b. Ronnie Dyson, 5th June 1950, Washington D.C., U.S.A.
d. 10th November 1990, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.
Ronnie Dyson was born in Washington on the 5th of June 1950.
He grew up in Brooklyn and sang Gospel in the church as a child.
By the age of 20, Ronnie had performed in the musical 'Hair' as a lead actor, and the lesser known production 'Salvation' a year earlier.
why can't i touch you? - 1970 / one man band - 1973 / the more you do it - 1976 / love in all flavors - 1977
A song from the latter musical, '(If You Let Me Make Love To You Then) Why Can't I Touch You?', became a U.S. Top 10 hit.
Ronnie recorded subsequent R & B material including 'I Don't Wanna Cry' in 1970.
In 1971, 'When You Get Right Down To It' reached the U.K. Top 40.
By 1973, Ronnie had released the Thom Bell produced album 'One Man Band' for the CBS imprint, an album that included the songs 'Just Don't Want To Be Lonely' (covered a year later by the group the Main Ingredient) and the previous single, 'When You Get Right Down To It'.
He toured with the Supremes in 1974 in the U.K. and worked with the group the Trammps.
Recorded in Philadelphia, that liaison produced the song 'Lady In Red' for Ronnie.
Two years later, Ronnie had teamed up with Chuck Jackson and the late Marvin Yancy (who died from a heart attack in 1985) recording the hit song 'The More You Do It'.
if the shoe fits - 1979 / phase 2 - 1982 / brand new day - 1983 / are we so far apart? 1991 (12")
Remaining at CBS, Ronnie recorded the albums 'Love In All Flavours' in 1977 and 'If The Shoe Fits' in 1979.
Ronnie then relocated back to Philadelphia.
In 1981, Ronnie teamed up with the MFSB artist Bobby Eli recording for the Cotillion imprint.
The pair recorded the album 'Phase 2', followed by a dancer entitled 'All Over Your Face', for the same label, a year later.
In between recordings, Ronnie still found time to perform in the movie version of the film 'Hair' and was involved in another 1969 comedy movie vehicle 'Putney Swope', with Ronnie playing the part of a 'face off ad boy'.
Early in 1990, Ronnie recorded a 12" on an independent label, called Society Hill Records, entitled 'Are We So Far Apart?', with singer Vicki Austin, a track later to appear on a 1995 album entitled 'Constantly'.
The track was, probably, one of Ronnie's last recordings and was penned by Butch Ingram.
Two of Ronnie's other final recordings were written and produced by Lamar Thomas and Judy Taylor, with arrangement chores being undertaken by Patrick Adams.
His last U.K. single release was for the Ardent record label and was entitled 'See The Clown' b/w 'Shine' in 1990.
Ronnie's vocals can be later heard performing the song 'Nola', the following year, on the Spike Lee movie vehicle 'She's Gotta Have It'.
After attending hospital on two separate ocassions for a suspected heart condition, he died on the 10th of November 1990 in Philadelphia.
An ironic twist of fate was Ronnie's father had died earlier the same year.
Albums:
(If You Let Me Make Love To You Then) Why Can't I Touch You? (Columbia Records 1970)
Why Can't I Touch You? (Columbia Records 1972)
When You Get Right Down To It (CBS Records 1973)
One Man Band (Columbia Records 1973)
Love In All Flavours (Columbia Records 1977)
The More You Do It (Columbia Records 1978)
If The Shoe Fits (Cotillion Records 1979)
Phase 2 (Cotillion Records 1981)
Brand New Day (Cotillion Records 1983)
His All Time Golden Classics (Collectables Records 1995)
Constantly (Hot Records 1995)
