Ronnie Dove
Encyclopedia
Ronnie Dove is an American pop
and country music
ian.
Born in Herndon, VA, Ronnie began his singing career in the clubs of Baltimore
. He formed a group, The Belltones, and they played Baltimore and the East Coast for four years. In 1959, they recorded their debut single "Lover Boy" as well as a cover of the Buddy Knox
hit "Party Doll" before Ronnie went solo with Diamond Records. His first solo single, "Sweeter Than Sugar" appeared in 1964 to no fanfare. Later that year "Say You" was released and earned Ronnie his first chart record. The next single, a cover of Wanda Jackson
's "Right Or Wrong," put him into the Top 20. In 1965 he had 5 chart singles and after just three albums Diamond Records
released a "best of" collection.
More hits came in 1966 and 1967 but the pop success began to fade. He signed a new deal with Decca Records
in 1971 and pointed his career in a more country oriented direction. Although he moved to some smaller, independent labels throughout the 1970s he still continued to record. He opened his own club in Baltimore and his fans were able to see him perform through the 1980s. He briefly revived the Diamond record label in 1987 to release a couple of singles. Dove continues to perform in the Baltimore area and nationwide. There have been several compilations issued on CD. Collectables Records
has even issued three 2-on-1 discs with his complete original Diamond albums plus a collection of rarities. Check out his website for news, concert listings and recordings including a recent Christmas album and a few albums of new material (including new recordings of previously recorded songs).
Although not generally perceived as a Rhythm and Blues artist, his version of "Right Or Wrong" hit the top 5 of Cashbox's 1964 R&B listings (Billboard did not print national R&B lists in 1964).
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
and country music
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
ian.
Born in Herndon, VA, Ronnie began his singing career in the clubs of Baltimore
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
. He formed a group, The Belltones, and they played Baltimore and the East Coast for four years. In 1959, they recorded their debut single "Lover Boy" as well as a cover of the Buddy Knox
Buddy Knox
Buddy Knox was an American singer and songwriter, best known for his 1957 rockabilly hit song, "Party Doll".-Biography:...
hit "Party Doll" before Ronnie went solo with Diamond Records. His first solo single, "Sweeter Than Sugar" appeared in 1964 to no fanfare. Later that year "Say You" was released and earned Ronnie his first chart record. The next single, a cover of Wanda Jackson
Wanda Jackson
Wanda Lavonne Jackson is an American singer, songwriter, pianist and guitarist who had success in the mid-1950s and 60s as one of the first popular female rockabilly singers and a pioneering rock and roll artist...
's "Right Or Wrong," put him into the Top 20. In 1965 he had 5 chart singles and after just three albums Diamond Records
Diamond Records
Diamond Records was a record label, based in New York City, which was founded in 1961 by former Roulette Records executive Joe Kolsky. Another Roulette exec Phil Kahl joined Kolsky in the venture the following year....
released a "best of" collection.
More hits came in 1966 and 1967 but the pop success began to fade. He signed a new deal with Decca Records
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....
in 1971 and pointed his career in a more country oriented direction. Although he moved to some smaller, independent labels throughout the 1970s he still continued to record. He opened his own club in Baltimore and his fans were able to see him perform through the 1980s. He briefly revived the Diamond record label in 1987 to release a couple of singles. Dove continues to perform in the Baltimore area and nationwide. There have been several compilations issued on CD. Collectables Records
Collectables Records
Collectables is a reissue record label founded in 1980 by Jerry Greene. Greene was previously associated with New York City's Times Square Record Shop, Philadelphia's Record Museum retail chain, and the Lost Nite and Crimson record labels....
has even issued three 2-on-1 discs with his complete original Diamond albums plus a collection of rarities. Check out his website for news, concert listings and recordings including a recent Christmas album and a few albums of new material (including new recordings of previously recorded songs).
Although not generally perceived as a Rhythm and Blues artist, his version of "Right Or Wrong" hit the top 5 of Cashbox's 1964 R&B listings (Billboard did not print national R&B lists in 1964).
Albums
- "Right Or Wrong" (Diamond RecordsDiamond RecordsDiamond Records was a record label, based in New York City, which was founded in 1961 by former Roulette Records executive Joe Kolsky. Another Roulette exec Phil Kahl joined Kolsky in the venture the following year....
