Ronnie Hawkins
Riconosciuto come gli ultimi puri e grandi rock'n'rollers dei '50, ancora oggi fedele a se stesso e alla propria musica.Ronallà d Hawkins (n. 1935, USA) è originario dell'Arkansas dove, verso il 1952, forma la sua prima band con 4 musicisti di colore, con la quale suona musica hillibilly. Dopo aver terminato gli studi all'Università dell'Arkansas e avere effettuato il servizio militare, riforma la band (con Jimmy "Luke" Ray Paulman alla chitarra, Will "Pop" Jones al piano e Mark Levon Helm alla batteria) e verso il 1957 lavora sopratutto nella zona di Memphis. Qui un amico, che se la cava benino col nome di Harold Jenkins e che poi se la caverà ancora meglio col nome di Conway Twitty, lo consiglia sulle grandi opportunità che offre il Canada; così, all'inizio del 1958, il Ron H awkins Quartet ottiene un ingaggio in un club di Hamilton, Ontario. Di questo periodo è il primo singolo, Hey Bo Diddley/Love Me Like You Can, sull'etichetta canadese Quality. All'inizio del 1959 il gruppo incide per l'etichetta End, con il nome di Rockin'Ronald & the Rebels, una cover di Kansas City, di Wilbert Harrison; il 45 giri li porta a ottenere un contratto con la Roulette con il nome di Ronnie Hawkins & The Hawks. Il primo singolo (Forty Days/One of These Day) è dell'aprile di quell'anno mentre il secondo (Mary Lou/Need Your Lovin') è dell'agosto; entrambi appaiono nelle hit parades americane. Purtroppo per Hawkins però,la sua potente voce, sorretta da un acompagnamento cupo e violento che si rifà molto al sound di Bo Diddley e da una curiosa presenza scenica che viene definita "The Camel Walk" arriva troppo tardi su un mercato che sta dimenticando il R&R per altri ritmi più tranquilli. Fra il 1959 e il 1960 il R&R di Hawins si stempera in un repertorio di standard che incide senza gli Hawks e che appare su THE FOLK BALLAD OF RONNIE HAWINS (Roulette,1960 USA) e SINGS THE SONGS OF HANK WILLIAMS (Roulette, 1963 CAN). Sempre del '60 è la sua apparizione alla TV inglese, accompagnato dausa) Helm e dall'inglese Joe Brown, per promuovere il singolo Southern Love. Nel 1962, convinto dal notevole successo là incontrato, Hawkins si trasferisce ib Canada, a Toronto, dove apre un loale (Hawk's Nest Bar). Gli Hawks vengono rinnovati, con l'innesto di alcuni giovani musicisti locali (Richard Manuel, Rick Danko e Garth Hudson) he vanno ad aggiunsersi al "veterano" Levon Helm e al chitarrista Jaime Robbie Robertson, entrato in formazione intorno al 1959; i 5 faranno fortuna anni più tardi, con il nome The Band. Le prime incisioni dei nuovi Hawks appaiono su THE BEST OF RONNIE HAWKINS (Roulette, 1963 CAN) e Bo Diddley/Who Do You Love (con uno spettacolare Robertson alla chitarra) è forse il migliore 45 giri in assoluto di Hawkins. Per un certo periodo, nel 1962, gli Hawks suonano in sei, con l'aggiunta del sassofonista Jerry Penfound. Nel 1964, mentre gli Hawks cominciano a intraprendere una strada autonoma (che li porterà ad incontrare Bob Dylan), Hawkins incide del materiale che appare solo in Canada, sulla personale etichetta Hawk (vedi RRRRACKET TIME); uno dei musicisti che suona con lui è Don Troiano (poi James Gang). Tra il 1965 e il 1969 (quando registra RONNIE HAWKINS, Yorville 1969 CAN), Hawkins non trova più chances discografiche ma assurge a figura leggendaria della scena rock canadese; una intera generazione di giovani musicisti si forma in palcoscenico con lui, da John Kay (Steppenwolf) a John Till e la Full Tilt Boogie Band (Janis Joplin), da King Biscuit Boy ai Crowbar. Poi all'inizio dei '70, il successo della Band e il rinnovato amore per il R&R originale ridestano un certo interesse discografico per lui; il gruppo Atlantic gli offre un contratto e gli fa incidere RONNIE HAWKINS,Cotillion 1970 USA e THE HAWK,Cotillion 1971 USA, con illustri musicisti di accompagnamento come Duane Allman, King Biscuit Boy, Charlie Freeman e Donald "Duck" Dunn. Nel 1970 il singolo Down In The Alley segna l'ultima apparizione dell'artista nelle classifihe USA. Gli anni '70 vedono il declino del personaggio. Dopo R&R RESURRECTION (Monument, 1972 USA), convincente ritorno al R&R originale, Hawkins dirada le sue inisioni e le sue performances, per problemi di salute (due attacchi di cuore). Ogniqualvolta ne ha l'occasione, tuttavia, l'artista non manca di rivolgersi al suo grande amore, il puro e semplice R&R; accade così nel 1977, al concerto d'addio della Band, e nel 1982, con una sorprendente tournée inglese.
