News — Howard University

Pianist, composer, lyricist, “word doubling” singer William Larry Stewart II, known by his stage name, Billy Stewart, was born on March 24, 1937, in Freemen’s Hospital on the campus of Howard University, Washington, D.C. His parents were William Larry Stewart, Sr. and Idabel Stewart and he had three brothers, Frank, James, and Johnny. 

At the age of nine, Stewart played the piano. At 12, he began singing gospel with his three younger brothers. All of them were taught piano by the mother and they were known as “the Stewart Gospel Singers” under the direction of Idabel Steward. In 1955, Billy Steward graduated from Armstrong Technical High School, an all-black high school in then racially segregated Washington, D.C. 

The legendary guitarist Bo Diddley discovered Stewart’s gift and talent as a pianist in 1956 when he saw his performance with the R&B group, the Rainbows, and introduced him to Chicago-based Chess Records’ talent scouts. Stewart signed with Chess in 1956 and recorded his first song “Billy’s Blues,” with Diddley performing in the background on guitar. In 1957, however, Stewart left Chess for Okeh, another Chicago label. There he recorded “Billy’s Heartaches.” 

In the early 1960s, Stewart began working with A&R man Billy Davis where he recorded the songs “Fat Boy,” “Reap What You Sow,” and “Strange Feeling.” All three records made the Billboard Hot 100 and the Top 30 in the R&B charts.

In 1960, Billy Stewart married Sarah B. Stewart and they were the parents of three children.

In 1965, Stewart returned to Chess Records where he created his unique word-doubling singing technique. He released the song, “I Do Love You” which reached # 6 on the R&B chart and #26 on the Billboard Hot 100. Later that year he recorded “Sitting in the Park,” which hit #4 on the R&B chart and #24 on the Billboard Hot 100. In 1966, Stewart uniquely arranged one of the favorite arias from Gershwin’s opera, Porgy and Bess, “Summertime.” Because of his strength in music theory, Stewart brought exceptional excitement to this composition by his extraordinary cadenza scatting skills. The recording reached #10 on the Billboard Hot 100 and sold more than 700,000 records.

On January 17, 1970, less than three years after releasing his greatest hit., Stewart died when his brand-new Ford Thunderbird went off the road and plunged into the Neuse River in North Carolina. The cause of the accident was a dislocated or cracked thread of the left adjusting sleeve in the steering control area, creating this mechanical failure. Stewart was 32 at the time of his death.

In 1979, Ford Motor Company paid $500,000 to settle a suit filed by Stewart’s family. In 2002, thirty-two years after Billy Stewart’s death, in 2002, he was posthumously inducted into the Washington Area Music Association Hall of Fame.

Marketing student Tahir Murray followed in his family’s footsteps by creating a clothing line focused on HBCUs. The Howard University senior designed HBCU apparel that has attracted the attention of Black NBA All-Stars such as Chris Paul.

Last year, Murray participated in Nike’s Air Max campaign. The company honored and celebrated individuals who have attended HBCUs.

“Before we launched in Fall 2019, I knew I wanted to primarily focus on HBCUs to help share our stories,” Murray shared with The Council of Fashion Designers of America. Murray hopes that his clothing brand will continue to bring more visibility to HBCUs.

Keeping the Power of the HBCU Legacy Alive

The first Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) were established in the 1800s, providing higher education opportunities for Black people. Admissions officers typically denied entry to Blacks who were seeking to attend traditional institutions due to segregation and discriminatory practices.

According to NBC, HBCUs are experiencing an alarming drop in enrollment that could threaten their future. “There is a distinct possibility that a number of HBCUs could cease to exist in 20 years or so,” Ronnie Bagley, a 1983 graduate from Norfolk State University shared with NBC. “If that were to occur, many low-income, first-generation students will lose out on an opportunity for a college education.

Penetrating the HBCU Market with Unique Clothing Designs

Murray is on a mission to re-energize the passion for HBCUs. Through his HBCU luxury brand, LegacyHistoryPride™, the college senior is combining his passion for fashion with the needs of the market to drive more attention to HBCUs.

“Before I started LHP, there wasn’t anyone else in the market shining this type of light on HBCU culture through something I grew up on, which is fashion,” Murray shared.

LegacyHistoryPride™ has secured multiple partnerships with HBCUs. The lifestyle brand has over 50,000 followers on social media and connects with thousands of students across the country. According to the website, the company is providing scholarships to current undergraduate HBCU students.

HBCU Student Continuing A Legacy of Clothing Businesses

Murray is on track to obtain his bachelor’s degree in marketing from Howard University this year. According to his LinkedIn profile, he has been in the fashion industry since the day he could walk. Growing up in a family of apparel entrepreneurs, Murray always had his eyes set on continuing the legacy that his grandfather started.

Ortner Murray, Murray’s grandfather, came to the United States from Trinidad & Tobago in 1966 to pursue the American dream. He lived his dreams through entrepreneurship, creating the iconic Von’s Sneaker store in Queens. Murray’s father created the School of Hard Knocks and the Queen’s 7 T-shirt. 

Now, Murray is using this opportunity to showcase what’s possible for the next generation.

Hart Wilson is a young, bustling entrepreneur at the tender age of 11. According to Because of Them We Can, the prepubescent tween launched his scented candle line, Candles From The Hart, to pay for his education at the school of his dreams- Howard University. 

Hart created the aromatic wax lights after going to the prestigious historically-black university at the age of six. The youngster fell in love with the school and earned money to pay for his tuition. 

The Texas tween implemented a plan and fundraised through selling his candles last year.

“I got on the internet and saw that people were making different things to sell and earn money, and I settled on candles,” Wilson told the publication. 

“My parents and I watched YouTube videos and started experimenting with making candles, and we figured it all out, and that’s when it all started,” he confessed.

Wilson created a store on Etsy and started selling his candles. 

Candles From The Hart offers a plethora of fragrances like Guava Fresca, Tranquil Sea and Cashmere Plum (a scent he created to honor Alzheimer’s Awareness Month.) He also has a line of wax melts and car fragrances.

Customers can find Wilson’s luminary delights in local stores in his hometown of Pearland, Texas, Chicago and Houston. 

Candles From The Hart even caught the eyes of some big-name celebrities including, the New Orleans Pelicans basketball team, Inda Craig-Galvan, a television writer for ABC’s “How To Get Away With Murder,” actress Keena Ferguson from Tyler Perry’s “Sistas” and “Queen Sugar” actress Tracey Bonner.

Although Wilson’s candle company is flourishing, his main objective is to pay for his education at Howard University.