Ronald Monroe Dawson (11 August 1939 – 30 September 2003) was an American rockabilly singer, guitarist and drummer, nicknamed The Blond Bomber. Although he achieved regional success in the 1950s, his popularity peaked internationally with tours in the 1980s and 1990s.
Born Ronald Monroe Dawson in Dallas, Texas, his father Pinkie Dawson was the leader of a western swing band, the Manhattan Merrymakers. The family moved to Waxahachie. He learned to play guitar, bass and drums. He attended the Southern Bible Institute in Waxahachie before he was expelled. Dawson listened to rock and roll music and entered a local talent contest run by the Future Farmers of America, which he ended up winning.
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Links to Peel[]
An artist that Peel probably discovered much later in life where he didn't seem to play any off the singer's material in the 60's or 70's. Peel seemed to have started playing Ronnie's material in the mid 80's when the Ace Records label released a compilation of older 50's and 60's tunes. Peel's colleague and friend, Andy Kershaw, was also a fan of the artist and in the early 90's, the singer recorded sessions for both of their programmes.
Sessions[]
RONNIE DAWSON John Peel 14th December 1993
1. Recorded: 1993-12-14. First Broadcast: 21 January 1994. Repeated: 20 August 1994
- Wham Bam Jam / Down In Mexico / Rock The Blues / Action Packed / Up Jumped The Devil
2. Recorded: 1994-11-17. First Broadcast: 14 January 1995
- The Cats Were Jumping / Yum Yum / Party Time/Knock Down Drag Out / Ghost Riders In The Sky
Other Shows Played[]
- 02 December 1985: Action Packed (v/a LP - Rock 'N Roll Party Volume 5) Ace
- 1986
- 01 January 1986: Action Packed (v/a LP - Rock 'N Roll Party Volume 5) Ace
- 19 May 1986: 'Action Packed (LP-Rockin Bones)' (No Hit)
- 02 December 1986: Rockin' Bones (v/a LP - Born, Bad Volume 1) Born Bad
- 1987
- 07 January 1987: Rockin' Bones (v/a LP - Born Bad Volume One) Born Bad
- 28 October 1987: Tied Down (LP - Rockin Bones) No Hit
- 1993
- 03 December 1993: Little Mixed Up (album - Monkey Beat) Crystal Clear Sound
- 18 December 1993: ‘Sappy Ambient (LP – Terminal Island)‘ (Gruff Whit Records / Trottel)
- 1994
- 08 January 1994: Rock The Blues Tonight (CD - Monkey Beat) No Hit
- 14 January 1994: ‘Crazy Shoes (CD - Monkey Beat)’ (No Hit Records)
- 15 January 1994 (BFBS): Rock The Blues Tonight (CD - Monkey Beat) No Hit
- 05 February 1994: ‘Snakeman (CD - Monkey Beat)’ (No Hit)
- 1995
- 16 June 1995: 'No Dice (LP-Just Rockin' And Rollin')' (No Hit)