Bonnie Dobson
Encyclopedia
Bonnie Dobson is a Canadian
folk music
songwriter
, singer, and guitarist
, most known in the 1960s for composing the songs "I'm Your Woman" and "Morning Dew
". The latter, augmented (with a controversial co-writing credit) by Tim Rose
, became a melancholy folk rock
standard, covered by the Grateful Dead
, the Jeff Beck Group, Robert Plant
, the Pozo Seco Singers, and Long John Baldry
among many others.
Dobson has consistently questioned Rose's right to a co-writing credit for "Morning Dew
" (he first heard it as sung by Fred Neil
), but due to a loophole in US copyright
law, Rose was successful in his claim for royalties.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
folk music
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
, singer, and guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
, most known in the 1960s for composing the songs "I'm Your Woman" and "Morning Dew
Morning Dew
"Morning Dew", also known as " Morning Dew", is a post-apocalyptic folk-rock song written by Canadian singer Bonnie Dobson in 1962.According to Dobson in a 1993 interview, "Morning Dew" was inspired by the film On the Beach....
". The latter, augmented (with a controversial co-writing credit) by Tim Rose
Tim Rose
Timothy Alan Patrick Rose , best known professionally as Tim Rose, was an American singer-songwriter, who spent much of his life in London, England and had more success in Europe than in his native country...
, became a melancholy folk rock
Folk rock
Folk rock is a musical genre combining elements of folk music and rock music. In its earliest and narrowest sense, the term referred to a genre that arose in the United States and the UK around the mid-1960s...
standard, covered by the Grateful Dead
Grateful Dead
The Grateful Dead was an American rock band formed in 1965 in the San Francisco Bay Area. The band was known for its unique and eclectic style, which fused elements of rock, folk, bluegrass, blues, reggae, country, improvisational jazz, psychedelia, and space rock, and for live performances of long...
, the Jeff Beck Group, Robert Plant
Robert Plant
Robert Anthony Plant, CBE is an English singer and songwriter best known as the vocalist and lyricist of the iconic rock band Led Zeppelin. He has also had a successful solo career...
, the Pozo Seco Singers, and Long John Baldry
Long John Baldry
John William "Long John" Baldry was an English and Canadian blues singer and a voice actor. He sang with many British musicians, with Rod Stewart and Elton John appearing in bands led by Baldry in the 1960s. He enjoyed pop success in the UK where Let the Heartaches Begin reached No...
among many others.
Dobson has consistently questioned Rose's right to a co-writing credit for "Morning Dew
Morning Dew
"Morning Dew", also known as " Morning Dew", is a post-apocalyptic folk-rock song written by Canadian singer Bonnie Dobson in 1962.According to Dobson in a 1993 interview, "Morning Dew" was inspired by the film On the Beach....
" (he first heard it as sung by Fred Neil
Fred Neil
Fred Neil was an American folk singer-songwriter in the 1960s and early 1970s. He did not achieve commercial success as a performer, and is mainly known through other people's recordings of his material – particularly "Everybody's Talkin'", which became a hit for Harry Nilsson after being...
), but due to a loophole in US copyright
Copyright
Copyright is a legal concept, enacted by most governments, giving the creator of an original work exclusive rights to it, usually for a limited time...
law, Rose was successful in his claim for royalties.
Discography
- 1961 Bonnie Dobson - She's Like A Swallow(Her first Album - Prestige/Folklore Records 14015)
- 1962 At Folk City [live]
- 1964 For the Love of Him
- 1969 Bonnie Dobson
- 1970 Good Morning Rain
External links
- Encyclopedia of Music in Canada entry
- http://www.wirz.de/music/dobson.htm Illustrated Bonnie Dobson discography