Ronald Hawkins, OC, (born January 10, 1935) is an American/Canadian rockabilly musician whose career has spanned more than half a century. His career began in Arkansas, where he was born and raised. He found success in Ontario, Canada, and has lived there 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 "Susie Q", which was written by his cousin, 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 went on to form Robbie Lane and the Disciples, Janis Joplin's Full Tilt Boogie Band, Crowbar, Bearfoot, and Skylark.
Career
Hawkins was born in 1935 in Huntsville, Arkansas, two days after the birth of Elvis Presley. When he was nine years old, his family moved to nearby Fayetteville, Arkansas. After graduating from high school, he studied physical education at the University of Arkansas, where he formed his first band, the Hawks. He toured with them throughout Arkansas, Oklahoma and Missouri. Hawkins also owned and operated the Rockwood Club in Fayetteville, where some of rock and roll's earliest pioneers came to play including Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, Roy Orbison and Conway Twitty.On advice from Conway Twitty, Hawkins began touring Canada in 1958. His first gig there was at the Golden Rail Tavern in Hamilton, Ontario, where he became an overnight success. Hawkins decided to move to Canada, and in 1964 became a permanent resident, eventually making Peterborough, Ontario, his home.
After the move, the Hawks, with the exception of Hawkins and drummer Levon Helm, dropped out of the band. Their vacancies were filled by Canadians Robbie Robertson, Rick Danko, Richard Manuel and Garth Hudson, all hailing from Southwestern Ontario. Helm and the rest of those Hawks would leave Hawkins in 1964 to form an act of their own, which eventually came to be named The Band.
In December 1969, Hawkins hosted John Lennon and Yoko Ono for a stay at his home in Mississauga, Ontario, during the couple's campaign to promote world peace. Lennon signed his erotic "Bag One" lithographs during his stay there. Lennon also did a radio promo for a Hawkins single, "Down in the Alley".
In the early 1970s, Hawkins noticed guitarist Pat Travers performing in Ontario nightclubs and was so impressed with the young musician that he invited him to join his band. Travers later had a very successful recording career and became one of the most influential guitarists of the 1970s hard rock genre.
Bob Dylan was a long-time admirer. In an amphetamine-fueled encounter with Keith Richards in a Mayfair nightclub in May 1966, Dylan started a fight by claiming
You guys may be the best philosophers man, but the Hawks – they're the best band. I could'a written Satisfaction – easy. But there's no fucking way you guys could'a written Mr Tambourine Man. You know that? Think about it.
In 1975, Dylan cast Hawkins to play the role of "Bob Dylan" in the movie, Renaldo and Clara. The following year he was a featured performer at the Band's Thanksgiving Day farewell concert, which was documented in the 1978 film The Last Waltz. His 1984 LP, Making It Again, garnered him a Juno Award as Canada's best Country Male Vocalist. In addition to his music, he has also become an accomplished actor, hosting his own television show Honky Tonk in the early 1980s and appearing in such films as Heaven's Gate with his friend Kris Kristofferson and Hello Mary Lou: Prom Night II.
