Dale Hawkins
Dale Hawkins (born Delmar Allen Hawkins on August 22, 1936 in Goldmine, Louisiana - February 13, 2010, Little Rock, Arkansas) was a pioneer American Rock singer, songwriter, and rhythm guitarist who is often called the architect of the swamp rock boogie. (Fellow rockabilly pioneer Ronnie Hawkins is his cousin.)
In 1957, Hawkins was playing at Shreveport, Louisiana clubs, and although his music was influenced by the new rock and roll style of Elvis Presley and the guitar sounds of Scotty Moore Read Full BioDale Hawkins (born Delmar Allen Hawkins on August 22, 1936 in Goldmine, Louisiana - February 13, 2010, Little Rock, Arkansas) was a pioneer American Rock singer, songwriter, and rhythm guitarist who is often called the architect of the swamp rock boogie. (Fellow rockabilly pioneer Ronnie Hawkins is his cousin.)
In 1957, Hawkins was playing at Shreveport, Louisiana clubs, and although his music was influenced by the new rock and roll style of Elvis Presley and the guitar sounds of Scotty Moore, Hawkins blended that with the uniquely heavy blues sound of black Louisiana artists for his recording of his swamp-rock classic Susie Q. Fellow Louisiana guitarist and future Rock and Roll Hall of Famer James Burton provided the signature riff and solo. The song was chosen as one of The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll.
Hawkins went on to a long and successful career, recording a number of songs for Chess Records. In 1998, Ace Records issued a compilation CD titled "Dale Hawkins, Rock 'n' Roll Tornado" which contained a collection of his early works and previously unreleased material. Other recordings include the cult classic "LA, Memphis and Tyler, Texas," and a 1999 release, "Wildcat Tamer," of all-new recordings that garnered Hawkins a 4-star review in Rolling Stone. However, his career wasn't limited to recording or performing. He hosted a teen dance party, "The Dale Hawkins Show," on WCAU-TV in Philadelphia. He next turned his talents to producing, and found success with the Uniques' "Not Too Long Ago," the Five Americans' "Western Union," Jon & Robin's "Do It Again - A Little Bit Slower." He served as Executive Vice President of Abnak Records; Vice President, Southwest Division, Bell Records (here he produced Bruce Channel, Ronnie Self, James Bell, the Festivals,the Dolls, and the Gentrys); and A&R Director, RCA West Coast Rock Division, working with Michael Nesmith and Harry Nillson. In the 90s, he produced the critically-acclaimed "Goin Back to Mississippi" by R.L. Burnside's slide guitarist Kenny Brown.
Hawkins' pioneering contributions have been recognized by the Rockabilly Hall of Fame.
In 2006, he was diagnosed with colon cancer and began radiation therapy while continuing to perform occasionally. In October 2007, The Louisiana Music Hall of Fame honored Dale Hawkins for his contributions to Louisiana music by inducting him into The Louisiana Music Hall Of Fame. At the same time, he released his latest recording, "Back Down to Louisiana," inspired by a trip to his childhood home. It was recognized by the UK's music magazine, Mojo, as #10 in the Americana category in their 2007 Best of issue, while "LA, Memphis and Tyler, Texas," was awarded #8 in the reissue category.
Hawkins died on February 13, 2010, from colon cancer in Little Rock, Arkansas.
In 1957, Hawkins was playing at Shreveport, Louisiana clubs, and although his music was influenced by the new rock and roll style of Elvis Presley and the guitar sounds of Scotty Moore Read Full BioDale Hawkins (born Delmar Allen Hawkins on August 22, 1936 in Goldmine, Louisiana - February 13, 2010, Little Rock, Arkansas) was a pioneer American Rock singer, songwriter, and rhythm guitarist who is often called the architect of the swamp rock boogie. (Fellow rockabilly pioneer Ronnie Hawkins is his cousin.)
In 1957, Hawkins was playing at Shreveport, Louisiana clubs, and although his music was influenced by the new rock and roll style of Elvis Presley and the guitar sounds of Scotty Moore, Hawkins blended that with the uniquely heavy blues sound of black Louisiana artists for his recording of his swamp-rock classic Susie Q. Fellow Louisiana guitarist and future Rock and Roll Hall of Famer James Burton provided the signature riff and solo. The song was chosen as one of The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll.
