Artist: Ronnie Dyson
LP: (If You Let Me Make Love to You Then) Why Can't I Touch You?
Song: "She's Gone"[ listen ]
After reading the exuberant notes on the back of Ronnie Dyson's debut LP, I felt like I needed to apologize to someone for never having heard of him. Dyson does have an incredible voice, so I can see why his producer's hopes and expectations were so high—perhaps a little too high. After starring in the stage musical "Hair" and landing several top ten hits from this 1969 album, Ronnie Dyson's popularity diminished and he died of heart failure in 1990 when he was just 40 years old. You can read about Ronnie Dyson on Wikipedia here and the liner notes from producer Billy Jackson and Columbia rep. Don DeVito are included here:
From the producer's viewpoint:
"If Ronnie ever unleashes all his God-given talent..." "For one
so young to be so talented..." "Aretha has it, Otis had it, Ray
has it, The Beatles have it, you can go on all day. Ronnie has
it also..." "He sings, swings, and brings it to you, ready or not..."
"You owe it to yourself to catch his performance..."
All these superlatives are described by the great musicians
and background vocalists you hear performing on the album.
What a defensive position to be placed in. "If you handle this
kid right, you have a superstar..." "Find the right combination
and you will create a monster..." "Just lead him to a piano..."
"Wow!"
This producer was called into John Hammond's office to
audition Ronnie. John, who had discovered and signed such
great artists as Aretha, Dylan, Donovan, and Benny Goodman,
and has been so instrumental in the career of many of our
great jazz and pop artists of this decade, has done it again.
Ronnie Dyson is an artist. His natural ability, coupled with
ageless experience, will place him among the new faces of
the next decade. There is not too much I can say about him
that hasn't been said before or that you won't hear once you
set the needle down on this album. Ronnie is the artist's
artist, and I am glad to be associated with him.
— Billy Jackson
* * * * * * *
Life is stranger than fiction...and show business is stranger
than life. For example, Ronnie Dyson sang Aquarius in the smash
musical "Hair" (a song especially written for him)—he did not
record it, and of course, he did not have the hit recording.
Along came another hit show, "Salvation," with more good
music. Ronnie took a song from that show, Why Can't I
Touch You?, and the rest is history.
Ronnie's musical talent is so broad, you'll find songs for
everyone in this album. Simon & Garfunkel's Bridge Over
Troubled Water takes on a completely new feeling, reflecting
Ronnie's gospel background. Emmie is a song written by Laura
Nyro, one of the great contemporary writers. The album contains
current hits such as Band of Gold, I Just Can't Help Believin',
and Make It With You. To round out the music, you should
remember I Don't Wanna Cry and the classic Fever.
Ronnie treats the new songs in this album, She's Gone, Do
What Your Heart Tells You to Do and A Touch of Baby his
own way and makes them instant hits.
Ronnie is only 19 years old. He was born in Washington, D.C.,
moved to Brooklyn, New York, when he was one, and has lived
there ever since. He still sings in his church choir (tours, too).
A whole lot of talent in this album. Listen and become part
of the beginning of Ronnie Dyson.
— Don DeVito
"If Ronnie ever unleashes all his God-given talent..." "For one
so young to be so talented..." "Aretha has it, Otis had it, Ray
has it, The Beatles have it, you can go on all day. Ronnie has
it also..." "He sings, swings, and brings it to you, ready or not..."
"You owe it to yourself to catch his performance..."
All these superlatives are described by the great musicians
and background vocalists you hear performing on the album.
What a defensive position to be placed in. "If you handle this
kid right, you have a superstar..." "Find the right combination
and you will create a monster..." "Just lead him to a piano..."
"Wow!"
This producer was called into John Hammond's office to
audition Ronnie. John, who had discovered and signed such
great artists as Aretha, Dylan, Donovan, and Benny Goodman,
and has been so instrumental in the career of many of our
great jazz and pop artists of this decade, has done it again.
Ronnie Dyson is an artist. His natural ability, coupled with
ageless experience, will place him among the new faces of
the next decade. There is not too much I can say about him
that hasn't been said before or that you won't hear once you
set the needle down on this album. Ronnie is the artist's
artist, and I am glad to be associated with him.
— Billy Jackson
* * * * * * *
Life is stranger than fiction...and show business is stranger
than life. For example, Ronnie Dyson sang Aquarius in the smash
musical "Hair" (a song especially written for him)—he did not
record it, and of course, he did not have the hit recording.
Along came another hit show, "Salvation," with more good
music. Ronnie took a song from that show, Why Can't I
Touch You?, and the rest is history.
Ronnie's musical talent is so broad, you'll find songs for
everyone in this album. Simon & Garfunkel's Bridge Over
Troubled Water takes on a completely new feeling, reflecting
Ronnie's gospel background. Emmie is a song written by Laura
Nyro, one of the great contemporary writers. The album contains
current hits such as Band of Gold, I Just Can't Help Believin',
and Make It With You. To round out the music, you should
remember I Don't Wanna Cry and the classic Fever.
Ronnie treats the new songs in this album, She's Gone, Do
What Your Heart Tells You to Do and A Touch of Baby his
own way and makes them instant hits.
Ronnie is only 19 years old. He was born in Washington, D.C.,
moved to Brooklyn, New York, when he was one, and has lived
there ever since. He still sings in his church choir (tours, too).
A whole lot of talent in this album. Listen and become part
of the beginning of Ronnie Dyson.
— Don DeVito
[ Ronnie Dyson: June 5, 1950 — November 10, 1990 ]
3 comments:
Ronnie Dyson has/had such a wonderful voice, he has/had such a unique crystal clear voice that CAN NOT and will not EVER be duplicated, the crazy thing is we usually do not support 100+ until they have expired.Then we talk about how wonderful they were. His voice was just Unique.Does anyone know where his Family is? Who was with him when he died? Is his life story going to be in a Movie so we can see how he started out and how it ended. I would hope so? Is he going to be put on YOUTUBE-UNSUNG? His Music has never aged. A Ronnie Dyson fan. Thanks for opening this Page in the Life of Ronnie Dyson, so generations can see as well as hear a natural born singer- Ronnie Dyson.
I love Ronnie's voice. Such a sad story.
Ronnie is still my favourite male vocalist of all time. There are no tricks. He just sings, and his voice is one of the greatest instruments of all time.
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