Ronnie Self
Ronnie Self | |
|---|---|
 Self in 1956 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Ronald Keith Self |
| Born | July 5, 1938 Tin Town, Missouri, United States |
| Died | August 28, 1981 (aged 43) Springfield, Missouri, United States |
| Genres | Rockabilly; rock 'n' roll; country gospel; pop (as a songwriter) |
| Occupations | Singer, songwriter |
| Years active | 1955–1964 |
| Labels | ABC-Paramount (1956), Columbia (1956-59), |
Ronnie Self (July 5, 1938 – August 28, 1981) was an American rock 'n' roll musician and rockabilly vocalist and performer best known for his 1957 hit single, "Bop-A-Lena," (later covered by Gene Vincent), which was highly popular in the United States and even more so in Australia, after which he spent two years recording some country and gospel songs to limited, regional reception (particularly in the southern United States). Between 1960 and 1964, Self was the lyricist/songwriter of many rock 'n' roll, pop, and country songs that were performed by Brenda Lee and Jerry Reed and Carl Perkins to great success.
Biography and performing career
[edit]Ronald Self was born in Tin Town, Missouri, in July 1938, and began singing in choir and Sophomore High School Band at age sixteen, showcasing a scream technique based upon a James Brown recording to high classmates, one of whom had an uncle who had previously represented Paramount in lawsuits years prior, remaining on good terms with the executives, and was able to get Self and a classmate (who played cello) to record a vocal and cello composition. The A&R department was impressed and had Self perform a song in their sound station, which contained a 3-piece drumkit and an acoustic guitar. With Self on vocals and acoustic guitar, his classmate on the stand-up bass (replacing the cello) and a studio technician filling in on the dreams, Self recorded a rendition of Elvis Presley's "Baby, Let's Play House", and the A&R rep immediately signed him to the ABC-Paramount label for a one-year contracting Self to record 4-6 songs for a vinyl to be released by the end of 1957. Upon recording, only a few were successful in parts of the South, particularly in his birth state of Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Georgia, Texas (opening for Buddy Holly twice), and Oklahoma where Roy Clark played a set with The Collins Kids and helped showcase Self's talent, especially his ability to sustain a scream for 5.3 seconds. A severe alcoholic, his erratic on-stage behavior and unpredictable energetic live performances; raspy, abrasive singing, and expanding rockabilly to include his uniquely abrasive and distorted guttural screams, particularly to 1957 audiences, catching the attention of Columbia Records, with him who signed a deal in 1956 to record his original single, "Bop-A-Lena" with a doo-wop group called The Kids and a band consisting of session musicians like Billy Mure and Ronnie Hawkins influencing Dion and the Belmonts.[1]
Ronnie Self began performing at seventeen in 1955, signed with and recorded "Pretty Bad Blyes" and" You're So Good to Me". through ABC-Paramount before signing to Columbia Records in 1956, and recording "Pretty Bad Blues,"[2] followed by an original song recorded un 1957 and released in '58, to become his only hit single successful internationally: nationwide successful hit single, "Bop-A-Lena," released in early 1958 whereupon it reached No. 68 on the U.S. Billboard charts and No. 25 in Australia.[3] His boastful country anthem, "Ain't I'm a Dog", was a regional success in the Deep South United States, but failed to chart nationally, despite charting at No. 31 in Australia. Influenced by various traditional and upcoming country artists, including outlaw country acts and contemporary rockabilly artists–Gid Tanner and the Skillet Lickers, Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard, Gene Vincent, Buddy Holly, Chuck Berry, Screaming Jay Hawkins, Elvis Presley, The Johnny Burnett Trio, and Dale Hawkins and Ronnie Hawkins, of The Hawks (whose drummer, Levon Helm, would eventually found The Band and achieve international success); with this array of inspiration and by virtue of being a talented performer, Self signed with Decca Records in 1959, but the next year elected to quit performing and fully commit to songwriting.[3]
Lyricist for Brenda Lee and Jerry Reed
[edit]As a songwriter, Self successfully penned numerous song lyrics, of which Brenda Lee recorded several, including "I'm Sorry", "Sweet Nothin's", and "Everybody Loves Me But You," which all became major pop classics.[3] His country gospel song "Ain't That Beautiful Singing" was recorded by Jake Hess and received a Grammy Award for Best Sacred Performance in 1969.[4] He also wrote Brenda Lee's 1963 No. 28 UK hit single "Sweet Impossible You"[5] (the B-side to "The Grass is Greener" in the United States).
Personal struggles, death
[edit]Self's career path was stunted due to severe alcoholism, and consequently, erratic behavior with occasional incidents of violence. Ronnie Self died in Springfield, Missouri in 1981 at the age of 43 from cirrhosis.[3]
Track listing (including unreleased)
[edit]- Pretty Bad Blues (first major release with ABC Recording)[6]
- Waiting for the Gin to Hit[7]
- You're So Right for Me[8]
Bop-A-Lena (Album Version) Ronnie Self 2 Pretty Bad Blues Ronnie Self 3 Big Fool (Album Version) Ronnie Self 4 Ain't I'm A Dog Ronnie Self 5 Big Blon' Baby (Remastered) Ronnie Self 6 Long Distance Kiss Ronnie Self 7 Petrified Ronnie Self 8 Grandma's Rockin´ Ronnie Self 9 Three Hearts Later Ronnie Self 10 Date Bait (Remastered) Ronnie Self 11 Too Many Lovers Ronnie Self 12 Big Town Ronnie Self 13 Do It Now (Remastered) Ronnie Self 14 You're So Right for Me (Remastered) Ronnie Self 15 Flame of Love (Remastered) Ronnie Self 16 Oh Me, Oh My (Remastered) Ronnie Self 17 Instant Man (Remastered) Ronnie Self 18 Black Night Blues (Remastered) Ronnie Self 19 Past, Present and Future (Remastered) Ronnie Self 20 Hair Of The Dog Ronnie Self
I´ve Been Brought Down Ronnie Self
When He Flies Away
Waitin´ For The Gin To Hit Me Ronnie Self Ronnie Sel Bop A Lena (Alternate Take) Long Train To Memph Wild And Wooly Li I Want You To Bop A Lena (Live) Ronnie Self Sweet Little Sixteen
References
[edit]- ^ https://pennyloafersandbobbysox.substack.com/p/wtol-toledo-ohio-1958-radio-interview?r=4mmtuk&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&triedRedirect=true interview from 1958 with Ronnie
- ^ "Pretty Bad Blues". YouTube. 5 November 2014.
- ^ a b c d Bruce Eder. "Ronnie Self | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved 2016-08-29.
- ^ "Ronnie Self". Rockabillyhall.com. Retrieved 2016-08-29.
- ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. pp. 318/9. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yTvKOdj00Q&t=24s inspired by Elvis Presley
- ^ "Ronnie Self and sons - "Waitin' for My Gin to Hit Me"". YouTube. 4 September 2011.
- ^ "Ronnie Self - You're so right for me". YouTube. 7 March 2011.
