Who Am I? Celebrating a mystery person born this month Print a “Who Am I?” sign. Add a clue in the text box, print, and post on your bulletin board. Post a different clue every day or so and see who can guess the identity of the mystery person of the month. Then plan a “Who am I?” discussion and reminiscence activity. Do you know who I am? Here are some clues: 1. I was born on January 10, 1945. 2. My father was a Scottish master builder. 3. I am the youngest of five children. 4. My middle name is David. 5. I was raised in North London. 6. I tried out for a professional football club. 7. I left school at age 15. 8. I am the father of eight children. 9. I have had children with five different women. 10. I have been married three times. 11. For a time, I lived as a beatnik on a houseboat. 12. I worked as a silk-screen printer, newsboy, and gravedigger. 13. I am a notable supporter of the Celtic Football Club. 14. I began to play the harmonica due to my interest in R&B music. 15. My first professional work was with a band called the Dimensions. 16. I played with the Jeff Beck Group. 17. I helped form a group called Steampacket. ©ActivityConnection.com – Rod Stewart – Page !1 of !4 18. I had several hit songs with a band called the Faces. 19. I began to work as a solo artist in 1969. 20. I moved to the United States in 1975. 21. In 2000, I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. 22. I released my 30th studio album in 2018. 23. I was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 2016. 24. I have been inducted into the Rock ’n’ Roll Hall of Fame two times. 25. I became well-known for partying and dating models and actresses. 26. I am well-known for my spiky hairstyle. 27. I am notable for my signature raspy voice. 28. One of my most famous songs is my 1971 hit “Maggie May.” 29. My nickname is “Rod the Mod.” 30. My initials are “R.S.” Do you know who I am? That’s right—I am British music legend Sir Rod Stewart! Photo by Allan Warren Print a copy of the pictures to pass around as you share and discuss the information in the article with your group. Introduction Sir Rod Stewart’s career in music has spanned decades and a variety of bands and collaborations. Let’s take a look at one of the greatest musicians of the last century. Early Life Rod Stewart was born Roderick David Stewart on January 10, 1945, in the Highgate area of North London, England. He was the youngest of five children born to Robert, a master builder from Scotland, and Elsie, who was a North Londoner. Stewart had a happy childhood as the baby of a family that may not have been rich but was certainly not poor. ©ActivityConnection.com – Rod Stewart – Page !2 of !4 He was an average student but an excellent footballer, going on to become captain of his school team thanks to his blend of natural talent and intense aggressiveness. His love of football was rivaled only by his love of music. Stewart was heavily influenced as a boy by the music of Al Jolson, Little Richard, and Bill Haley. He left school at 15 to try out for the Brentford Football Club but was rejected. Given the choice between pursuing football and music, Stewart is known to have said, “Well, a musician’s life is a lot easier and I can also get drunk and make music, and I can’t do that and play football.” Throughout the 1960s, Stewart held a variety of odd jobs, including working as a gravedigger, a newsboy, and a silk-screen printer. He was also involved in a variety of musical acts. He floated through musical subcultures, living for a while as a beatnik on a houseboat before settling into the distinctive “mod” style, complete with the spiky hairstyle that he would become famous for. He took up the harmonica and played for an R&B outfit called the Dimensions before forming a group called Steampacket, which helped him solidify his “mod” image and earned him the moniker “Rod the Mod.” Stewart didn’t experience major success, however, until he joined the Jeff Beck Group in 1966, which toured the U.S. and U.K. with two hit albums. After a short stint with a group called the Faces in 1969, he tried his luck as a solo artist, earning major radio play in 1971 with his solo track “Maggie May,” which simultaneously topped both U.S. and U.K charts. Discussion Starters • Have you ever been a part of a music or fashion subculture like mods, goths, or punks? What groups did you join? • Stewart as a young man had to make the career choice between football and music. Have you ever had to chose between two career options? What were they? • Stewart’s parents came from two different, although similar, countries: Scotland and England. Where is your family from? How was your upbringing affected by your parents’ backgrounds? Sir Rod the Mod In 1975, Stewart leapt across the pond to the United States, where within a year he topped charts with hits like “Tonight’s the Night” and “Do Ya Think I’m Sexy?” He also became well-known for his hard-partying lifestyle and numerous affairs with a number of models and actresses. Unfortunately, the 1980s did not hold the same success for Stewart as the 1970s, and his next several albums flopped. He ended the decade on a high note, though, releasing a cover of Tom Waits’ “Downtown Train” that was tremendously well received. Several years later, in 1993, he released the album Unplugged and Unseated, which was recorded as an MTV Concert and featured the smash hit song “Have I Told You Lately.” Stewart has continued to write and record music, releasing his 30th studio album, Blood Red Roses, in 2018. He has been inducted into the Rock ’n’ Roll Hall of Fame both as a solo artist and as a member of Faces, and he has received numerous awards and honors for his contributions to music. In 2000, he was diagnosed with thyroid cancer, which was successfully surgically removed but forced him to relearn how to sing from scratch. After this health scare, Stewart has worked tirelessly to raise ©ActivityConnection.com – Rod Stewart – Page !3 of !4 money for cancer awareness and research. He has also remained a fervent football fan, supporting the Celtic Football Club, and has even continued to play the game with a senior league team called the LA Exiles. A known believer in love, Stewart has also had several relationships, marrying three times and fathering eight children with five different women; his most recent marriage, to model Penny Lancaster, took place in 2007. Known for his distinctive scratchy voice, Stewart holds a permanent place in the annals of music history. In 2016, he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II for his services to music and charity. A magnificent artist who continues to work, record, and perform even in his 70s, Rod Stewart is one singer who won’t be Photo by leaving the spotlight any time soon. Joe Bielawa Discussion Starters • Stewart achieved major solo success after moving to the U.S. in 1975, but his career began in 1960. What do you think constitutes “success” in a career? • There is a gap of 48 years between the birth of Stewart’s first and last child. What kind of parenting challenges do you think such a gap might present? • After his battle with cancer, Stewart had to relearn how to sing. Have you ever lost a skill and had to relearn it? Were you able to do so? How did it affect you? Famous Friends A member of several bands and musical groups in his career, Stewart played with some artists who would one day become famous themselves. Let’s take a look at a few of them. • Jeff Beck A prolific artist and instrumentalist in his own right, Stewart and Beck played together as part of the Jeff Beck Group. Beck also would go on to be inducted twice into the Rock ’n’ Roll Hall of Fame, once for his solo work and another for his time as a guitarist for the Yardbirds. • Mick Fleetwood After leaving Steampacket, Stewart joined a similar group called Shotgun Express, where he played with Mick Fleetwood. Although Shotgun Express was a failed venture, Fleetwood would go on to form Fleetwood Mac, one of the most successful bands in the history of music. • Ray and Dave Davies Stewart attended secondary school with the Davies brothers and would even perform with them as lead vocalist for their band, the Ray Davies Quartet. Stewart left to pursue other ventures, and the brothers continued to play, going on to transform into the Kinks, an influential British band of the 1960s. Additional Activities Visit Stewart’s official website to watch videos of performances and songs and check out what’s upcoming for “Rod the Mod.” ©ActivityConnection.com – Rod Stewart – Page !4 of !4 ©ActivityConnection.com – Rod Stewart (Pictures) Celebra'ng*a mystery person*born this*month Type your clues here. ©ActivityConnection.com.