Richard Dobson
Encyclopedia
Richard Dobson is an American singer/songwriter.
He was born in Tyler, Texas
. He spent time in the 1970s with Townes Van Zandt
, Mickey White, Rex "Wrecks" Bell, Guy Clark
, Steve Earle
, Rodney Crowell
and "Skinny" Dennis Sanchez
.
Although his name is not prominent, some of his songs were recorded and co-written by famous artists like David Allan Coe
("Piece of Wood and Steel"), Guy Clark
("Forever, for Always, for Certain"; "Old Friends"), Lacy J. Dalton
("Old Friends"), Nanci Griffith
("Ballad of Robin Winter-Smith") and Kelly Willis
("Hole in My Heart"). His song "Baby Ride Easy" was recorded as a duet by Carlene Carter
and Dave Edmunds
as well as by Billie Jo Spears
and Del Reeves
. It has also been recorded by the Carter Family
. For the tv show Christmas On The Road in Montreux in 1984 it was performed by Johnny Cash
and June Carter Cash
.
He wrote an autobiographic book about his years with Townes Van Zandt and the others mentioned before, called The Gulf Coast Boys. Currently he is working on a new book, entitled Pleasures of the High Rhine — A Texas Singer in Exile. He's also irregularly publishing a newsletter called Don Ricardo's Life & Times which is mostly about personal experiences. It used to be printed but now is published on his homepage.
He moved to Switzerland in 1999 and has been living there ever since. In November 2005 he recorded an album in Nashville with Thomm Jutz, a friend and musician he played and recorded with in Europe. The album On Thistledown Wind was released in 2006. The following album Back at the Red Shack was recorded at the same studio in Houston, Texas where his first two albums were recorded. For the recording of his album From a Distant Shore he returned to Thomm Jutz's studio in Nashville again in 2008.
He was born in Tyler, Texas
Tyler, Texas
Tyler is a city in and the county seat of Smith County, Texas, in the United States. It takes its name from President John Tyler . The city had a population of 109,000 in 2010, according to the United States Census Bureau...
. He spent time in the 1970s with Townes Van Zandt
Townes Van Zandt
John Townes Van Zandt , best known as Townes Van Zandt, was an American Texas Country-folk music singer-songwriter, performer, and poet...
, Mickey White, Rex "Wrecks" Bell, Guy Clark
Guy Clark
Guy Clark is an American Texas Country artist. In his career, he has released more than twenty albums, primarily on major labels. He has also written singles for other artists, including Ricky Skaggs, Steve Wariner and Rodney Crowell....
, Steve Earle
Steve Earle
Stephen Fain "Steve" Earle is an American singer-songwriter known for his rock and Texas Country as well as his political views. He is also a producer, author, a political activist, and an actor, and has written and directed a play....
, Rodney Crowell
Rodney Crowell
Rodney Crowell is a Grammy Award-winning musician, known primarily for his work as a singer and songwriter in country music....
and "Skinny" Dennis Sanchez
Skinny Dennis
Skinny Dennis Sanchez was a country musician in the Los Angeles area. He played the upright bass, most famously accompanying Nashville legend Guy Clark during Clark's stay in Los Angeles...
.
Although his name is not prominent, some of his songs were recorded and co-written by famous artists like David Allan Coe
David Allan Coe
David Allan Coe is an American outlaw country music singer who achieved popularity in the 1970s and 1980s. He has written and performed over 280 original songs throughout his career...
("Piece of Wood and Steel"), Guy Clark
Guy Clark
Guy Clark is an American Texas Country artist. In his career, he has released more than twenty albums, primarily on major labels. He has also written singles for other artists, including Ricky Skaggs, Steve Wariner and Rodney Crowell....
("Forever, for Always, for Certain"; "Old Friends"), Lacy J. Dalton
Lacy J. Dalton
Lacy J. Dalton , is an American country and western singer and songwriter, known for her gritty, powerful vocals, which a number of critics likened to a country equivalent to Bonnie Raitt . She had a number of hits in the 1980s, including "Takin' It Easy," "Crazy Blue Eyes" and "16th Avenue." ...
