From: "Dik de Heer" Date: Sun Jan 13, 2002 2:23 am Subject: Born To Be With You : Carl Dobkins, Jr CARL DOBKINS, JR Born Carl Edward Dobkins, 13 January, 1941, Cincinnati, Ohio Singer. While in high school at the age of sixteen, he made a demo record of two of his own compositions. He was introduced to a popular local DJ, Gil Sheppard, who was impressed with the recording and became his manager. Carl started singing at local dance parties and record hops and in a short time landed a contract with Cincinnati based Fraternity Records. "Take Hold Of My Hand"/"That's Why I'm Asking" was his first and only release on the label. Carl wrote and recorded two more of his songs at King studios in Cincinnati. His manager arranged for the sale of the master to Decca Records. It was for Decca that he had his biggest hit, "My Heart Is An Open Book" (# 3 in 1959), recorded at Owen Bradley's studios in Nashville. It was by no means an instant success ; in fact, it had been released for 6 months before it hit the charts. Three other Top 100 hits followed in 1959-60. In 2001 he released a CD ("Now And Then") with re-recordings of some of his greatest successes. "Rock n roll in its carpet slippers" wrote Now Dig This (issue 222). Carl resides in Cincinnati and is still married to his high school sweetheart, Jan. They have two daughters and four grandchildren. Website (from which this information was taken): http://www.carldobkinsjr.com RAB Hall of Fame page: http://www.rockabillyhall.com/CarlDobkinsJr.html