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 151-175 of 294 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Decca 66315 10-in. 8/28/1939 You gotta know how to truck and swing Texas Wanderers, The instrumentalist, steel guitar  
Decca 66316 10-in. 8/28/1939 How could you have left me Texas Wanderers, The instrumentalist, steel guitar  
Decca 66317 10-in. 8/28/1939 I remember Texas Wanderers, The instrumentalist, steel guitar  
Decca 66318 10-in. 8/28/1939 The night was filled with music Texas Wanderers, The instrumentalist, steel guitar  
Decca 66319 10-in. 8/28/1939 Give me those old fashioned days Texas Wanderers, The instrumentalist, steel guitar  
Decca 66320 10-in. 8/28/1939 Smile and drive your blues away Texas Wanderers, The instrumentalist, steel guitar  
Decca 66321 10-in. 8/28/1939 When it's your time of day Texas Wanderers, The instrumentalist, steel guitar  
Decca 66322 10-in. 8/28/1939 Lies Texas Wanderers, The instrumentalist, steel guitar  
Decca 66323 10-in. 8/28/1939 Moonlight on the prairie Texas Wanderers, The instrumentalist, steel guitar  
Decca 66324 10-in. 8/28/1939 Cry baby cry Texas Wanderers, The instrumentalist, steel guitar  
Decca 66325 10-in. 8/29/1939 I didn't know Floyd Tillman instrumentalist, steel guitar  
Decca 66326 10-in. 8/29/1939 There must be someone for me Floyd Tillman instrumentalist, steel guitar  
Decca 66327 10-in. 8/29/1939 I'm always dreaming of you Floyd Tillman instrumentalist, steel guitar  
Decca 66328 10-in. 8/29/1939 Don't be blue Floyd Tillman instrumentalist, steel guitar  
Decca 66329 10-in. 8/29/1939 I never felt this way before Floyd Tillman instrumentalist, steel guitar  
Decca 66330 10-in. 8/29/1939 Maybe I'll get by without you Floyd Tillman instrumentalist, steel guitar  
Decca 66331 10-in. 8/29/1939 I'd settle down for you Floyd Tillman instrumentalist, steel guitar  
Decca 66332 10-in. 8/29/1939 It had to be that way Floyd Tillman instrumentalist, steel guitar  
Decca 66333 10-in. 8/30/1939 Hold it a little longer Buddy Jones instrumentalist, steel guitar  
Decca 66334 10-in. 8/30/1939 I can't be bothered Buddy Jones instrumentalist, steel guitar  
Decca 66335 10-in. 8/30/1939 I can't use you anymore Buddy Jones instrumentalist, steel guitar  
Decca 66336 10-in. 8/30/1939 I'll get mine bye and bye No.3 Buddy Jones instrumentalist, steel guitar  
Decca 66337 10-in. 8/30/1939 Boog-a-boo baby Buddy Jones instrumentalist, steel guitar  
Decca 66338 10-in. 8/30/1939 Like the doctor said Buddy Jones instrumentalist, steel guitar  
Decca 66339 10-in. 8/30/1939 Tend to your business Buddy Jones instrumentalist, steel guitar  
(Results 151-175 of 294 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Dunn, Bob," accessed November 2, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/113144.

Dunn, Bob. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 2, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/113144.

"Dunn, Bob." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 2 November 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

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

Wikipedia content provided under the terms of the Creative Commons BY-SA license

Feedback

Send the Editors a message about this record.