[6] While attending high school, Stevens formed his first band, a rhythm and blues group named The Barons.

He began studying business administration at Georgia State College, but very quickly switched to become a music major.

It won a Grammy Award, was the theme song for his summer 1970 TV show, a number one hit on both the pop and Adult-Contemporary charts, and marked his first time in the Top 40 on the country charts, peaking at number 39.

[13][14] Through the late 1970s and early 1980s, with some exceptions (such as "Shriner's Convention" in 1981), Stevens focused mostly on serious material, as he felt that the novelty song was becoming less popular in the era.

Feeling that novelty songs were becoming popular again, he authorized the rush release of "Mississippi Squirrel Revival" in 1984, which reached the country top 20.

[15] In 1985, Stevens performed at the Lanierland Music Park in Georgia with Pinkard & Bowden.

[24] Stevens was married to Penny Jackson Ragsdale for over 60 years, until her death on December 31, 2021, after a lengthy battle with cancer.

Two days prior, he had canceled his New Year's Eve concert at CabaRay, due to Penny's rapidly declining health.