On January 8, 1995, Hawkins celebrated his 60th birthday by throwing a concert at Massey Hall in Toronto, which was documented on the album Let It Rock. The concert featured performances by Hawkins, Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis, the Band and Larry Gowan. Jeff Healey sat in on guitar for most, if not all, of the performances. Hawkins's band, the Hawks, or permutations of it, backed most, if not all, of the acts. All of the musicians performing that night were collectively dubbed "the Rock 'n’ Roll Orchestra".[citation needed]
In 2002, October 4 was declared "Ronnie Hawkins Day" by the city of Toronto as he was inducted into Canada's Walk of Fame, in recognition of his lifetime contribution to music and his generous support of the Schizophrenia Society of Ontario and other charitable organizations. Hawkins was inducted into the Canadian Music Industry Hall of Fame at the Canadian Music Industry Awards on March 4, 2004. His pioneering contribution to the genre has also been recognized by the Rockabilly Hall of Fame.
In recent years, Hawkins battled pancreatic cancer. His current state of health, attributed to everything from psychic healers to native herbal medicine, is featured in the film Ronnie Hawkins: Still Alive and Kicking.
In 2005, he was awarded an honorary degree from Laurentian University. On May 2, 2013, Hawkins was made an Honorary Officer of the Order of Canada. He was invested on May 7, 2014. The citation read:
For his contributions to the development of the music industry in Canada, as a rock and roll musician, and for his support of charitable causes. For more than 50 years, musician Ronnie Hawkins has demonstrated a strong devotion to Canada’s music industry. Often referred to as the “father of Canadian rock n’ roll”, he was a key player in the 1960s rock scene, with his band The Hawks serving as a launching pad for a host of Canadian musicians. In addition to producing scores of singles and albums, he has performed in support of many charitable causes, notably the Peterborough Flood Relief and the Schizophrenia Society of Ontario.Hawkins recently reissued most of his albums on CD through Unidisc Music Inc.[citation needed]
Ronnie Hawkins - 40 Days (Live on Lake Minnetonka) - YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J0GJCjkR5_Y
26 gen 2010 - Caricato da Cambria
40 Days, performed live on Lake Minnetonka with legendary Ronnie Hawkins & The Hawks.
RONNIE HAWKINS & THE HAWKS - 1963 - "Who Do You Love ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gtj0s_99AqE
11 dic 2016 - Caricato da GoldenGreatsOldies24
FEATURING MEMBERS OF "THE BAND" CHECK OUT THESE OTHER CHANNELS: ClassicComedyBits1: 
Ronnie Hawkins & The Hawks "Mary Lou" - YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWkSP8s12iM
24 mag 2009 - Caricato da CanadaClassicsDiner
'She took the keys to my Cadillac car, jumped in my Caddy and she drove afar' On this day in 1959 {August ...
Ronnie Hawkins - My Gal Is Red Hot 1958 - YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6MvoeIPasuA
Ronnie Hawkins & The Hawks - Bo Diddley - YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lEsL5xk_0D4
26 apr 2009 - Caricato da CanadaClassicsDiner
Ronnie Hawkins & The Hawks Bo Diddley. ... Remember Ronnie Hawkins gave birth to The Band. Robbie ...Ronnie Hawkins - Bo Didley Official Video - YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-6h_FCdsD0
10 mar 2010 - Caricato da UnidiscMusic
Ronnie Hawkins - Bo Didley Official Video ... In those days he was known as Rompin Ronnie Hawkins not ... Discografia
| Anno | Album | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 1959 | Ronnie Hawkins | Roulette |
| 1960 | Mr. Dynamo | |
| Folk Ballads of Ronnie Hawkins | ||
| 1961 | Sings the Songs of Hank Williams | |
| 1963 | The Best | |
| 1964 | Mojo Man | |
| 1970 | The Best | |
| Ronnie Hawkins | Cotillion | |
| 1971 | The Hawk | |
| 1972 | Rock and Roll Resurrection | Monument |
| 1974 | Giant of Rock'n Roll | |
| 1977 | Rockin' | Pye |
| 1979 | The Hawk | United Artists |
| 1981 | A Legend in His Spare Time | Quality |
| 1982 | The Hawk and Rock | Trilogy |
| 1984 | Making It Again | Epic |
| 1987 | Hello Again ... Mary Lou | |
| 1995 | Let It Rock | Quality |
| 2002 | Still Cruisin' | Hawk |
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