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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZHAWKINS, Dale(b Delmar Allen Hawkins, 22 August 1936, Goldmine LA; d 13 February 2010, of cancer) Rockabilly singer, one of the first to have hits. 'Suzie-Q' (no. 27 USA '57) was an anomaly at the time: on Checker, primarily a black R&B label, with an R&B beat using a cowbell and a classic rockabilly guitar solo by James Burton: the record inspired a generation of guitar players and was famously covered by Creedence Clearwater a decade later. Hawkins was also one of the first white artists to perform at famous black venues, the Apollo in New York and the Regal in Chicago. Hawkins had only one other top 40 hit ('La-Do-Dada' '58), but the live act was popular; many subsequent records had Roy Buchanan on guitar. Hawkins label-hopped, and in the late '60s turned to producing records by Bruce Channel (b 28 November 1940, Jacksonville TX), another white blues singer, whose 'Hey Baby', no. 1 '62 (harmony vocal by Delbert McClinton) was said to have influenced the Beatles. Hawkins's productions included the Five Americans, a Dallas quintet whose top 40 hits included no. 5 'Western Union' '67. He returned to performing with an album L.A., Memphis & Tyler, Texas '69. He was said to be a cousin of Ronnie Hawkins, who discovered The Band. |