mbriant
Headphoneus Supremus
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One of my best friends, an electrician by trade, is a friend of and sometimes roadie for "Rompin' Ronnie Hawkins", aka "Mr. Dynamo", aka "The Hawk". I'm on vacation this week and my buddy asked if I wanted to join him on the 2 1/2 hour drive to Hawkins farm/estate to give them a hand organizing 25 years worth of pigeon dropping covered junk Hawkins has been storing there. Hawkin's late 50's hits "Mary Lou", "Ruby Ruby" and "Hey Bo Diddly" were some of the first songs I ever learned the lyrics to as a little kid, and I'd been exposed to various local news stories, documentaries, and most recently, some excellent concert/bio DVDs about him over the years .... but despite walking and driving right past his old Toronto nightclub featuring "The Hawk's Nest", umpteen times over the years, I'd never seen him perform live. So I jumped at the chance to meet this living legend in person.
He was everything I expected and more. I'd heard from my buddy and had seen on Hawkin's documentaries that whether it was long time friend Bill Clinton, famous musicians like John Lennon, Bob Dylan, and Robbie Robertson, or any average Joe, he and his wife Wanda treated everyone they met exactly the same ... making them feel completely welcome and comfortable. It's very true.
Some may know of Hawkins from his early 50's/60's hit records, others from his appearance on the Band's "Last Waltz" concert video, and many probably haven't heard of him at all, but he was every bit as influential as the rest of his Memphis recording buddies, Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis, Roy Orbison, Carl Perkins, and Johnny Cash. In 1959, on the advice of Conway Twitty, Hawkins moved his band from Arkansas to Toronto, which was starved for good, live music, and became the biggest act in the city, eventually owning his own rock and roll bar, the "Le Coq D'or Tavern". He, like another of Canada's adopted sons, Long John Baldry, had the uncanny ability to be able to recognize, encourage, and nurture great young musical talent.
He's got the same uncanny ability to recognize, nurture, and encourage cheap (free) labour as well. I'd never seen so much pigeon poop in my entire life. If I don't have bird flu now, I must be immune to it. Some of the "old junk" in his barn turned out to be a pair of never used, top of the line, pigeon crap covered Recaro racing seats, an older, but mint BMW motorcycle, and a ton of old PA speakers, amps, mixers, and road cases.
Anyway, it was an excellent day. His farm, located on 200 acres of prime lakefront property is spectacular. We took a lot of "refreshment" breaks throughout the afternoon, and listening to Ronnie,s endless stories and hilarious Southern sayings, had us howling with laughter. At 71 years of age, Hawkins is still an inspiration. He told me I was welcome back anytime. I'll definitely be taking him up on that offer.
From Hawkin's bio: "This version of The Hawks (Ronnie, Helm, Danko, Manuel, Robertson, Hudson) wowed the crowds on Yonge Street in Toronto until 1963, when The Hawks decided to leave Ronnie and strike out on their own. They eventually hooked up with Bob Dylan, becoming his backup band when Dylan introduced electricity to folk music. They then went on their own as The Band. They gained stardom shortly afterword.
Ronnie was unphased by the loss of his band and formed another version of The Hawks. He formed Hawk Records and recorded three singles in 1964 and 1965 with the new Hawks. They left shortly thereafter and became Robbie Lane and the Disciples. Over the next decade, several Hawks went on to gain stardom after attending the 'Ronnie Hawkins Rock 'n' Roll Bootcamp'. One incarnation, which included John Till, Richard Bell and Larry Atamniuk, went on to form Janis Joplin's 'Full Tilt Boogie Band'. Another version of The Hawks included Roly Greenway and John Gibbard, who eventually became Crowbar. Two more members, B.J. Cook and David Foster, went on to form Skylark, and Foster is now one of the world's most renowned producers. Several other Hawks went on to gain acclaim; Pat Travers, David Clayton Thomas of Blood, Sweat & Tears; Beverly D'Angelo, who became a famous actress and Larry Gowan, who has a respectful solo career. Many great musicians worked as a Hawk when Ronnie ruled Toronto's Yonge Street, and even more guested on his stage.
Of course, this kind of notoriety led to many interesting adventures for 'The Hawk'. In 1969, John Lennon and Yoko Ono stayed with Ronnie on his farm in Mississauga for a couple of weeks during their peace crusade and took the Hawkins' on their train ride to see Canada's Prime Minister, Pierre Trudeau. Afterwards (remember the bed-in!), Ronnie and music journalist Ritchie Yorke were recruited by Lennon as peace emissaries and visited China. When Ronnie went to Muscle Shoals, Alabama, and recorded 'Down In The Alley' with Duane Allman in 1970, Lennon helped boost the single and recorded a promotional spot for it.
Ronnie's earlier recordings included 'Forty Days', which reached #45 on the Billboard charts. But it was Ronnie's version of 'Mary Lou' that brought him fame when the single reached #26 on the charts in 1959. Introduced to Dick Clark, he played on all of his shows, including 'Philadelphia Bandstand', 'The Beechnut Show' and 'American Bandstand'. Ronnie's incredible live show featured his famous 'camel walk' and backflips. His wild antics led to his moniker, 'Mr. Dynamo'. "
One of Hawkin's early LP's.
