Bonnie Dobson | |
|---|---|
| Born | Bonnie Dobson (1940-11-13)November 13, 1940 (age 85) Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Genres | Contemporary folk music |
| Instruments | Vocals, guitar |
| Labels | Hornbeam |
Bonnie Dobson (born November 13, 1940, inToronto, Ontario, Canada)[1][2] is a Canadianfolk music songwriter, singer, and guitarist, most known in the 1960s for composing the songs "I'm Your Woman" and "Morning Dew". The latter, augmented byTim Rose (with a controversial co-writing credit), became a melancholyfolk rock standard that has been covered by numerous artists.
Dobson was born in Toronto.[3] Her father was a union organizer and opera lover. Her early music influences includedPaul Robeson[4] andThe Weavers.[5]
Dobson became part of the active folk-revival scene in Toronto, performing in local coffee houses and at theMariposa Folk Festival. She later moved to the United States where she performed in coffee houses across the country[6] and recorded several albums, including 1962'sBonnie Dobson at Folk City, which contained her song "Morning Dew".[7]
Dobson has consistently questioned Tim Rose's right to a co-writing credit for "Morning Dew" (stating that Rose first heard it as sung byFred Neil), whose version appeared on his 1964 albumTear Down The Walls with Dobson credited as the composer.[8]
After returning to Toronto in 1967 she continued to perform in coffee houses as well programs on the CBC.[1] She married and in 1969 moved to London, England, where she took up university studies and later became an administrator of the Philosophy Department atBirkbeck College, part of theUniversity of London.[2]
After retiring in the 1980s, Dobson returned to performance in 2007 in London withJarvis Cocker.[6] She released a new album in 2013 on the Hornbeam label and that year performed a number of concert dates.[9]
She performed withCombined Services Entertainment, and was one of the last performers atRAFSalalah,Oman.
According to the websiteSecondHandSongs, "Morning Dew" has been covered by more than 70 artists, including several versions as recently as the early 2020's. Among those who have recorded the song areFred Neil,Ralph McTell,Lulu,Nazareth,Grateful Dead,Jeff Beck Group,Robert Plant,Long John Baldry,DEVO,Einstürzende Neubauten, andGregg Allman,Duane Allman, andButch Trucks (ofThe Allman Brothers Band).
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Artists | |
| People | |
| Other | |
