Singer, songwriter, and guitarist Dale Hawkins – born Delmar Hawkins in Mangham, Louisiana on August 22, 1936 – was best known for his 1957 hit “Susie Q” and for being the architect of what became known as ‘swamp rock boogie.’ While playing clubs in Shreveport, Louisiana, he blended his love of the burgeoning rock and roll movement with the local Louisiana music made by black artist and created his own sound. He began his recording career in 1956 with the single “See You Soon Baboon,” but it was his next single, “Susie Q,” that put him on the map. This 1957 recording featured musical assistance from future session giants James Burton on guitar and Joe Osborn on bass. The song was later added to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll and influenced generations of artists. One of the most obvious groups influenced by Dale Hawkins was Creedence Clearwater Revival, whose first hit was a cover of “Susie Q.” CCR’s sound was an extension of the swamp rock boogie that Dale Hawkins had created a decade earlier. While “Susie Q” remains his best known track, he continued to release singles including “My Babe” (1958), “Hot Dog” (1959), “Poor Little Rhode Island” (1960), “Women – That’s What’s Happening!” (1962), and “I’ll Fly High” (1965). While his later singles were not setting fire to the charts, he was achieving success as a producer for artists like the Gentrys, the Uniques, Ronnie Self, Bruce Channel, and many others. He also began hosting a teen dance party called The Dale Hawkins Show on Philadelphia’s WCAU-TV. In 2007, Dale Hawkins was inducted into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame. His cousin Ronnie Hawkins was also a musician and remains best-known for his backing band, the Hawks, who would later break away from Ronnie and form The Band. Dale Hawkins died from colon cancer on February 13, 2010, at the age of 73.
