Dale Hawkins

Delmar Allen "Dale" Hawkins (August 22, 1936 – February 13, 2010)[1] was a pioneer American rock singer, songwriter, and rhythm guitarist who was often called the architect of swamp rock boogie. Ronnie Hawkins was his cousin.[2]

Dale Hawkins
Birth nameDelmar Allen Hawkins
Born(1936-08-22)August 22, 1936
St. Mary Parish, Louisiana
DiedFebruary 13, 2010(2010-02-13) (aged 73)
Little Rock, Arkansas
GenresRock music, rockabilly, rock and roll
Years active1950s–2010
LabelsChess (Checker), London

Biography

He began recording in 1956.[3] In 1957, Hawkins was playing at Shreveport, Louisiana clubs, and although his music was influenced by the new rock and roll style of Elvis Presley and the guitar sounds of Scotty Moore, Hawkins blended that with the uniquely heavy blues sound of black Louisiana artists for his recording of his swamp-rock classic, "Susie Q."[4] Fellow Louisiana guitarist and future Rock and Roll Hall of Famer James Burton provided the signature riff and solo.[4]

The song was chosen as one of The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll. An accompanying album, Oh! Suzy Q was released in 1958. Creedence Clearwater Revival's version of the song on their 1968 debut album helped launch their career and today it is probably the best-known version.[4]

In 1958 Hawkins recorded a single of Willie Dixon's "My Babe" at the Chess Records studio in Chicago, featuring Telecaster guitarist Roy Buchanan.[5] He went on to a long and successful career. He recorded more songs for Chess into the early 1960s. However, his career was not limited to recording or performing. He hosted a teen dance party, The Dale Hawkins Show, on WCAU-TV in Philadelphia. He then became a record producer, and found success with The Uniques' "Not Too Long Ago," the Five Americans' "Western Union," and Bruce Channel's "Hey! Baby".[4] In 1998, Ace Records issued a compilation album, Dale Hawkins, Rock 'n' Roll Tornado, which contained a collection of his early works and previously unreleased material. Other recordings included his 1969 country rock album, L.A., Memphis & Tyler, Texas;[4] and a 1999 release, Wildcat Tamer, of all-new recordings that garnered Hawkins a 4-star review in Rolling Stone.

He was executive vice president of Abnak Records; Vice President, Southwest Division, Bell Records (here he produced Bruce Channel, Ronnie Self, James Bell, the Festivals, the Dolls, and the Gentrys); and A&R director, RCA West Coast Rock Division, working with Michael Nesmith and Harry Nilsson. In the 1990s, he produced "Goin Back to Mississippi" by R. L. Burnside's slide guitarist, Kenny Brown.

Hawkins' pioneering contributions have been recognized by the Rockabilly Hall of Fame.

On June 25, 2019, The New York Times Magazine listed Dale Hawkins among hundreds of artists whose material was reportedly destroyed in the 2008 Universal fire.[6]

Death

In 2005, he was diagnosed with colon cancer and began chemotherapy while continuing to perform in the US and abroad. In October 2007, The Louisiana Music Hall of Fame honored Dale Hawkins for his contributions to Louisiana music by inducting him into The Louisiana Music Hall Of Fame.[7] At the same time, he released his latest recording, "Back Down to Louisiana," inspired by a trip to his childhood home. It was recognized by the UK's music magazine, Mojo, as No. 10 in the Americana category in their 2007 Best of issue, while L.A., Memphis & Tyler, Texas was awarded No. 8 in the reissue category.

Hawkins died on February 13, 2010, from colon cancer in Little Rock, Arkansas.[1][8][9]

References
  1. "Rock Candy: Dale Hawkins dies". www.arktimes.com. Archived from the original on February 17, 2010. Retrieved 2010-02-14.
  2. Obituary London Independent, February 17, 2010.
  3. "Dale Hawkins". Beveric Records. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
  4. Colin Larkin, ed. (2002). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Fifties Music (Third ed.). Virgin Books. pp. 189/90. ISBN 1-85227-937-0.
  5. Roy Buchanan: American Axe. Hal Leonard Corporation. 2001. p. 46. Retrieved 2011-09-07 – via Internet Archive. roy buchanan my babe.
  6. Rosen, Jody (25 June 2019). "Here Are Hundreds More Artists Whose Tapes Were Destroyed in the UMG Fire". The New York Times. Retrieved 28 June 2019.
  7. Louisiana Rocks!: The True Genesis of Rock and Roll. Books.google.com. Retrieved 2010-07-23.
  8. Nelson, Valerie J. (February 16, 2010). "Early rock star wrote classic song 'Susie-Q'". Latimes.com. p. AA5. Retrieved 2010-07-23.
  9. Martin, Douglas (2010-02-18). "Dale Hawkins Dies at 73; Rockabilly Author of 'Susie Q'". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-02-23.
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