My Maria

The Zoo Crew is spinning the classic tune "My Maria" by B.W. Stevenson from his 1973 album of the same name, and Zoo Freaks, this one’s got some wild stories behind it! Did you know "My Maria" was born out of a bit of musical recycling? Stevenson and songwriter Daniel Moore originally worked on Moore’s song "Shambala," which Stevenson released in February 1973. Just two weeks later, Three Dog Night dropped their version, which soared to #3 on the U.S. charts, leaving Stevenson’s at #66. Not ones to give up, Stevenson and Moore reworked "Shambala" into "My Maria," transforming it into a heartfelt ode to a beautiful woman. The gamble paid off—this version hit #9 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #1 on the Adult Contemporary chart in 1973. Moore later shared in a 2014 interview with Oak Cliff Advocate that he’d been stuck on the song for two years, but Stevenson whipped up the rest of the lyrics in just 15 minutes!

Another juicy tidbit: the song’s creation involved a bit of playful rivalry. Moore once called out Stevenson for letting people think he wrote "Shambala" solo. According to Songfacts, in 1987, Moore confronted him, and Stevenson, with a big grin, said, “I never said that I wrote it... But I also never said that I didn’t write it.” The track itself is a star-studded affair, featuring Larry Carlton on guitar and Jim Gordon on drums, adding that smooth, country-rock vibe Zoo Freaks love. Plus, the song’s legacy lives on—Brooks & Dunn covered it in 1996, taking it to #1 on the country charts and even winning a Grammy. A post on X by @TracesofTexas in 2023 noted that when Brooks & Dunn filmed their video for it, they chose the stunning Big Bend Ranch State Park in Texas, tying it back to Stevenson’s Lone Star roots.

Now, let’s groove into how B.W. Stevenson got his start. Born Louis Charles Stevenson on October 5, 1949, in Dallas, Texas, he went by “Buckwheat” or “B.W.” from early on. Growing up, he was surrounded by music, attending W.H. Adamson High School alongside future stars like Michael Martin Murphey and Ray Wylie Hubbard. As a teen, he jammed in local rock bands, honing his chops before heading to college. Life took a detour when he joined the U.S. Air Force, but music called him back. After his service, he settled in Austin, a hotbed for the emerging progressive country scene. Stevenson became a regular on the city’s vibrant club circuit, catching the eye of RCA Records. His 1972 self-titled debut and follow-up Lead Free laid the groundwork, but it was My Maria in 1973 that made him a household name. Known for his sweet voice and songwriting, he also recorded a Christian album, Lifeline, and left a legacy celebrated through the B.W. Stevenson Memorial Singer-Songwriter Contest at Poor David’s Pub in Dallas.

Sadly, B.W. Stevenson passed away in 1988 at age 38, so official websites and active social media accounts don’t exist for him today. However, fans keep his spirit alive across the web. You can dive into his music and story on fan-driven pages like his Wikipedia entry or check out discussions on Last.fm, where listeners share their love for his work. For community vibes, the 70s Music Lovers Facebook group often buzzes with posts about Stevenson’s hits like "My Maria," perfect for Zoo Freaks looking to connect with fellow fans. While there’s no official Facebook, Instagram, or X for Stevenson, searching his name on these platforms will pull up fan posts and tributes, especially around r/70smusic on Reddit, where a 2023 post about "My Maria" got love from the community.