Ronnie Hawkins, rockabilly singer, dies at 87

Ronnie Hawkins, the Arkansas rockabilly star who became the patron saint of the Canadian music scene after moving north and recruiting several local musicians, later known as the band, has died.

This was confirmed by his wife Wanda Canadian press That Hawkins died Sunday morning after an illness. He was 87 years old. “He left quietly and looked more handsome than ever,” he said over the phone.

Born just two days after Elvis Presley, close friends from Huntsville, nicknamed “Hockey” (also nicknamed “King of Rockabilly” and “Mr. Dynamo”), were bent on developing jaws and dense builds.

He had minor hits in the 1950s with “Mary Lou” and “Odessa” and ran a club in Fayetteville, Arkansas that included rock stars like Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis and Conway Tweet.

“Hawkins is the only man who has ever heard a beautiful sex song like ‘My Gal is Red Hot’ sound strange,” wrote Grail Marcus in his acclaimed book on American music and culture. the secret trainHe added that Hawk “knew more about back roads, rooms, and backs than anyone from Newark to Mexico.”

Hawkins didn’t have the gifts of Presley or Perkins, but he did have ambition and a desire for talent. It was first released in Canada in the late 1950s and realized it would be much more distinctive in a country where native rock barely existed. Canadian musicians often moved to the United States to further their careers, but Hawkins was one of the few Americans to try otherwise.

Along with arcane drummer Levon Helm, Hawkins assembled a Canadian support group that included guitarist/songwriter Robbie Robertson, keyboardists Gart Hudson and Richard Manuel, and bassist Rick Danko. They became Hawks, educated at Hawkins Rock School.

“When the music went a little too far for Ron’s ear,” said Robertson Rolling Stone In 1978, “O couldn’t tell when the music was coming, telling us that no one but Theonius Monk could understand what we were playing. But the main thing was that it forced us to do a lot of rehearsals and training. We used to go play until 1pm and then practice until 4pm.”

Robertson and his friends supported Hawkins in 1961-63, playing loud shows in Canada and recording Bo Dley’s version of “Who Do You Love”, which became one of Hawkins’ signature songs.

But Hawkins didn’t sell many records and Hawks overtook their leader. They hooked up with Bob Dylan in the mid-60s and by the end of the decade they were superstars calling themselves a band.

Meanwhile, Hawkins settled in Peterborough, Ontario where he had top 40 singles including “Bluebirds in the Mountain” and “Down in the Alley”.

He certainly didn’t know the latest voices – he was terrified when he first heard Canadian Neil Young – but in the late 1960s he became friends with John Lennon and his wife, Yoko Ono. They stayed with Hawkins and his wife, Wanda, and their three children while they were in Canada.

“At that particular moment, I thought I was doing them a favor,” he told the National Post. “I thought the Beatles were an English band that got lucky. I didn’t know much about your music. I thought it was Yoko (stupid). I haven’t heard the Beatles album until now. I couldn’t name a song for $10 billion Abbey Road. I have never in my life picked up a Beatles album and listened to it. Never. But Johnny was so strong. Liked it. He wasn’t in one of those categories, you know.

Hawkins also continued to connect with the band and in 1976 he was among the guests on a stellar farewell show based on the Martin Scorsese documentary. the last waltz.

For a few seconds he was still in the lead, smiling and rocking under Stasson’s hat, yelling “Big time, great time” to his former subordinates as they interrupted “Who do you love”.

Also the last waltzHawkins also appeared in Dylan’s film. Renaldo and Clarabig budget failure the door of paradise s Hello Maria Lou. 2007 Hawkins Documentary live and explodeNarrated by Dan Aikroid and featured a cameo by another famous arcansan, Bill Clinton.

Hawkins albums included Ronnie Hawkins, Hawk s You can’t stop the rock, a 2001 release featuring Helm and Robertson, which appeared on the same song, “Blue Moon in My Sign”. Helm and Robertson said no more, after which he fell. the last waltzAnd they recorded their contributions in separate studios.

Over time, Hawkins mentored many young Canadian musicians who went on to successful careers, including guitarist Pat Travers and future Jenny Joplin guitarist John Tilly.

He received several honorary awards from his home country and was made a Member of the Order of Canada in 2013 for his “contribution and support of the rock and roll musician in the Canadian music industry. For charitable purposes. ”