Elected officials often have used musical instruments to propel their political careers.
Former President Bill Clinton played his saxophone on several late-night talk shows. Fox TV personality and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee plays bass with his band, Capital Offense.
Locally, the guitar prowess of Atlantic Judicial Circuit Superior Court Judge D. Jay Stewart of Claxton landed him in a top New Jersey recording studio instead of a higher political office.
Stewart, a Pembroke native, cut his own album, “Enjoy the Ride,” last year — a CD that has been well received in the jazz community.
Stewart, who began playing the guitar at age 6, had a wide array of influences ranging from guitar giants Chet Akins and Eric Clapton to Steve Gaines of original Lynyrd Skynyrd fame.
“I listened to a lot of people,” Stewart said. “I started playing in church and still play in church. My dad played, so that got me interested.
“One of the greatest influences I had growing up was Buddy Owens. Buddy was from Bryan County and played a great jazz fingerpicking style, and I was really fortunate to be around him a lot.”

Read more in the Feb. 29 edition of the News.