Bo-Diddley, parked in front of Hawkins' Toronto night club, Le Coq D'or
Hanging with Bob Dylan
Ronnie and Wanda at their farm with John and Yoko
Ronnie on stage with Bob Dylan during the 1976 "Rolling Thunder Review"
The Hawk in 1996 at the Juno Awards, with Hall of Fame inductees
John Kay of Steppenwolf, Denny Doherty of The Mamas and The Papas,
Zal Yanovsky of The Lovin' Spoonful and Domenic Troiano of Mandala and The James Gang.
Ronnie received the Walt Grealis Special Achievement Award for a Lifetime Contribution to Canadian Music
With his long-time Arkansas buddy Bill.
Ronnie and Wanda as they look today.
He was everything I expected and more. I'd heard from my buddy and had seen on Hawkin's documentaries that whether it was long time friend Bill Clinton, famous musicians like John Lennon, Bob Dylan, and Robbie Robertson, or any average Joe, he and his wife Wanda treated everyone they met exactly the same ... making them feel completely welcome and comfortable. It's very true.
Some may know of Hawkins from his early 50's/60's hit records, others from his appearance on the Band's "Last Waltz" concert video, and many probably haven't heard of him at all, but he was every bit as influential as the rest of his Memphis recording buddies, Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis, Roy Orbison, Carl Perkins, and Johnny Cash. In 1959, on the advice of Conway Twitty, Hawkins moved his band from Arkansas to Toronto, which was starved for good, live music, and became the biggest act in the city, eventually owning his own rock and roll bar, the "Le Coq D'or Tavern". He, like another of Canada's adopted sons, Long John Baldry, had the uncanny ability to be able to recognize, encourage, and nurture great young musical talent.
He's got the same uncanny ability to recognize, nurture, and encourage cheap (free) labour as well. I'd never seen so much pigeon poop in my entire life. If I don't have bird flu now, I must be immune to it. Some of the "old junk" in his barn turned out to be a pair of never used, top of the line, pigeon crap covered Recaro racing seats, an older, but mint BMW motorcycle, and a ton of old PA speakers, amps, mixers, and road cases.
Anyway, it was an excellent day. His farm, located on 200 acres of prime lakefront property is spectacular. We took a lot of "refreshment" breaks throughout the afternoon, and listening to Ronnie,s endless stories and hilarious Southern sayings, had us howling with laughter. At 71 years of age, Hawkins is still an inspiration. He told me I was welcome back anytime. I'll definitely be taking him up on that offer.
From Hawkin's bio: "This version of The Hawks (Ronnie, Helm, Danko, Manuel, Robertson, Hudson) wowed the crowds on Yonge Street in Toronto until 1963, when The Hawks decided to leave Ronnie and strike out on their own. They eventually hooked up with Bob Dylan, becoming his backup band when Dylan introduced electricity to folk music. They then went on their own as The Band. They gained stardom shortly afterword.
Ronnie was unphased by the loss of his band and formed another version of The Hawks. He formed Hawk Records and recorded three singles in 1964 and 1965 with the new Hawks. They left shortly thereafter and became Robbie Lane and the Disciples. Over the next decade, several Hawks went on to gain stardom after attending the 'Ronnie Hawkins Rock 'n' Roll Bootcamp'. One incarnation, which included John Till, Richard Bell and Larry Atamniuk, went on to form Janis Joplin's 'Full Tilt Boogie Band'. Another version of The Hawks included Roly Greenway and John Gibbard, who eventually became Crowbar. Two more members, B.J. Cook and David Foster, went on to form Skylark, and Foster is now one of the world's most renowned producers. Several other Hawks went on to gain acclaim; Pat Travers, David Clayton Thomas of Blood, Sweat & Tears; Beverly D'Angelo, who became a famous actress and Larry Gowan, who has a respectful solo career. Many great musicians worked as a Hawk when Ronnie ruled Toronto's Yonge Street, and even more guested on his stage.
Of course, this kind of notoriety led to many interesting adventures for 'The Hawk'. In 1969, John Lennon and Yoko Ono stayed with Ronnie on his farm in Mississauga for a couple of weeks during their peace crusade and took the Hawkins' on their train ride to see Canada's Prime Minister, Pierre Trudeau. Afterwards (remember the bed-in!), Ronnie and music journalist Ritchie Yorke were recruited by Lennon as peace emissaries and visited China. When Ronnie went to Muscle Shoals, Alabama, and recorded 'Down In The Alley' with Duane Allman in 1970, Lennon helped boost the single and recorded a promotional spot for it.
Ronnie's earlier recordings included 'Forty Days', which reached #45 on the Billboard charts. But it was Ronnie's version of 'Mary Lou' that brought him fame when the single reached #26 on the charts in 1959. Introduced to Dick Clark, he played on all of his shows, including 'Philadelphia Bandstand', 'The Beechnut Show' and 'American Bandstand'. Ronnie's incredible live show featured his famous 'camel walk' and backflips. His wild antics led to his moniker, 'Mr. Dynamo'. "
John Kay of Steppenwolf, Denny Doherty of The Mamas and The Papas,
Zal Yanovsky of The Lovin' Spoonful and Domenic Troiano of Mandala and The James Gang.
Ronnie received the Walt Grealis Special Achievement Award for a Lifetime Contribution to Canadian Music
