David A. Stewart

After toiling in obscurity as a recording artist for nearly a decade, English songwriter-producer Dave Stewart established lasting fame as one-half of the pop-rock act Eurythmics, which achieved a slew of hits in the 1980s, including "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)," "Who's That Girl" and "Missionary Man," before their disbandment in 1990. Stewart's potent production, which mixed proto-electronic elements with more soulful R&B and straight-ahead rock sounds, as well as his songwriting with singer Annie Lennox led to a stellar second career as producer for major acts like Bob Dylan, Paul McCartney, Bono, Tom Petty and Mick Jagger, as well as occasional forays into soundtracks for "Ruthless People" (1986) and "Alfie" (2004. The Eurythmics reunited twice in the 1990s and early 2005, both times generating additional hit singles, while Stewart's efforts as a solo artist failed to generate the same level of interest as his former band or work as a producer-songwriter. In the latter capacity, he remained in demand for much of the 2000s, collaborating with No Doubt, Joss Stone and many other new artists who sought to imbue their own material with the same degree of polish and complexity as his established efforts. As co-creator of one of the most successful pop-rock acts of the 1980s and as producer for some of the biggest names in the music industry, Dave Stewart ensured his place as a major behind-the-scenes force in popular music.