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Nick Stewart - aka "Captain
America"
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It is an understatement to say that
Nick is a veteran of the UK music industry.
Nick became part of the music business in September 1979, joining Island Records
the week that The Buggles "Video Killed the Radio Star" went to number one. The first two bands he signed were U2 and Killing Joke and, in the early
1980s, he started the careers of The Long Ryders and The Rain Parade.
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Would You Like Access to The Best MC in The Business?
Nick
Stewart
aka "Captain America"
is available for your event!
Just think! - if
Nick can raise over ₤1,000,000
in just 30 minutes at Elton John's White Tie and
Tiara Ball, what could he do for you and your event!
As a Master of Ceremonies, Nick has been at the
centre of many award shows and industry
events. His brand of humour and extensive
knowledge of the music business makes him ideal for
any entertainment industry event you may be
planning.
Even if you are not in the music business, Nick can
make your event a real success. His journalistic
background with major daily newspapers and radio for
sports events across the UK brings a unique mix of
experience to his MC skills.
If you want the best in the business, then contact
Lucinda at Angels and talk to her about how Angels
can arrange for Nick's skill and humour to ensure the
success of your next event! |
Nick was responsible for Catalogue Development at Polygram and launched
and ran the critically acclaimed Débutante label.
In recognition of his involvement with the signing of U2, Bono singled out
Nick in the audience at U2's London concert in August 2001 and introduced
Nick as the "Captain who started it all off for us".
He is currently the Vice President of A&R and Marketing for Gravity
Records. As "The Captain", he does a number of productions and remixes,
and had an American number one single with his reproduction of Lonestar's
"Amazed".
He's had a number of producing credits including Sara Evans, Martina
McBride, Emmylou Harris, David Mead and Jeff Finlin.
In October 2001, he launched the Gravity label, under the BMG umbrella,
which is a specialist alt-country / Americana label, and has released, or
will soon be releasing, albums from Jeff Finlin, The Vessels, Grand Drive,
Will Kimbrough, Raul Malo, Siobhan Maher Kennedy, Adam Masterson, and
Pinmonkey, as well as the highly acclaimed "Both Sides Now" compilation of
Americana, and some timely re-issues and compilations from the likes of
Jim Lauderdale, BR 5-49, and the Tractors.
As well as working in the music business, he worked as a sports
journalist, writing on cricket and golf for the Daily Telegraph and the
Sunday Times. He also worked as an occasional freelance for BBC GLR Sport
in London, and the "Test Match Special" team.
Nick is a former Board Member of the Country Music Association based in
Nashville.
Nick is now regarded as one of the leading charity auctioneers and MCs in
the UK. For the last 3 years,
for example, he has conducted the Auction at Sir Elton
John's White Tie and Tiara Ball. In 2003 he raised a colossal £1 million
pounds in 30 mins - which was a huge achievement widely reported in the
English press. Actor Hugh Grant got into a bidding war with a businessman
for the dinner. After he offered just over £200,000
to top the executive's £ 190,000
bid, he suggested they combine their contributions and share the party!
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Bidding for
Dinner at Elton's Place!
The dinner
party - to which the winner can bring 10 friends -
was one of the lots being auctioned at Elton John's
White Tie and Tiara Ball.
The pace of the biding really hotted up when the star of Notting Hill and Four Weddings and a
Funeral got involved. 'Suddenly Hugh Grant starting
bidding right in front of me,' said radio DJ Nick
Stewart, who was playing the role of auctioneer for
the night.
As
the bidding crept far out of reach of most ordinary
diners' pockets, a stunned silence fell over the
room. Eventually the bidding ended up between Grant
and an unidentified businessman, who finally bid
£190,000. "I said to Hugh that this was the big one.
He said he would bid £200,000 to bring five friends,
if the other bidder would bring five for £190,000.
