The Hawk: The Story of Ronnie Hawkins & The Hawks

Rating:
Summary: "He was a mover and a shaker."
Review:

Another good book on Ronnie Hawkins.This book leans heavily on the members of his band who came and went over the 30 plus years of Ronnie Hawkins and the Hawks.
Both this book and the other book "Ronnie Hawkins-Last of the Good ol' boys by Hawkins and Peter Goddard,are good reads.See my review of November 13,2003. Wallis's book has a lot more photos,including all from the 1989 book and much more detail about the musical chairs of band members.However,to get a better feel of Hawkins and the many stories,I prefer the Goddard book.There are so many stories over the years around Hawkins and his friends,I found it dragged a bit when the author gets into the band mrmbers,songs and record companies.Let's not forget; it is the characters that made Country, Rockabilly and Folk the grass roots music of the people-not the industry establishment.
That's what is missing today where everything is sanitized to meet the market.
The giants of music from the 50's,60's and70's were great becuse they were outside the mold.
Hawkins was and still is one of the best Entertainers and Characters.
And to think that he got poor marks for Music in High School!