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 51-75 of 294 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Decca 60630 10-in. 3/4/1936 Washington and Lee swing Brownies [Milton Brown] instrumentalist, steel guitar  
Decca 60631 10-in. 3/4/1936 When I'm gone don't you grieve Brownies [Milton Brown] instrumentalist, steel guitar  
Decca 60632 10-in. 3/4/1936 The sweetheart of Sigma Chi Brownies [Milton Brown] instrumentalist, steel guitar  
Decca 60633 10-in. 3/4/1936 An old water mill by a waterfall Brownies [Milton Brown] instrumentalist, steel guitar  
Decca 60634 10-in. 3/4/1936 The hesitation blues Brownies [Milton Brown] instrumentalist, steel guitar  
Decca 60635 10-in. 3/4/1936 Avalon Brownies [Milton Brown] instrumentalist, steel guitar  
Decca 60636 10-in. 3/4/1936 Sadie Green Brownies [Milton Brown] instrumentalist, steel guitar  
Decca 60637 10-in. 3/4/1936 Show me the way to go home Brownies [Milton Brown] instrumentalist, steel guitar  
Decca 60638 10-in. 3/4/1936 The yellow rose of Texas Brownies [Milton Brown] instrumentalist, steel guitar  
Decca 60639 10-in. 3/4/1936 The Roseland melody Brownies [Milton Brown] instrumentalist, steel guitar  
Decca 60640 10-in. 3/4/1936 My Galveston gal Brownies [Milton Brown] instrumentalist, steel guitar  
Decca 60641 10-in. 3/4/1936 Yes Sir! Brownies [Milton Brown] instrumentalist, steel guitar  
Decca 60642 10-in. 3/4/1936 La Golondrina Brownies [Milton Brown] instrumentalist, steel guitar  
Decca 60643 10-in. 3/4/1936 When I take my sugar to tea Brownies [Milton Brown] instrumentalist, steel guitar  
Decca 60644 10-in. 3/4/1936 Song of the wanderer-1 Brownies [Milton Brown] instrumentalist, steel guitar  
Decca 60645 10-in. 3/4/1936 Right or wrong Brownies [Milton Brown] instrumentalist, steel guitar  
Decca 60646 10-in. 3/4/1936 Chinese honeymoon Brownies [Milton Brown] instrumentalist, steel guitar  
Decca 60647 10-in. 3/4/1936 Alice blue gown Brownies [Milton Brown] instrumentalist, steel guitar  
Decca 60648 10-in. 3/5/1936 Fan it Brownies [Milton Brown] instrumentalist, steel guitar  
Decca 60649 10-in. 3/5/1936 Tired of the same thing all the time Brownies [Milton Brown] instrumentalist, steel guitar  
Decca 60650 10-in. 3/5/1936 I'll string along with you Brownies [Milton Brown] instrumentalist, steel guitar  
Decca 60651 10-in. 3/5/1936 Goofus Brownies [Milton Brown] instrumentalist, steel guitar  
Decca 60652 10-in. 3/5/1936 Ida, sweet as apple cider Brownies [Milton Brown] instrumentalist, steel guitar  
Decca 60653 10-in. 3/5/1936 When it's harvest time, sweet Angeline Brownies [Milton Brown] instrumentalist, steel guitar  
Decca 60654 10-in. 3/5/1936 Carry me back to the lone prairie Brownies [Milton Brown] instrumentalist, steel guitar  
(Results 51-75 of 294 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Dunn, Bob," accessed November 22, 2024, https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/113144.

Dunn, Bob. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 22, 2024, from https://adpprod2.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://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/113144

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