My Maria - B.W. Stevenson (1973) 2/19/22

In 1973, B.W. Stevenson released a song written by Daniel Moore called "Shambala."

Just two weeks later, Three Dog Night released THEIR version, and it raced up the Hot `100 and Adult Contemporary Charts to #3 so fast, it left B.W.'s version stalled at #31 and #66 respectively. You can read my blog entry about it here:

https://www.facebook.com/MichaelCuuuk/posts/240869387386516

So B.W. asked Daniel if he had anything else he could record, and Daniel showed him an unfinished song he'd been working on for two years. B.W. gave "My Maria" one listen and finished the lyrics in about 15 minutes.

Later in '73, when the song was released as a single, it topped the Adult Contemporary charts in both the US and Canada...while also

reaching #7 on Canada's Top 40 and #9 on Billboard's Hot 100."

"My Maria" certainly qualifies as a "Great Song of the '70s!"

Note #1: B.W. stood for...believe it or not: Buckwheat!

Note #2: Sadly, B.W. died way too early at the age of 38. In 1988, he succumbed to a post operative staph infection.

Note #3: Here's more proof that "My Maria" was a "Great Song." In 1996, the country duo of Brooks & Dunn took it to #1 on the Country Charts in the US and Canada...and Billboard Magazine named it the #1 country song of the year!

"My Maria:" not just a "Great of of the '70s," but of the '90s as well!

B.W. Stevenson:

Brooks & Dunn: