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 226-250 of 294 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Decca 66423 10-in. 9/5/1939 Sweet bunch of daisies Bob Dunn's Vagabonds instrumentalist, steel guitar  
Decca 92014 10-in. 4/5/1940 Take me back again Cliff Bruner and his Boys instrumentalist, steel guitar  
Decca 92015 10-in. 4/5/1940 You don't love me, but I'll always love you Cliff Bruner and his Boys instrumentalist, steel guitar  
Decca 92016 10-in. 4/5/1940 I'm headin' for that ranch Cliff Bruner and his Boys instrumentalist, steel guitar  
Decca 92017 10-in. 4/5/1940 Over the trail Cliff Bruner and his Boys instrumentalist, steel guitar  
Decca 92052 10-in. 4/8/1940 Ten pretty girls Cliff Bruner and his Boys instrumentalist, steel guitar  
Decca 92053 10-in. 4/8/1940 Sorry (I'll say I'm sorry) Cliff Bruner and his Boys instrumentalist, steel guitar  
Decca 92054 10-in. 4/8/1940 Sparkling blue eyes Cliff Bruner and his Boys instrumentalist, steel guitar  
Decca 92055 10-in. 4/8/1940 New falling rain blues Cliff Bruner and his Boys instrumentalist, steel guitar  
Decca 92056 10-in. 4/8/1940 I'll keep thinking of you Cliff Bruner and his Boys instrumentalist, steel guitar  
Decca 92057 10-in. 4/8/1940 'Neath the purple on the hill Cliff Bruner and his Boys instrumentalist, steel guitar  
Decca 92082 10-in. 4/11/1940 I'll forget dear (that I ever loved you) Bob Dunn's Vagabonds instrumentalist, steel guitar, vocalist  
Decca 92083 10-in. 4/11/1940 Juke box rag Bob Dunn's Vagabonds instrumentalist, steel guitar, vocalist  
Decca 92084 10-in. 4/11/1940 I found you out, when I found you in (somebody else's arms) Bob Dunn's Vagabonds instrumentalist, steel guitar, vocalist  
Decca 92085 10-in. 4/11/1940 I'll get by Bob Dunn's Vagabonds instrumentalist, steel guitar, vocalist  
Decca 92086 10-in. 4/11/1940 'Round her neck she wears a yellow ribbon Bob Dunn's Vagabonds instrumentalist, steel guitar, vocalist  
Decca 92087 10-in. 4/11/1940 Marcheta Bob Dunn's Vagabonds instrumentalist, steel guitar, vocalist  
Decca 93722 10-in. 4/29/1941 Don't ever leave me alone Buddy Jones instrumentalist, steel guitar  
Decca 93723 10-in. 4/29/1941 Honey don't turn me down Buddy Jones instrumentalist, steel guitar  
Decca 93724 10-in. 4/29/1941 You've got just what it takes Buddy Jones instrumentalist, steel guitar  
Decca 93725 10-in. 4/29/1941 Red wagon Buddy Jones instrumentalist, steel guitar  
Decca 93726 10-in. 4/30/1941 What is life lived alone Buddy Jones instrumentalist, steel guitar  
Decca 93727 10-in. 4/30/1941 Gonna change my business all around Buddy Jones instrumentalist, steel guitar  
Decca 93728 10-in. 4/30/1941 If I'm wrong, I'm sorry Buddy Jones instrumentalist, steel guitar  
Decca 93729 10-in. 4/30/1941 Mean hangover blues Buddy Jones instrumentalist, steel guitar  
(Results 226-250 of 294 records)

Citation

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

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

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

DAHR Persistent Identifier

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

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