Van Stephenson

Singer/songwriter Van Stephenson managed to balance a career as both a sought-after songwriter and member of prominent country trio Blackhawk during a career that spanned more than two decades. He also managed to release two rock albums and scored a Top 30 hit on the pop charts in 1984 with "Modern Day Delilah." Born in Hamilton, OH, on November 4, 1953, Stephenson moved to Nashville at the age of ten, spending his teen years inspired by The Beatles and playing in garage bands. Although he went to (and graduated from) seminary school, he continued to pursue his musical ventures, honing his skills as a songwriter and working as a staff writer. In 1979, Crystal Gayle took Stephenson's "Your Kisses Will" into the Top Ten on the country charts, setting the stage for 20 years of chart hits. His writing credits in the '80s alone would include Top Ten songs for Kenny Rogers, Dan Seals, Janie Fricke, and John Anderson. There would also be a long, fruitful partnership with Dave Robbins, with the two of them collaborating on several hits for Restless Heart including "'Til I Loved You," "Big Dreams in a Small Town," the number one "Bluest Eyes in Texas," and an album track from which the band took its name. Concurrent with his songwriting success, Stephenson signed an artist deal when producer Richard Landis presented his demos to MCA Records.

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