From:   "Dik de Heer" 
Date:  Sun Aug 11, 2002  2:28 am  - UPDATED 6 JANUARY 2004
Subject:  Born To Be With You : Ronnie Dawson
 
RONNIE DAWSON (By Jean-Marc Pezet)

Born 11 August 1939, Dallas, Texas
Died 30 September 2003, Dallas, TX

Along with Ray Campi, Ronnie Dawson is one of the 50s originals that
enjoys much more success now than back during the first round of rock
'n' roll. Since being rediscovered in 1986, he recorded acclaimed albums
and has been a frequent visitor to these shores, always putting up a great
shows.
Ronnie was born in Dallas, but was raised in the small town of Waxachie, TX.
His father was a professional musician, playing in a Western Swing band. He
bought Ronnie his first guitar and taught him the basics. Along with country
music, Ronnie recalls being also influenced by the hot R&B sounds of
Gatemouth Brown, Little Richard and Chuck Berry.
Still in his early teens, he formed his first group in Waxachie with local
boys, calling themselves Ronnie Dee & The D Men .They started touring
locally and soon got into a studio in Dallas to lay down some demos. They
also swiftly entered the talent contest at the Dallas' Big D Jamboree,
winning 10 weeks in a row and securing themselves a regular Saturday Night
spot and a deal with Gene Vincent's manager, Ed Maclemore who managed to
have Ronnie's first single "Action Packed"/"I Make The Love" issued on
Backbeat in 1958. Next was the famous "Rockin Bones" b/w "Congratulations
To Me", issued on Maclemore's own Rockin Records label in 1959.
Apart from his spot at the Big D, Ronnie didn't stop touring at the time as
far as Cleveland, New York and Philadelphia where he met Dick Clark who
promised him the Earth and the Moon! Ronnie cut 2 pretty dire pop singles
for Swan, appeared on American Bandstand, but payola put an end to Dick
Clark's career and stopped all expectations from Ronnie.
Back in Texas, Ronnie played drums for Major Bill Smith, and for the famous
Western Swing band The Light Crust Doughboys. In 1961, following a
country session, Ronnie recorded some raunchy rocking blues tracks of
which "Do Do Do"/"Who's Been There" were eventually issued by Columbia.
During the 60s, Ronnie continued to play music until the 70s when he started
doing ads for the Radio and TV.
He was rediscovered in 1986, at the youthful age of 47, and played his first
UK show. Since then, he cut 4 highly acclaimed studio albums featuring young
rockabilly musicians such as the Planet Rockers and Dutch guitarist Tjarko.
He has toured consistently around Europe and the USA, setting the fire back
in those ol' Rockin Bones!

Recommended listening:
"Rockin Bones - The Legendary Masters" 2CD CRYSTAL CLEAR SOUND
CR 9643-2 (1996)
"Still-A-Lot-Of-Rhythm!" NO HIT LP 002 (1989)
"Rockinitis" NO HIT LP 004 (1990)
"Monkey Beat" NO HIT CD 008 (1994)
"Just Rockin & Rollin" NO HIT CD 019 (1996)
Homepage: http://www.ronniedawson.com/default.htm