("Old Friends"), Nanci Griffith
Nanci Griffith
Nanci Griffith, is an American singer, guitarist and songwriter from Austin, Texas.-Biography:...
("Ballad of Robin Winter-Smith") and Kelly Willis
Kelly Willis
Kelly Willis is an American country music singer-songwriter, whose music has been described as contemporary country, alternative country and new traditionalist.-Early life:...
("Hole in My Heart"). His song "Baby Ride Easy" was recorded as a duet by Carlene Carter
Carlene Carter
Carlene Carter is an American country singer and songwriter. She is the daughter of June Carter and her first husband, Carl Smith....
and Dave Edmunds
Dave Edmunds
David 'Dave' Edmunds is a Welsh singer, guitarist and record producer. Although he is primarily associated with Pub rock and New Wave, and had numerous hits in the 1970s and early 1980s, his natural leaning has always been towards 1950s style rock and roll.-Early bands:As a teenager Edmunds first...
as well as by Billie Jo Spears
Billie Jo Spears
Billie Jo Spears is an American country music singer. She reached the top-10 of the Country music charts five times between 1969 and 1977, her biggest hit being "Blanket on the Ground", which, in 1975, became her only number one...
and Del Reeves
Del Reeves
Franklin Delano Reeves , better known as Del Reeves, was an American country music singer, best known for his "girl-watching" novelty songs of the 1960s including "Girl on the Billboard" and "The Belles of Southern Bell"...
. It has also been recorded by the Carter Family
Carter Family
The Carter Family was a traditional American folk music group that recorded between 1927 and 1956. Their music had a profound impact on bluegrass, country, Southern Gospel, pop and rock musicians as well as on the U.S. folk revival of the 1960s. They were the first vocal group to become country...
. For the tv show Christmas On The Road in Montreux in 1984 it was performed by Johnny Cash
Johnny Cash
John R. "Johnny" Cash was an American singer-songwriter, actor, and author, who has been called one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century...
and June Carter Cash
June Carter Cash
Valerie June Carter Cash was an American singer, dancer, songwriter, actress, comedienne and author who was a member of the Carter Family and the second wife of singer Johnny Cash...
.
He wrote an autobiographic book about his years with Townes Van Zandt and the others mentioned before, called The Gulf Coast Boys. Currently he is working on a new book, entitled Pleasures of the High Rhine — A Texas Singer in Exile. He's also irregularly publishing a newsletter called Don Ricardo's Life & Times which is mostly about personal experiences. It used to be printed but now is published on his homepage.
He moved to Switzerland in 1999 and has been living there ever since. In November 2005 he recorded an album in Nashville with Thomm Jutz, a friend and musician he played and recorded with in Europe. The album On Thistledown Wind was released in 2006. The following album Back at the Red Shack was recorded at the same studio in Houston, Texas where his first two albums were recorded. For the recording of his album From a Distant Shore he returned to Thomm Jutz's studio in Nashville again in 2008.
Discography
- Singles
Year Single Label 1977 "Baby Ride Easy" b/w "Learning to Forget You" Buttermilk 197x "The Hard Way" b/w "Swamp Rat" Rinconada/Buttermilk
- Albums
Year Album Label 1977 In Texas Last December Buttermilk 1979 The Big Taste Rinconada 1983 Save the World RJD 1986 True West RJD 1988 Live at the Station Inn RJD 1990 Hearts & Rivers Brambus 1993 Blue Collar Blues Brambus 1994 Amigos - Richard Dobson Sings Townes Van Zandt Brambus 1994 Mankind Sundown 1995 Backtracks: Save the World/True West RJD 1995 One Bar Town Brambus 1996 Love Only Love Brambus 1998 Salty Songs Brambus 1999 Global Village Garage R&T Musikproduktion 2001 Hum of the Wheels Brambus 2002 Doppelgaenger Brambus 2003 A River Will Do Brambus 2006 On Thistledown Wind Brambus 2007 Back at the Red Shack Brambus 2009 From a Distant Shore Brambus