Album of the Day

Though he was born in Arkansas, Ronnie Hawkins is revered as one of the founding fathers of rock 'n' roll in Canada, which the performer has called home since the mid-1960s. Recorded in New York in 1959, his eponymous debut for Roulette Records is an effective mix of pop and rockabilly that includes a pair of minor hit singles in “Forty Days” and “Mary Lou.” While his longtime group The Hawks had at this point only gone through a few permutations, Levon Helm is here on drums several years before Bob Dylan would help turn Ronnie's backing musicians into The Band. “Mr. Dynamo” turns 87 today, and we'll give RONNIE HAWKINS another listen to wish him a happy birthday.