Bob Dunn

Robert Lee Dunn (February 5, 1908 – May 27, 1971) was a pioneer Western swing steel guitarist. Influenced by influential Hawaiian lap steel guitar player Sol Hoʻopiʻi, Dunn played in his own original bluesy style and was one of the first to record an electric guitar, preceding other country & western guitarists following him shortly. He preceded by over three years George Barnes (with Big Bill Broonzy in 1938), Leonard Ware and, slightly later, Eddie Durham.

On January 27, 1935, Dunn became one of the first musicians to record an electrically amplified instrument as a member of Milton Brown and His Musical Brownies.

Dunn also played steel guitar in numerous other Western swing groups including those of Cliff Bruner and one of Moon Mullican's earlier bands. Dunn also had his own group, The Vagabonds, featuring Mullican and Cliff Bruner.

Dunn was inducted into the Steel Guitar Hall of Fame in 1992.

Birth and Death Data: Born February 5, 1908 (Braggs), Died May 27, 1971 (Houston)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1935 - 1941

Roles Represented in DAHR: steel guitar, electric steel guitar, electric guitar, vocalist, composer

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 251-275 of 294 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Decca 93736 10-in. 4/30/1941 It's been a long, long time Floyd Tillman instrumentalist, steel guitar  
Decca 93737 10-in. 4/30/1941 All because of you Floyd Tillman instrumentalist, steel guitar  
Decca 93738 10-in. 4/30/1941 I've learned my lesson now Floyd Tillman instrumentalist, steel guitar  
Decca 93739 10-in. 4/30/1941 They took the stars out of heaven Floyd Tillman instrumentalist, steel guitar  
Decca 93740 10-in. 4/30/1941 Rio Grande Floyd Tillman instrumentalist, steel guitar  
Decca 93741 10-in. 4/30/1941 Why do you treat me this way Floyd Tillman instrumentalist, steel guitar  
Decca L 9722 10-in. 1/28/1935 The house at the end of the lane Brownies [Milton Brown] instrumentalist, steel guitar  
Decca C 9691 10-in. 1/27/1935 Put on your old grey bonnet Brownies [Milton Brown] instrumentalist, steel guitar  
Decca C 9692 10-in. 1/27/1935 Pray for the lights to go out Brownies [Milton Brown] instrumentalist, steel guitar  
Decca C 9693 10-in. 1/27/1935 In el Rancho Grande Brownies [Milton Brown] instrumentalist, steel guitar  
Decca C 9694 10-in. 1/27/1935 Down by the O-H-I-O Brownies [Milton Brown] instrumentalist, steel guitar  
Decca C 9695 10-in. 1/27/1935 I love you Brownies [Milton Brown] instrumentalist, steel guitar  
Decca C 9696 10-in. 1/27/1935 Sweet Jennie Lee Brownies [Milton Brown] instrumentalist, steel guitar  
Decca C 9697 10-in. 1/27/1935 A good man is hard to find Brownies [Milton Brown] instrumentalist, steel guitar  
Decca C 9698 10-in. 1/27/1935 St. Louis blues Brownies [Milton Brown] instrumentalist, steel guitar  
Decca C 9699 10-in. 1/27/1935 The object of my affection Brownies [Milton Brown] instrumentalist, steel guitar  
Decca C 9700 10-in. 1/27/1935 Love in bloom Brownies [Milton Brown] instrumentalist, steel guitar  
Decca C 9701 10-in. 1/27/1935 Chinatown, my Chinatown Brownies [Milton Brown] instrumentalist, steel guitar  
Decca C 9702 10-in. 1/27/1935 Copenhagen Brownies [Milton Brown] instrumentalist, steel guitar  
Decca C 9703 10-in. 1/27/1935 Brownie special Brownies [Milton Brown] instrumentalist, steel guitar  
Decca C 9704 10-in. 1/27/1935 Some of these days Brownies [Milton Brown] instrumentalist, steel guitar  
Decca C 9705 10-in. 1/27/1935 Wabash blues Brownies [Milton Brown] instrumentalist, steel guitar  
Decca C 9716 10-in. 1/28/1935 Beautiful Texas Brownies [Milton Brown] instrumentalist, steel guitar  
Decca C 9717 10-in. 1/28/1935 Just a dream Brownies [Milton Brown] instrumentalist, steel guitar  
Decca C 9718 10-in. 1/28/1935 Cheezy breeze Brownies [Milton Brown] instrumentalist, steel guitar  
(Results 251-275 of 294 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Dunn, Bob," accessed November 22, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/113144.

Dunn, Bob. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 22, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/113144.

"Dunn, Bob." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 22 November 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/113144

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