When it was agreed, there was absolute pandemonium"
Stewart
said
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Nick's efforts also ensured that a Bentley Continental fetched a tidy sum,
going for nearly £325,000. Also under the hammer were tickets to the 2004 Oscars, Elton John's piano
and a holiday in Moscow. Other attendees that felt the heat of
Nick's auctioneering and MC skills
included Liz Hurley, Elle Macpherson, Kylie Minogue, Naomi Campbell, David
and Victoria Beckham, Judi Dench and Sting. They all danced the night away
at the Imperial Russia-themed event complete with gold-roofed marquee. Since its debut in July of 1999, the
White Tie & Tiara Ball has raised over £5 million to fund projects for
those affected by HIV or AIDS in Europe, Africa, and the Far East.
 As well as conducting the charity auction, Nick
also hosts the
Nordoff-Robbins Silver Clef Awards, the
prime UK record business Summer Awards event held at the Intercontinental
Hotel, Park Lane (an event and charity actively supported and contributed
to by Angels).
In
2002 the glitz and glamour of the occasion was added to by award winners
such as Natalie Imbruglia, receiving the
 International Award, Blue
receiving the Best New Artist Award and Lulu receiving the
Stuart McAllister Special Achievement Award. The whole room exploded with
excitement and applause when Nick Stewart introduced David Bowie who walked in to
present Dido with the main prize - The 2002 Silver Clef Award.
Nick then presided over an electrifying Silver Clef auction raising a stunning
£130,000+ for the Nordoff-Robbins charity. The auction was made even more
thrilling by Dido outbidding everyone and buying Michael Owen's signed
football shirt for £21,000. It was an amazing day and a fantastic celebration of the music industry's
very own charity and one of the most successful ever thanks to Nick
Stewart's auctioneering talent!
In June 2003, Nick again hosted the event and the prized Silver Clef Award
went to
 Atomic Kitten. Liz McClarnon of Atomic Kitten was there to accept
on their behalf. Other music industry stars in attendance included
Bon Jovi, Coldplay, Dido, Ms Dynamite, Leo Sayer and Natalie Imbruglia
- the International Award Winner from 2002. Bon Jovi collected the
International Star Award and Ms Dynamite picked up the Best New Music
Award. Again, Nick's auction was a roaring success.
Gwyneth Paltrow's boyfriend, Chris Martin of
 ColdPlay, paid £8,000 for a Jimi Hendrix guitar and £23,000 for a painting of John
Lennon. Aussie pop star Natalie Imbruglia, who attended the event with
fiancé Daniel Johns, paid
£8,000 for a
luxury trip to Monte Carlo. As in the previous year, Nick's
auctioneering made the difference and the
Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy
charity benefited from a record contribution. The Nordoff-Robbins approach
to music therapy developed from the pioneering work of Paul Nordoff and
Clive Robbins in the 1950s and 1960s. It is grounded in the belief that
everyone can respond to music, no matter how ill or disabled. The unique
qualities of music as therapy can enhance communication, support change,
and enable people to live more resourcefully and creatively. Nick's great
work for Nordoff-Robbins helps to meet this outstanding objective.
To see more on Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy click
here.
Nick has also got his own radio show on Virgin Radio. This is where
you will hear his nickname "Captain America". Captain America makes the airwaves every
Sunday night from 10.00pm. This critically-acclaimed show plays
American Rock & Roll, Americana and alt-Country. In any show you can hear
artists like Bob Dylan, Ryan Adams, Mercury Rev, Lambchop, Neil Young,
Lucinda Williams, The Handsome Family, and Joni Mitchell, plus live
sessions from established and up and coming artists of the genre. More
guests are penciled in for upcoming editions of the Captain America Radio
show, in future weeks, including Richie Havens, Richard Hawley, Mark
Ellen, Jim James from My Morning Jacket, Jakob Dylan from The Wallflowers,
Kathleen Edwards, Richard Thompson, Calexico, Darden Smith, The Mountain
Goats, Mendoza Line, Mary Lorson & Billy Cote, and The Waco Brothers . The
latest news is that The Captain America Radio Show has been voted
"Radio Programme of the Year" by American-UK.com. Great News!
 Nick is particularly sought after by major Celebrities who enjoy his brand
of humour matched with extensive knowledge of music and sport. His next MC
and auctioneering event is for TV legend Michael
Parkinson. The one after that could be yours....... !!
Call Angels to find out if that is possible!
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