#5002, 1964) - One Kiss for Old Times' Sake (Diamond Records #5003, 1965) U.S. #119
- I'll Make All Your Dreams Come True (Diamond Records #5004, 1965)
- The Best Of Ronnie Dove (Diamond Records #5005, 1966) U.S. #35
- Ronnie Dove Sings the Hits for You (Diamond Records #5006, 1966) U.S. #122
- Cry (Diamond Records #5007, 1967) U.S. #121
- The Best of Ronnie Dove Volume 2 (Diamond Records #5008, 1967)
- Ronnie Dove Greatest All-Time Hits (Certron Corporation #CS-7011, Stereo, 1970)
- Ronnie Dove Sings His Greatest Hits (Gusto Records #PO-286, 1975)
Singles
| Year | Title | Chart positions | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Hot 100 Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
U.S. AC | U.S. Country | ||
| 1961 | "Party Doll" / "Yes Darling, I'll Be Around" (Decca 31288) | - | - | - |
| 1962 | "No Greater Love" (Jalo 1406) | - | - | - |
| 1964 | "Sweeter Than Sugar" (Diamond 163) | - | - | - |
| 1964 | "Say You" (Diamond 167) | 40 | - | - |
| 1964 | "Right or Wrong" (Diamond 173) | 14 | - | - |
| 1965 | "Hello Pretty Girl" (Diamond 176) | 54 | - | - |
| 1965 | "One Kiss for Old Times' Sake" (Diamond 179) | 14 | - | - |
| 1965 | "A Little Bit of Heaven" (Diamond 184) | 16 | 4 | - |
| 1965 | "I'll Make All Your Dreams Come True" (Diamond 188) | 21 | 2 | - |
| 1965 | "Kiss Away" (Diamond 191) | 25 | 5 | - |
| 1965 | "When Liking Turns to Loving" (Diamond 195) | 18 | 6 | - |
| 1966 | "Let's Start All Over Again" (Diamond 198) | 20 | 34 | - |
| 1966 | "Happy Summer Days" (Diamond 205) | 27 | 7 | - |
| 1966 | "I Really Don't Want to Know" (Diamond 208) | 22 | 12 | - |
| 1966 | "Cry" (Diamond 214) | 18 | 16 | - |
| 1967 | "One More Mountain to Climb" (Diamond 217) | 45 | - | - |
| 1967 | "My Babe" (Diamond 221) | 50 | - | - |
| 1967 | "I Want to Love You for What You Are" (Diamond 227) | 54 | - | - |
| 1967 | "Dancing Out of My Heart" (Diamond 235) | 87 | - | - |
| 1968 | "In Some Time" (Diamond 240) | 99 | 37 | - |
| 1968 | "Mountain of Love Mountain of Love "Mountain of Love" is a song written by Harold Dorman . Dorman released his version as a single in 1960. It performed well, becoming his only top forty hit on the Billboard Hot 100. It was the highest charting single of his career.In 1964, Johnny Rivers released his remake as a single... " (Diamond 244) |
67 | - | - |
| 1968 | "Tomboy" (Diamond 249) | 96 | 27 | - |
| 1969 | "What's Wrong with My World" (Diamond 256) | - | - | - |
| 1969 | "I Need You Now" (Diamond 260) | 93 | - | - |
| 1970 | "Chains of Love" (Diamond 271) | - | - | - |
| 1971 | "Just the Other Side of Nowhere" (Decca 32853) | - | - | - |
| 1972 | "Kiss the Hurt Away" (Decca 32919) | - | - | 61 |
| 1972 | "It's No Sin" (Decca 32997) | - | - | - |
| 1972 | "Lilacs in Winter" (Decca 33038) | - | - | - |
| 1973 | "So Long Dixie" (MCA 40106) | - | - | - |
| 1975 | "Please Come to Nashville" (Melodyland 6004) | - | - | 75 |
| 1975 | "Things" (Melodyland 6011) | - | - | 25 |
| 1975 | "Drina (Take Your Love Off for Me)" (Melodyland 6021) | - | - | - |
| 1976 | "Right or Wrong" (Melodyland 6030) | - | - | - |
| 1976 | "Tragedy" (Hitsville 6038) | - | - | - |
| 1976 | "The Morning After the Night Before" (Hitsville 6045) | - | - | - |
| 1978 | "The Angel In Your Eyes" (M.C. 5013) | - | - | - |
| 1987 | "Heart" (Diamond 378) | - | - | - |
| 1987 | "Rise and Shine" (Diamond 379) | - | - | 73 |