Hawkins went on to a long and successful career, recording a number of songs for Chess Records. In 1998, Ace Records issued a compilation CD titled "Dale Hawkins, Rock 'n' Roll Tornado" which contained a collection of his early works and previously unreleased material. Other recordings include the cult classic "LA, Memphis and Tyler, Texas," and a 1999 release, "Wildcat Tamer," of all-new recordings that garnered Hawkins a 4-star review in Rolling Stone. However, his career wasn't limited to recording or performing. He hosted a teen dance party, "The Dale Hawkins Show," on WCAU-TV in Philadelphia. He next turned his talents to producing, and found success with the Uniques' "Not Too Long Ago," the Five Americans' "Western Union," Jon & Robin's "Do It Again - A Little Bit Slower." He served as Executive Vice President of Abnak Records; Vice President, Southwest Division, Bell Records (here he produced Bruce Channel, Ronnie Self, James Bell, the Festivals,the Dolls, and the Gentrys); and A&R Director, RCA West Coast Rock Division, working with Michael Nesmith and Harry Nillson. In the 90s, he produced the critically-acclaimed "Goin Back to Mississippi" by R.L. Burnside's slide guitarist Kenny Brown.
Hawkins' pioneering contributions have been recognized by the Rockabilly Hall of Fame.
In 2006, he was diagnosed with colon cancer and began radiation therapy while continuing to perform occasionally. In October 2007, The Louisiana Music Hall of Fame honored Dale Hawkins for his contributions to Louisiana music by inducting him into The Louisiana Music Hall Of Fame. At the same time, he released his latest recording, "Back Down to Louisiana," inspired by a trip to his childhood home. It was recognized by the UK's music magazine, Mojo, as #10 in the Americana category in their 2007 Best of issue, while "LA, Memphis and Tyler, Texas," was awarded #8 in the reissue category.
Hawkins died on February 13, 2010, from colon cancer in Little Rock, Arkansas.
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Susie-Q
Dale Hawkins Lyrics
Oh Susie Q
Oh Susie Q
Oh Susie Q
I love you my Susie Q
I like the way you walk
I like the way you talk
I like the way you walk
I like the way you talk my Susie Q
Oh Susie Q
Oh Susie Q
Oh Susie Q baby I love you
My Susie Q
You say that you'll be true
You say that you'll be true
You say that you'll be true
And never leave me blue my Susie Q
Oh Susie Q
Oh Susie Q
Oh Susie Q I love you my Susie Q
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Dale Hawkins, Stanley J. Lewis, Eleanor Broadwater
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on specific lyrics, highlight them
Slick Andrews
@Doug Waters hiya Doug-
What a lot of us that really dig Rockabilly mean by "THE" version, is that a lot of times the original artists re-recorded their songs, even just weeks after the first cut... And then you have the period in the Sixties when certain producers decided they needed to "modernize" older recordings...and of course, there were all of the covers done by other bands.
I'm sure you've heard Fogerty's Credence cover... I guess it was good for it's time, and it's great that CCR thought enough of the "old" music to cover it.
But this original Hawkins cut is a real ball kicker! No other version I've ever heard comes close to the raw intensity... And a funny side note is that this "simple" tune is seemingly impossible to cover. At least I've never heard a really good Rockabilly cover of it.
I think it's got something to do with the cowbell rhythm and that B in the progression.
Cheers!
Steve Stalzle
So damned many people only know the famous Creedence Clearwater Revival version, of this song, HERE IS THE ORIGINAL! ROCK & ROLL!
Tortle Man
This rocks more than cdc’s
OH YEAH GAMER
@discontinuedbynightfall Oh yes liking a old band means i’m 11
discontinuedbynightfall
@OH YEAH GAMER get off the internet 11 year old
OH YEAH GAMER
That’s because CDC’s is better
Michael Boyce
It was also covered by Johnny Rivers too and appeared on Here We A Go-Go Again. It closed that album
GrtSatan
The first time a producer asked for more cowbell and the result was an instant masterpiece.
discontinuedbynightfall
@Matt Russell no
Matt Russell
Don't you mean the last time?
BearClaw
Burton's guitar sounds like an entire horn section in the solo section. So dope.