Ronnie Hawkins
The Best Of Ronnie Hawkins And The Hawks

THE REVIEW

• He's been called a legend.
  To his early fans, he was Mr. Dynamo.
  To Bob Dylan, he was "my idol".
  To John Lennon, he was "Sir Ronnie".
  To himself, he's Rompin' Ronnie, The Geritol Gypsy.
  To all of us who know and love him, he is simply "The Hawk".

Ronnie Hawkins, singer, pianist, and songwriter, was a pioneer of Rock in Canada, and a reference figure for many artists from different musical backgrounds, from Gordon Lightfoot, to the Guess Who, and even Steppenwolf.

Mr. Dynamo, as he was called by his fans, very young, formed his first Band, "The Hawks," with whom he performed in Oklahoma, Missouri, and in Arkansas, his native land. Following the advice of Conway Twitty, he emigrated to Canada, and in '59 signed with Roulette under the name Ronnie Hawkins & the Hawks. The first single "Forty Days" "One Of These Days" entered the Canadian hit parade, followed by other successes, but all limited within the borders of that great country.

Mr. Dynamo has always been a showman who knows how to be on stage, the crowd has never intimidated him, on the contrary, it excites him, it is no coincidence that the distinctive sign of his songs are the energetic performances, combined with an impressive feeling, along with a powerful rhythm, without smudges, imprinted by the Hawks. These, with line-ups constantly renewed by the leader, were the womb in which a multitude of artists had the opportunity to grow, including Roy Buchanan, but most of all Robbie Robertson, and the other musicians who in '63 started their own career under the name The Band, the mythical group also appreciated for their experiences with Bob Dylan.

The collection contains some of his most famous tracks, to the two already mentioned I add "Dizzy Miss Lizzy" "Wild Little Willy" "Ruby Baby" "Who Do You Love". All compositions are a personal blend of R'n'R, Boogie, Blues, and to a lesser extent even Country, there is no doubt that Hawkins rides the sound like a true champion. This little-known artist is the undisputed progenitor and headmaster of Canadian rock 'n' roll, essential for those who love Presley, Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis, or Buddy Holly.

PS For those who can get it, I also recommend the 'The Roulette Years' collection, more complete.