Louis Charles "B.W." Stevenson, also known as Buckwheat Stevenson, was an influential American singer and songwriter born on October 5, 1949, in Oak Cliff, Dallas, Texas. He attended W.H. Adamson High School alongside notable musicians like Michael Martin Murphey and Ray Wylie Hubbard. Stevenson pursued his passion for music at North Texas State University on a voice scholarship but left after a year, later attending Cooke County Junior College and serving in the U.S. Air Force.

Stevenson's career took off in the early 1970s when RCA Records signed him. He became a prominent figure in the progressive country music scene, known for his powerful voice and heartfelt ballads. His most successful single, "My Maria," co-written with Daniel Moore, reached No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1973 and was later covered by Brooks & Dunn, becoming a No. 1 country hit in 1996. Despite his success, Stevenson's career was marred by missteps in production and marketing, including the overshadowing of his version of "Shambala" by Three Dog Night's cover.

Stevenson released several albums, including "B.W. Stevenson" (1972), "Lead Free" (1972), and "My Maria" (1973), and was a regular performer in Austin's music scene. He recorded a contemporary Christian album titled "Lifeline" and his posthumous release "Rainbow Down the Road" featured a duet with Willie Nelson.

Tragically, Stevenson's life was cut short at the age of 38 when he died from complications following heart valve surgery on April 28, 1988. His legacy lives on through his music and the annual songwriting competition held in his memory at Poor David's Pub in Dallas. Known as "The Voice," Stevenson's contributions to the genre continue to be celebrated by fans and fellow musicians alike.