Louis Charles "B.W." Stevenson, born on October 5, 1949, in Dallas, Texas, was an American country pop singer and musician. He attended W.H. Adamson High School with other notable musicians such as Michael Martin Murphey and Ray Wylie Hubbard. Stevenson's breakthrough came when he performed for the intended pilot of Austin City Limits on October 13, 1974, although the recording was not broadcast due to poor quality. His biggest hit was "My Maria", co-written with Daniel Moore, which reached number 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in September 1973 and number 3 in Canada. Other notable singles include "The River of Love" and "Down to the Station". Stevenson's album releases include B.W. Stevenson (1972), Lead Free (1972), My Maria (1973), and Calabasas (1974). He also recorded a contemporary Christian album titled Lifeline, which had success on Christian radio with the hit "Headin' Home". Stevenson's posthumous album, Rainbow Down the Road, includes a duet with Willie Nelson. In early April 1988, Stevenson underwent heart valve surgery and developed a staph infection, leading to his death on April 28 at the age of 38. Since his passing, Poor David's Pub in Dallas has held an annual songwriting competition in his memory.
