40 Facts About Ronnie Hawkins

Ronald Cornett Hawkins was an American rock and roll singer, long based in Canada, whose career spanned more than half a century.

Ronnie Hawkins's career began in Arkansas, United States, where he was born and raised.

Ronnie Hawkins found success in Ontario, Canada, and lived there for most of his life.

Ronnie Hawkins was an institution of the Ontario music scene for over 40 years.

Ronnie Hawkins was influential in the evolution of rock music in Canada.

Ronnie Hawkins performed all across North America and recorded more than 25 albums.

Ronnie Hawkins's hit songs include covers of Chuck Berry's "Thirty Days" and Young Jessie's "Mary Lou", a song about a gold digger.

Ronnie Hawkins was a talent scout and mentor of the musicians he recruited for his band, The Hawks.

Ronnie Hawkins was still playing 150 engagements a year in his 60s.

Ronnie Hawkins was born on January 10,1935, in Huntsville, Arkansas, the son of Flora, a schoolteacher, and Jasper Ronnie Hawkins, a barber.

Ronnie Hawkins recalled that Williams was too drunk to perform, and his band, the Drifting Cowboys, invited members of the audience to get on the stage and sing.

Ronnie Hawkins accepted the invitation and sang some Burl Ives songs he knew.

Ronnie Hawkins claimed in later years that he continued the activity until he was nineteen or twenty, and that it was how he made the money to buy into nightclubs.

Ronnie Hawkins had already formed his first band, the Hawks, when he graduated from high school in 1952, following which he studied physical education at the University of Arkansas, where in 1956 he dropped out just a few credits short of graduation.

Ronnie Hawkins then enlisted in the United States Army, but he was required to serve only six months, having already completed ROTC training.

Ronnie Hawkins went back to Fayetteville, and two days later he got a call from Sun Records, who wanted him to front the house session band.

The demo session guitarist, Jimmy Ray "Luke" Paulman, suggested that Ronnie Hawkins join him at his home in Helena, Arkansas, in the heart of the Mississippi Delta region, a hotbed of blues, rhythm and blues, and country music, an offer which he eagerly accepted.

Helm reminisced years later that Ronnie Hawkins, accompanied by Luke Paulman, drove his Model A out to the Helm's cotton farm, arriving in a cloud of dust to talk to Helm's parents.

Ronnie Hawkins's live act included back flips and a "camel walk" that preceded Michael Jackson's similar moonwalk by three decades.

Ronnie Hawkins 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.

In Toronto, where the Hawks dominated the local scene, Ronnie Hawkins opened his own night club, the Hawk's Nest, on the second floor of Le Coq d'Or Tavern on Yonge street, playing there for months at a time.

Ronnie Hawkins described Hawkins spinning, flipping, and camel walking when Jimmy Ray "Luke" Paulman launched into a solo on his lead guitar, then tumbling and landing at Paulman's feet.

The decision came after Ronnie Hawkins tried to prevent Rick Danko's girlfriend from coming to the shows.

Ronnie Hawkins wanted the group to mingle with the crowd, and Danko wanted to sit with her instead.

Ronnie Hawkins was often absent from shows, leaving the Hawks to play without him.

Levon felt they should be paid more when Ronnie Hawkins didn't show up.

Ronnie Hawkins continued to perform and record, and did a few tours in Europe.

In December 1969, Ronnie Hawkins hosted John Lennon and Yoko Ono for a stay at his home in Mississauga, Ontario, during the couple's campaign to promote world peace.

Ronnie Hawkins later rode with them on a train to Ottawa to see then-prime minister Pierre Trudeau.

Travers joined the group, but balked when Ronnie Hawkins told him he wanted him to play "old '50s and '60s rockabilly tunes".

Ronnie Hawkins was profiled in the 1982 television documentary film The Hawk, directed by Martin Kahan.

On January 10,1995, Ronnie Hawkins celebrated his 60th birthday by sponsoring a concert at Massey Hall in Toronto, which was documented on the album Let It Rock.

Ronnie Hawkins died in the early morning of May 29,2022, at the age of 87.

Ronnie Hawkins's family said he had been quite ill but gave no specific cause.

Ronnie Hawkins was survived by his wife of 60 years, Wanda, their two sons, Ronnie Hawkins Jr.

Ronnie Hawkins was inducted into the Canadian Music Industry Hall of Fame at the Canadian Music Industry Awards on March 4,2004.

Ronnie Hawkins's pioneering contribution to the genre was recognized by the Rockabilly Hall of Fame.

In 2005, Ronnie Hawkins was awarded an honorary degree from Laurentian University.

On May 2,2013, Ronnie Hawkins was named an Honorary Officer of the Order of Canada.

For more than 50 years, musician Ronnie Hawkins has demonstrated a strong devotion to Canada's music industry.