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 126-150 of 294 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Decca 65136 10-in. 3/4/1939 On Mexico's beautiful shore The Shelton Brothers instrumentalist, steel guitar  
Decca 65137 10-in. 3/4/1939 That's why I'm jealous of you The Shelton Brothers instrumentalist, steel guitar  
Decca 65138 10-in. 3/4/1939 I'll get mine bye and bye No.2 Buddy Jones instrumentalist, steel guitar  
Decca 65139 10-in. 3/4/1939 You cannot take it with you Buddy Jones instrumentalist, steel guitar  
Decca 65146 10-in. 3/5/1939 The pretty little girl with a smile The Shelton Brothers instrumentalist, steel guitar  
Decca 65147 10-in. 3/5/1939 Hallelujah I'm gonna be free again The Shelton Brothers instrumentalist, steel guitar  
Decca 65148 10-in. 3/5/1939 You can't fool a fool all the time The Shelton Brothers instrumentalist, steel guitar  
Decca 65149 10-in. 3/5/1939 You gotta quit cheatin' on me The Shelton Brothers instrumentalist, steel guitar  
Decca 65150 10-in. 3/5/1939 How times have changed The Shelton Brothers instrumentalist, steel guitar  
Decca 65151 10-in. 3/5/1939 You can't do that to me The Shelton Brothers instrumentalist, steel guitar  
Decca 66300 10-in. 8/26/1939 Jessie Cliff Bruner and his Boys instrumentalist, steel guitar  
Decca 66301 10-in. 8/26/1939 Over the hill Cliff Bruner and his Boys instrumentalist, steel guitar  
Decca 66302 10-in. 8/26/1939 I'll keep on smiling Cliff Bruner and his Boys instrumentalist, steel guitar  
Decca 66303 10-in. 8/26/1939 Truck driver's blues Cliff Bruner and his Boys instrumentalist, steel guitar  
Decca 66304 10-in. 8/26/1939 I'm tired of you Cliff Bruner and his Boys instrumentalist, steel guitar  
Decca 66305 10-in. 8/26/1939 Because Cliff Bruner and his Boys instrumentalist, steel guitar  
Decca 66306 10-in. 8/26/1939 I'll forgive you (but I just can't forget) Cliff Bruner and his Boys instrumentalist, steel guitar  
Decca 66307 10-in. 8/26/1939 I'm still in love with you Cliff Bruner and his Boys instrumentalist, steel guitar  
Decca 66308 10-in. 8/28/1939 Those things I can't forget Texas Wanderers, The instrumentalist, steel guitar  
Decca 66309 10-in. 8/28/1939 I hope I never fall in love again Texas Wanderers, The instrumentalist, steel guitar  
Decca 66310 10-in. 8/28/1939 Rubber dolly Texas Wanderers, The instrumentalist, steel guitar  
Decca 66311 10-in. 8/28/1939 Deep elm swing Texas Wanderers, The instrumentalist, steel guitar  
Decca 66312 10-in. 8/28/1939 Black Sea blues Texas Wanderers, The instrumentalist, steel guitar  
Decca 66313 10-in. 8/28/1939 we couldn't say goodbye Texas Wanderers, The instrumentalist, steel guitar  
Decca 66314 10-in. 8/28/1939 Where the morning glories grow Texas Wanderers, The instrumentalist, steel guitar  
(Results 126-150 of 294 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Dunn, Bob," accessed May 7, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/113144.

Dunn, Bob. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved May 7, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/113144.

"Dunn, Bob." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 7 May 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

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

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