Ronnie Hawkins
Ronnie Hawkins Hawkins performing at the Hamilton Festival of Friends in August 2014 Background information Birth name Ronald Hawkins Also known as The Hawk Rompin' Ronnie Mr. Dynamo Born (1935-01-10) January 10, 1935 (age 80) Huntsville, Arkansas, U.S. Origin Fayetteville, Arkansas, U.S. Genres Rockabilly, rock and roll, rhythm & blues, country, bluegrass Occupation(s) Musician, songwriter, arranger, producer, businessman, actor Years active 1956–present Labels Roulette, Columbia, Cotillion, Monument, Atlantic, Polydor, Pye, United Artists, Epic Associated acts Ronnie Hawkins & The Hawks, The Band, Full Tilt Boogie Band, Crowbar, Bearfoot, Skylark, Robbie Lane & The Disciples, The Rock 'N’ Roll Orchestra, The Revols, Ronnie Hawkins and Many Others, Ronnie's Rock 'n' Roll Revival and Travelling Medicine Show, The Weber Brothers Website www.ronniehawkins.com Ronald "Ronnie" Hawkins (born January 10, 1935) is a rockabilly musician whose career has spanned more than half a century. Though his career began in Arkansas, US, where he'd been born and raised, it was in Ontario, Canada where he found success and settled for most of his life. He is considered highly influential in the establishment and evolution of rock music in Canada. Also known as "Rompin' Ronnie", "Mr. Dynamo", or simply "The Hawk", he was one of the key players in the 1960s rock scene in Toronto. Throughout his career, Hawkins has performed all across North America and recorded more than twenty-five albums. His hit songs included covers of Chuck Berry's "Thirty Days" (entitled "Forty Days" by Hawkins) and Young Jessie's "Mary Lou", a song about a "gold digging woman". Other well-known recordings are "Who Do You Love?", "Hey Bo Diddley", and "Suzie Q", which was written by his cousin, the late rockabilly artist Dale Hawkins. Hawkins is also notable for his role as something of a talent scout and mentor. He played a pivotal role in the establishment of premiere backing musicians via his band, The Hawks. The most successful of those eventually formed The Band, while other musicians Hawkins had recruited provided the makings of Robbie Lane & The Disciples, Janis Joplin's Full Tilt Boogie Band, Crowbar, Bearfoot, Skylark and most recently The Weber Brothers.