Ronnie Self
Encyclopedia
Ronnie Self was a United States rockabilly
singer and songwriter. His solo career was unsuccessful, despite being signed to contracts with Columbia
and then Decca
from the late 1950s through the early 1960s. His only charted single was "Bop-A-Lena"; recorded in 1957 and released in 1958, it reached #68 on the Billboard
charts. His boastful country anthem "Ain't I'm a Dog" was a regional hit in the South, but failed to score nationally.
Rumoured to be the first Rock N Roll singer signed to Columbia despite the objections of the Columbia A&R performer Mitch Miller.
A talented performer and songwriter, Self's career was blighted by his severe alcoholism and erratic behavior, including incidents of violence. However, Brenda Lee
's recordings of his songs "I'm Sorry
" and "Sweet Nothin's" became major pop classics and his country gospel song "Ain't That Beautiful Singing", recorded by Jake Hess
, was awarded a Grammy for Best Sacred Performance in 1969. He died in Springfield, Missouri
.
Rockabilly
Rockabilly is one of the earliest styles of rock and roll music, dating to the early 1950s.The term rockabilly is a portmanteau of rock and hillbilly, the latter a reference to the country music that contributed strongly to the style's development...
singer and songwriter. His solo career was unsuccessful, despite being signed to contracts with Columbia
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
and then Decca
Decca Records
Decca Records began as a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934; however, owing to World War II, the link with the British company was broken for several decades....
from the late 1950s through the early 1960s. His only charted single was "Bop-A-Lena"; recorded in 1957 and released in 1958, it reached #68 on the Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
charts. His boastful country anthem "Ain't I'm a Dog" was a regional hit in the South, but failed to score nationally.
Rumoured to be the first Rock N Roll singer signed to Columbia despite the objections of the Columbia A&R performer Mitch Miller.
A talented performer and songwriter, Self's career was blighted by his severe alcoholism and erratic behavior, including incidents of violence. However, Brenda Lee
Brenda Lee
Brenda Mae Tarpley , known as Brenda Lee, is an American performer who sang rockabilly, pop and country music, and had 37 US chart hits during the 1960s, a number surpassed only by Elvis Presley, The Beatles, Ray Charles and Connie Francis...
's recordings of his songs "I'm Sorry
I'm Sorry (Brenda Lee song)
"I'm Sorry" is a 1960 hit song for 15-year-old American country pop singer Brenda Lee. It peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart in July 1960. Allmusic guide wrote that it is the pop star's "definitive song", and one of the "finest teen pop songs of its era". It was written by...
" and "Sweet Nothin's" became major pop classics and his country gospel song "Ain't That Beautiful Singing", recorded by Jake Hess
Jake Hess
Jake Hess was an American Grammy Award-winning southern gospel singer.-Life:Hess was born Manchild Hess December 24, 1927, in Limestone County, Alabama...
, was awarded a Grammy for Best Sacred Performance in 1969. He died in Springfield, Missouri
Springfield, Missouri
Springfield is the third largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and the county seat of Greene County. According to the 2010 census data, the population was 159,498, an increase of 5.2% since the 2000 census. The Springfield Metropolitan Area, population 436,712, includes the counties of...
.