Ronnie Hawkins and the Hawks

Ronnie Hawkins
Hawkins at the Hamilton Festival of Friends, August 2014
Background information
Birth name	Ronald Hawkins
Born	(1935-01-10) January 10, 1935 (age 82) Huntsville, Arkansas, U.S.
Origin	Fayetteville, Arkansas, U.S.
Genres	Rockabilly, rock, R&B, country, bluegrass
Occupation(s)	Singer, songwriter
Instruments	Guitar
Years active	1956–present
Labels	Roulette, Columbia, Cotillion, Monument, Atlantic, Polydor, Pye, United Artists, Epic
Associated acts	The Band, Full Tilt Boogie Band, Crowbar, Bearfoot, Skylark, Robbie Lane and the Disciples, the Rock 'N’ Roll Orchestra, the Revols
Website	www.ronniehawkins.com

Ronald "Ronnie" Hawkins, OC, (born January 10, 1935) is an American rockabilly musician whose career has spanned more than half a century. His career began in Arkansas, where he was born and raised. He found success in Ontario, Canada, and he settled there for most of his life. He is considered highly influential in the establishment and evolution of rock music in Canada.

Also known as "Rompin' Ronnie", "Mr. Dynamo", or simply "The Hawk", he was one of the key players in the 1960s rock scene in Toronto. Throughout his career, Hawkins has performed all across North America and recorded more than twenty-five albums. His hit songs included covers of Chuck Berry's "Thirty Days" (entitled "Forty Days" by Hawkins) and Young Jessie's "Mary Lou", a song about a "". Other well-known recordings are "Who Do You Love?", "Hey Bo Diddley", and "Susie Q", which was written by his cousin, rockabilly artist Dale Hawkins.

Hawkins is also notable for his role as something of a talent scout and mentor. He played a pivotal role in the establishment of premiere backing musicians via his band, the Hawks. The most successful of those eventually formed The Band, while other musicians Hawkins had recruited went on to form Robbie Lane and the Disciples,Janis Joplin's Full Tilt Boogie Band,Crowbar, Bearfoot, and Skylark.

Hawkins was born in 1935 in Huntsville, Arkansas, two days after the birth of Elvis Presley. When he was nine years old, his family moved to nearby Fayetteville, Arkansas. After graduating from high school, he studied physical education at the University of Arkansas, where he formed his first band, the Hawks. He toured with them throughout Arkansas, Oklahoma and Missouri. Hawkins also owned and operated the Rockwood Club in Fayetteville, where some of rock and roll's earliest pioneers came to play including Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, Roy Orbison and Conway Twitty.