Ronnie Self
American singer and songwriter (1938–1981)
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Ronnie Self (July 5, 1938 – August 28, 1981) was an American rock 'n' roll, rockabilly, and country music singer, musician, and songwriter. He is best known for his 1957 single "Bop-A-Lena," which became an international hit and charted on the Billboard charts in the United States and Australia.[1]
Ronnie Self | |
|---|---|
Self in 1956 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | Ronald Keith Self July 5, 1938 |
| Died | August 28, 1981 (aged 43) Springfield, Missouri, United States |
| Genres | Rockabilly; rock 'n' roll; country gospel; pop (as a songwriter) |
| Occupations | musician (vocalist, singer-songwriter, guitarist) and lyricist |
| Years active | mid-1950s – late 1970s |
| Labels | ABC-Paramount (1956), Columbia (1956–59), Decca, Scratch Records |
Biography
Early life
Ronald Keith Self was born on July 5, 1938, in Tin Town, the eldest of five children born to Raymond and Hazel Self, who operated a family farm.[2] Following World War II, the family sold their farm and relocated to Springfield, where his father began working on the railroad.[3][4] His brother, Billy, was a member of the Dothan, Alabama garage rock group The Tikis, and Ronnie wrote their song Somebody's Son, released in 1966.
Music career
Self grew up in Springfield, home of the Ozark Jubilee.[4] As a teenager, he brought demo tapes to local radio station KWTO. One of his recordings was heard by country music performer Bobby Lord, a regular on the Ozark Jubilee, who recommended Self to Dub Albritten, manager of Red Foley. On April 24, 1956, Self recorded "Pretty Bad Blues" and "Three Hearts Later," which were released as a single in June 1956.
Later in 1956, he recorded "Big Fool" and "Flame of Love" at Bradley Studios in Nashville, Tennessee, releasing them as a single. His song "Ain't I'm a Dog" achieved regional success in the southern United States.[4] Self became known for his energetic live performances, which included prominent use of call and response and vocal intensity; these performances earned him the nickname “Mr. Frantic,” a moniker promoted by Albritten.[4]
In December 1957, Self recorded what became his best-known session, producing "You're So Right for Me" and "Bop-A-Lena." The former, co-written by Webb Pierce and Mel Tillis, reached No. 63 on the Billboard 100 in March 1958. Music historian Colin Escott later described "Bop-A-Lena" as “the first punk record,” citing its aggressive vocal delivery and stylistic elements that anticipated garage rock, proto-punk, and hard rock. His earlier single "Ain't I'm a Dog" achieved regional popularity in the southern United States[dubious – discuss] and reportedly found success in Australia.[citation needed]
Columbia Records initially postponed the release of "You're So Right for Me" due to concerns regarding Self's vocal style, instead issuing "Bop-A-Lena" and "Date Bait." The label later released an LP featuring tracks including "Date Bait" and "Big Blon' Baby," though it was commercially unsuccessful. Self's fourth and final Columbia single, featuring "You're So Right for Me" and "Petrified," was released in September 1958. Shortly thereafter, his contract expired and was not renewed.[4]
In 1959, Self signed with Decca Records. Recording sessions during this period were financed in part by Albritten, who arranged sessions at studios operated by Owen Bradley in Nashville, Tennessee.[5] Although his own commercial recording output declined, Self found significant success as a songwriter. Brenda Lee recorded several of his compositions, including "I'm Sorry," "Sweet Nothin's," and "Everybody Loves Me But You," all of which became major pop hits.[6]
His country gospel composition "Ain't That Beautiful Singing" was recorded by Jake Hess and received a Grammy Award for Best Sacred Performance in 1969.[7] He also wrote Brenda Lee's 1963 UK hit "Sweet Impossible You,"[8] issued in the United States as the B-side to "The Grass Is Greener."
"Sweet Nothin's" and "I'm Sorry" were among Self's most commercially successful compositions during his tenure with Decca.[1]
Legacy and influence
Although Self's solo recording career saw limited commercial success in the United States, his work as a songwriter has had a lasting impact. His composition "Sweet Nothin's," originally a Top 10 hit for Brenda Lee in 1959, was sampled by Kanye West for the song "Bound 2" on the 2013 album Yeezus. The track's prominent "Uh-huh, honey" vocal line is taken directly from the Self-penned recording. The same sample was later used by the British duo Sigma in their 2014 UK number-one hit "Nobody to Love". In the rockabilly scene, Self remains a cult figure. His single "Bop-A-Lena" achieved greater success internationally than in his home country, reaching number 25 on the Australian charts in 1958. In 2003, his son Roman Self released a tribute album, Ronnie Self: The Legend Continues, to preserve his father's musical catalog.[9]
Later life and death
A severe alcoholic, his erratic on-stage behavior and unpredictable energetic live performances stalled his career progression[10][11] "Bop-A-Lena," released in early 1958 whereupon it reached No. 68 on the U.S. Billboard charts and No. 25 in Australia.[6] Self recorded a single for Kapp Records, released in 1963,[clarification needed], and one for Scratch Records in 1967.[citation needed] His final recording was released on Amy Records in 1968. Posthumously, a compilation of lost and unreleased recordings was released on YouTube.[12] Ronnie Self died in Springfield, Missouri on August 28, 1981 from cirrhosis, aged 43.[6] Roman released a tribute album to his father titled A Tribute to Ronnie Self in 2003, which is available on YouTube and Spotify.[13]
Track listing
- Pretty Bad Blues (first major release with ABC Recording)[14]
- Waiting for the Gin to Hit[15]
- Bop-A-Lena[16]
- Big Fool[14]
- Ain't I'm A Dog [14]
- Big Blon' Baby[17]
- You're So Right for Me [14]
- Long Distance Kiss [16]
- Petrified [14]
- Grandma's Rockin [14]
- Three Hearts Later [14]
- Date Bait [14]
- Too Many Lovers [14]
- Instant Man [14]
- Black Night Blues [14]
- Past, Present and Future [14]
- Big Town [14]
- Do It Now [14]
- Flame of Love [14]
- Oh Me, Oh My [14]
- Hair of the Dog
- I´ve Been Brought Down [14]
- When He Flies Away [14]
- Long Train To Memphis
- Wild And Wooly Life [14]
- Go Go the Cannibal (posthumous release) [14]
- Ugly Stick (posthumous) [14]
- So High (posthumous) [14]
- Some Other World [14]
- Blame Me For World War I [14]
- I Want You To [14]
- Roll Over, Beethoven (live recording) [14]
- Sweet Little Sixteen [14]