Delmar "Dale" Allen Hawkins was born on August 22, 1938, in Goldmine, Louisiana. As an early innovator of American rock and roll, Hawkins was a singer, songwriter, and rhythm guitar player.
In 1953 Hawkins joined the navy at age sixteen and served for one and a half years. Afterwards, he worked in Shreveport as a music store clerk by day and performed his music by night. He became one of the earliest exponents of rockabilly. Hawkins is best known for the song "Susie Q," which he wrote and recorded. "Susie Q" reached #27 on the US pop chart in 1957 when Hawkins was just eighteen years old.
He moved to Arkansas in 1978. In 1997 he started his Hawk's Nest Recording Studio in North Little Rock, Arkansas. Hawkins was inducted into the Louisiana Hall of Fame in 1999 and the Rockabilly Hall of Fame in 2000.
Hawkins passed away in Little Rock, Arkansas, on February 23, 2010.
#1: Composite image of early photo of Dale Hawkins and still frame from Pryor Center video interview
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#2: Henry Hawkins, uncle of Ronnie and Dale Hawkins, with Delmar Hawkins, father of Dale Hawkins and uncle of Ronnie Hawkins
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#3: Delmar "Dale" Hawkins, sixteen months old
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#4: Dale Hawkins as a child
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#5: Estelle Hawkins, mother of Dale Hawkins, Bear Family Records CD, 2007
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#6: Photo autographed to Estelle Hawkins, mother of Dale Hawkins
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#7: Dale Hawkins, promotional photo for Checker Records
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#8: Dale Hawkins at The Louisiana Hayride
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#9: Dale Hawkins (center)
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#10: Dale Hawkins with another recording artist
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#11: Dale Hawkins, promotional photo for TV show, 1960
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#12: Dale Hawkins at the television studio
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#13: Dale Hawkins with two singers
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#14: Cover of "Susie-Q" sheet music; lyrics and music by D. Hawkins, S. J. Lewis, and E. Broadwater
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#15: Ronnie and Dale Hawkins's grandparent's 50th anniversary: front row, Billy and Rachel Hawkins; back row, Dora, Mary, Louisa, Pearl, Eddie, Henry, and Delmar; Hawkins Hollow, Arkansas
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#16: Dale Hawkins "Poor Little Rhode Island" and "Every Little Girl" record sleeve
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#17: Cover of Dale Hawkins Dale Rocks CD, 2007
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#18: Dale Hawkins performing onstage
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#19: Dale Hawkins, CD photo
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#20: Dale Hawkins (left) with a fan
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#21: Dale Hawkins at The Louisiana Hayride, Municipal Auditorium, Shreveport, Louisiana
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#22: Dale Hawkins playing guitar
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#23: Dale Hawkins at the microphone
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#24: Dale Hawkins onstage playing guitar
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#25: Dale Hawkins signing memorabilia
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#26: Dale Hawkins with his friends and family
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#27: Hawkins homestead in Hawkins Holler, Arkansas; May 6, 2006
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#28: Site photo of the Hawkins homestead near Pettigrew, Arkansas; May 6, 2006
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#29: Site photo of the Hawkins homestead near Pettigrew, Arkansas; May 6, 2006
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#30: Behind-the-scenes photo from Pryor Center interview with Dale and Ronnie Hawkins at their family reunion; Pettigrew, Arkansas, 2006
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#31: Behind-the-scenes photo from Pryor Center interview with Dale and Ronnie Hawkins at their family reunion; Pettigrew, Arkansas, 2006
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#32: Behind-the-scenes photo from Pryor Center interview with Dale and Ronnie Hawkins at their family reunion; Pettigrew, Arkansas, 2006
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#33: Behind-the-scenes photo from Pryor Center interview with Dale and Ronnie Hawkins at their family reunion; Pettigrew, Arkansas, 2006
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#34: Dale Hawkins at the Hawkins Family Reunion; Pettigrew, Arkansas, 2006
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#35: Ronnie Hawkins (front row, left) and Dale Hawkins (front row, 3rd from left) with family members at the Hawkins Family Reunion; Pettigrew, Arkansas, 2006
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#36: Ronnie Hawkins at the Hawkins Family Reunion; Pettigrew, Arkansas, 2006
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#37: Ronnie and Dale Hawkins at the Hawkins Family Reunion; Pettigrew, Arkansas, 2006
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#38: Dale Hawkins at the Hawkins Family Reunion; Pettigrew, Arkansas, 2006
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#39: Ronnie and Dale Hawkins at the Hawkins Family Reunion; Pettigrew, Arkansas, 2006
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#40: Dale Hawkins at the Hawkins Family Reunion; Pettigrew, Arkansas, 2006
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#41: Ronnie and Dale Hawkins at the Hawkins Family Reunion; Pettigrew, Arkansas, 2006
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#42: Still frame from Pryor Center video interview with Dale Hawkins at Hawk's Nest Recording Studio; North Little Rock, Arkansas, 2008
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#43: Still frame from Pryor Center video interview with Dale Hawkins at Hawk's Nest Recording Studio; North Little Rock, Arkansas, 2008
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
#44: Still frame from Pryor Center video interview with Dale Hawkins at Hawk's Nest Recording Studio; North Little Rock, Arkansas, 2008
© Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History, University of Arkansas
