyLewis #Oprah #MorrisStewart