Dale Hawkins

Dale Hawkins "Suzie-Q," anyone? One of the only white guys hip enough to record for Chess Records (Bobby Charles notwithstanding), Goldmine, La., native Dale Hawkins will be here to perform his late '5Os rockabilly singles, including "Little Liza Jane," "Juanita," and "Baby, Baby." And maybe, just maybe if we're lucky, he'll do "Tornado" and "Heaven." The man hardly needs an introduction, but if we must divulge the facts, Dale Hawkins spent a good deal of his early years tearing up the Bossier Strip in Bossier City, located directly across the Red River from Shreveport, where his band included the Lewis Sisters, one of whom, Margaret, was about to launch an impressive career of her own. He also appeared on the Louisiana Hayride consistently, and when Chess came calling, he hit the town with Little Walter and other Windy City blues royalty, who taught him many tricks of the trade; musically and otherwise. At the dawn of the '60s he cut an incredible album live at the Peppermint Lounge that seemed to confirm his dedication to R&B-based rock 'n' roll, then went on to produce a string of amazing albums for the Uniques, Joe Stampley's swampy garage punk outfit, for Paula Records. His recent productions include Oxford, Mississippi's most famed rock 'n' roll delinquents, the Neckbones. Get ready for the Hawk!

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